Exhibit 99.6(A)
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
KEYSTONE AMERICA STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
AGREEMENT made this ____ day of _______________, 1993 by and between
Keystone America Strategic Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust,
("Fund"), and Keystone Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Principal
Underwriter").
It is hereby mutually agreed as follows:
1. The Fund hereby appoints Principal Underwriter a principal underwriter
of the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ("Shares") as an independent
contractor upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Except as the
Fund may from time to time agree, Principal Underwriter will act as agent for
the Fund and not as principal.
2. Principal Underwriter will use its best efforts to find purchasers for
the Shares, to promote distribution of the Shares and may obtain orders from
brokers, dealers or other persons for sales of Shares to them. No such dealer,
broker or other person shall have any authority to act as agent for the Fund;
such dealer, broker or other person shall act only as principal in the sale of
Shares.
3. Sales of Shares by Principal Underwriter shall be at the applicable
public offering price determined in the manner set forth in the prospectus
and/or statement of additional information of the Fund current at the time of
the Fund's acceptance of the order for Shares; provided that Principal
Underwriter also shall have the right to sell shares at net asset value, if such
sale is permissible under and consistent with applicable statutes, rules,
regulations and orders. All orders shall be subject to acceptance by the Fund
and the Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject any order
received. The Fund shall not be liable to anyone for failure to accept any
order.
4. On all sales of Shares, the Fund shall receive the current net asset
value and Principal Underwriter shall be entitled to receive payments in
accordance with the 12b-1 Plan and as set forth in the then current prospectus
and/or statement of additional information of the Fund and to receive the sales
charges, including contingent deferred sales charges, as set forth in the then
current prospectus and/or statement of additional information of the Fund.
Principal Underwriter may reallow all or a part of the 12b-1 payments and the
sales charges to such brokers, dealers or other persons as Principal Underwriter
may determine.
5. Payment to the Fund for Shares shall be in New York or Boston Clearing
House funds received by Principal Underwriter within ten (10) business days
after notice of acceptance of the purchase order and the amount of the
applicable public offering price has been given to the purchaser. If such
payment is not received within such ten-day period, the Fund reserves the right,
without further notice, forthwith to cancel its acceptance of any such order.
The Fund shall pay such issue taxes as may be required by law in connection with
the issue of the Shares.
6. Principal Underwriter shall not make in connection with any sale or
solicitation of a sale of the Shares any representations concerning the Shares
except those contained in the then current prospectus and/or statement of
additional information covering the Shares and in printed information approved
by the Fund as information supplemental to such prospectus and statement of
additional information. Copies of the then current prospectus and statement of
additional information and any such printed supplemental information will be
supplied by the Fund to Principal Underwriter in reasonable quantities upon
request.
7. Principal Underwriter agrees to comply with the Rules of Fair Practice
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
8. The Fund appoints Principal Underwriter as its agent to accept orders
for redemptions and repurchases of Shares at values and in the manner determined
in accordance with the then current prospectus and/or statement of additional
information of the Fund.
9. The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Principal
Underwriter, its officers and Directors and each person, if any, who controls
the Principal Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
of 1933 ("1933 Act"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred in connection therewith)
which the Principal Underwriter, its officers, Directors or any such controlling
person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon
a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Fund's registration statement, prospectus or statement of
additional information (including amendments and supplements thereto), or
b) any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required
to be stated in the Fund's registration statement, prospectus or statement
of additional information necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, provided, however, that insofar as losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
reliance and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund by the
Principal Underwriter for use in the Fund's registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information, such indemnification is
not applicable. In no case shall the Fund indemnify the Principal
Underwriter or its controlling person as to any amounts incurred for any
liability arising out of or based upon any action for which the Principal
Underwriter, its officers and Directors or any controlling person would
otherwise be subject to liability by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of
the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
10. The Principal Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund, its officers and Trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Fund
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any loss, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred
in connection therewith) which the Fund, its officers, Trustees or any such
controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at
common law or otherwise arising out of the acquisition of any Shares by any
person which
a) may be based upon any wrongful act by the Principal Underwriter or
any of its employees or representatives, or
b) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Fund's registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information (including amendments and
supplements thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made
in reliance upon information furnished or confirmed in writing to the Fund
by the Principal Underwriter.
11. The Fund agrees to execute such papers and to do such acts and things
as shall from time to time be reasonably requested by Principal Underwriter for
the purpose of qualifying the Shares for sale under the so-called "blue sky"
laws of any state or for registering Shares under the 1933 Act or the Fund under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). Principal Underwriter shall
bear the expense of preparing, printing and distributing advertising, sales
literature, prospectuses, and statements of additional information. The Fund
shall bear the expense of registering Shares under the 1933 Act and the Fund
under the 1940 Act, qualifying Shares for sale under the so-called "blue sky"
laws of any state, the preparation and printing of prospectuses, statements of
additional information and reports required to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and other authorities, the preparation, printing and mailing
of prospectuses and statements of additional information to shareholders of the
Fund, and the direct expenses of the issue of Shares.
12. To the extent required by the 12b-1 Plan, Principal Underwriter shall
provide to the Board of Trustees of the Fund in connection with the 12b-1 Plan,
not less than quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to
such 12b-1 Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.
13. The term of this agreement shall begin on the date hereof and, unless
sooner terminated or continued as provided below, shall expire after two years.
This agreement shall continue in effect after such term if its continuance is
specifically approved by a majority of the Trustees of the Fund and a majority
of the 12b-1 Trustees referred to in the 12b-1 Plan of the Fund ("Rule 12b-1
Trustees") at least annually in accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
This agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by a vote of a
majority of the Fund's outstanding shares on not more than sixty days written
notice to any other party to the agreement; and shall terminate automatically in
the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
14. This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All sales hereunder are to be made, and title to
the Shares shall pass, in Boston, Massachusetts.
15. The Fund is a Massachusetts business trust established under a
Declaration of Trust, as it may be amended from time to time. The obligations of
the Fund are not personally binding upon, nor shall recourse be had against the
private property of any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, employees or
agents of the Fund, but only the property of the Fund shall be bound.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized at Boston,
Massachusetts, on the day and year first written above.
KEYSTONE AMERICA STRATEGIC
INCOME FUND
By: /s/
------------------------------
Title:
KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/
------------------------------
Title:
FIRST AMENDMENT
TO
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
OF
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
FIRST AMENDMENT (the "Amendment") made as of the 31st day of May 1995
to AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made the 19th day of August 1993 by and between
Keystone Strategic Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust, ("Fund"), and
Keystone Investment Distributors Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Principal
Underwriter").
1. This Amendment is made by the Fund, individually and/or on behalf of its
series if any, referred to above in the title of this Amendment, to which
series, if any, this Amendment shall relate, as applicable (the "Fund").
The Fund and the Principal Underwriter mutually agree that Section 1 of the
Agreement is amended as follows:
" 1. The Fund hereby appoints the Principal Underwriter a principal
underwriter of the Class A and Class C shares of beneficial interest
of the Fund ("Shares") as an independent contractor upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. Except as the Fund may from time to
time agree, the Principal Underwriter will act as agent for the Fund
and not as principal."
2. In all other respects the Agreement is unchanged.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized at Boston,
Massachusetts on the day and year first written above.
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
By: /s/
---------------------------------------
Title:
KEYSTONE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS COMPANY
By: /s/
---------------------------------------
Title:
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
FOR CLASS B-1 SHARES
OF
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
AGREEMENT made this 31st day of May 1995 by and between Keystone Strategic
Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust, ("Fund"), and Keystone Investment
Distributors Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Principal Underwriter").
The Fund, individually and/or on behalf of its series, if any, referred to
above in the title of this Agreement, to which series, if any, this Agreement
shall relate, as applicable (the Fund ), may act as the distributor of certain
securities of which it is the issuer pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 0000 (xxx 0000 Xxx ). Accordingly, it is hereby mutually agreed
as follows:
1. The Fund hereby appoints the Principal Underwriter a principal
underwriter of the Class B-1 shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ("B-1
Shares") as an independent contractor upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth. The general term "Shares" as used herein has the same meaning as is
provided therefor in Schedule I hereto. Except as the Fund may from time to time
agree, the Principal Underwriter will act as agent for the Fund and not as
principal.
2. The Principal Underwriter will use its best efforts to find purchasers
for the B-1 Shares and to promote distribution of the B-1 Shares and may obtain
orders from brokers, dealers or other persons for sales of B-1 Shares to them.
No such dealer, broker or other person shall have any authority to act as agent
for the Fund; such dealer, broker or other person shall act only as principal in
the sale of B-1 Shares.
3. Sales of B-1 Shares by Principal Underwriter shall be at the public
offering price determined in the manner set forth in the prospectus and/or
statement of additional information of the Fund current at the time of the
Fund's acceptance of the order for B-2 Shares. All orders shall be subject to
acceptance by the Fund and the Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to
reject any order received. The Fund shall not be liable to anyone for failure to
accept any order.
4. On all sales of B-1 Shares the Fund shall receive the current net asset
value. The Fund shall pay the Principal Underwriter Distribution Fees (as
defined in Section 14 hereof), as commissions for the sale of B-1 Shares and
other Shares, which shall be paid in conjunction with distribution fees paid to
the Principal Underwriter by other classes of Shares of the Fund to the extent
required in order to comply with Section 14 hereof, and shall pay over to the
Principal Underwriter CDSCs (as defined in Section 14 hereof) as set forth in
the Fund's current prospectus and statement of additional information, and as
required by Section 14 hereof. The Principal Underwriter shall also receive
payments consisting of shareholder service fees ("Service Fees") at the rate of
.25% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Class B-1 Shares. The
Principal Underwriter may allow all or a part of said Distribution Fees and
CDSCs received by it (not paid to others as hereinafter provided) to such
brokers, dealers or other persons as Principal Underwriter may determine.
5. Payment to the Fund for B-1 Shares shall be in New York or Boston
Clearing House funds received by the Principal Underwriter within three business
days after notice of acceptance of the purchase order and the amount of the
applicable public offering price has been given to the purchaser. If such
payment is not received within such period, the Fund reserves the right, without
further notice, forthwith to cancel its acceptance of any such order. The Fund
shall pay such issue taxes as may be required by law in connection with the
issue of the B-1 Shares.
6. The Principal Underwriter shall not make in connection with any sale or
solicitation of a sale of the B-1 Shares any representations concerning the B-1
Shares except those contained in the then current prospectus and/or statement of
additional information covering the Shares and in printed information approved
by the Fund as information supplemental to such prospectus and statement of
additional information. Copies of the then current prospectus and statement of
additional information and any such printed supplemental information will be
supplied by the Fund to the Principal Underwriter in reasonable quantities upon
request.
7. The Principal Underwriter agrees to comply with the Rules of Fair
Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (as defined in
the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of May 31, 1995 (the Purchase
Agreement ), between the Principal Underwriter, Citibank, N.A. and Citicorp
North America, Inc., as agent (the "Rules of Fair Practice")).
8. The Fund appoints the Principal Underwriter as its agent to accept
orders for redemptions and repurchases of B-1 Shares at values and in the manner
determined in accordance with the then current prospectus and/or statement of
additional information of the Fund.
9. The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Principal
Underwriter, its officers and Directors and each person, if any, who controls
the Principal Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
of 1933 ("1933 Act"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred in connection therewith)
which the Principal Underwriter, its officers, Directors or any such controlling
person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon
a. any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Fund's registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information (including amendments and
supplements thereto) or
b. any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be stated in the Fund's registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided, however, that insofar as losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based
upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance and in conformity with information
furnished to the Fund by the Principal Underwriter for use in the
Fund's registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information, such indemnification is not applicable. In no case shall
the Fund indemnify the Principal Underwriter or its controlling person
as to any amounts incurred for any liability arising out of or based
upon any action for which the Principal Underwriter, its officers and
Directors or any controlling person would otherwise be subject to
liability by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
10. The Principal Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund, its officers and Trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Fund
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any loss, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred
in connection therewith) which the Fund, its officers, Directors or any such
controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at
common law or otherwise arising out of the acquisition of any Shares by any
person which
(a) may be based upon any wrongful act by the Principal Underwriter or any
of its employees or representatives, or
(b) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in the Fund's registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information (including
amendments and supplements thereto), or any omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished
or confirmed in writing to the Fund by the Principal Underwriter.
11. The Fund agrees to execute such papers and to do such acts and things
as shall from time to time be reasonably requested by the Principal Underwriter
for the purpose of qualifying the B-1 Shares for sale under the so-called "blue
sky" laws of any state or for registering B-1 Shares under the 1933 Act or the
Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). The Principal
Underwriter shall bear the expenses of preparing, printing and distributing
advertising, sales literature, prospectuses, and statements of additional
information. The Fund shall bear the expense of registering B-1 Shares under the
1933 Act and the Fund under the 1940 Act, qualifying B-1 Shares for sale under
the so-called "blue sky" laws of any state, the preparation and printing of
prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports required to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other authorities, the
preparation, printing and mailing of prospectuses and statements of additional
information to holders of B-1 Shares, and the direct expenses of the issue of
B-1 Shares.
12. The Principal Underwriter shall, at the request of the Fund, provide to
the Board of Trustees or Directors (together herein called the Directors ) of
the Fund in connection with sales of B-1 Shares not less than quarterly a
written report of the amounts received from the Fund therefor and the purpose
for which such expenditures by the Fund were made.
13. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date hereof and, unless
sooner terminated or continued as provided below, shall expire after one year.
This Agreement shall continue in effect after such term if its continuance is
specifically approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
Class B-1 of the Fund or by a majority of the Directors of the Fund and a
majority of the Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested
persons", as defined in the Investment Company Act of 0000 (xxx 0000 Xxx ), of
any such party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for Class B-1 Shares or in any
agreements related to the plan at least annually in accordance with the 1940 Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of a majority of the Directors of the Fund, or a majority of
such Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons", as
defined in the 1940 Act, of any such party and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for Class B-1
Shares or in any agreement related to the plan or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of Class B-1 on not more than sixty days written
notice to any other party to the agreement; and shall terminate automatically in
the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act), which shall not
include assignment of the Principal Underwriter's (as hereinafter defined)
provided for hereunder and/or rights related to such Allocable Portions.
14. The provisions of this Section 14 shall be applicable to the extent
necessary to enable the Fund to comply with the obligation of the Fund to pay
the Principal Underwriter its Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees paid in
respect of Shares while the Fund is required to do so pursuant the Principal
Underwriting Agreement, of even date herewith, in respect of Class B-2 Shares,
and shall remain in effect so long as any payments are required to be made by
the Fund pursuant to the irrevocable payment instruction (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement (the Irrevocable Payment Instruction )).
14.1 The Fund shall pay to the Principal Underwriter the Principal
Underwriter's Allocable Portion (as hereinafter defined) of a fee (the
"Distribution Fee") at the rate of .75% per annum of the average daily net asset
value of the Shares, subject to the limitation on the maximum aggregate amount
of such fees under the Rules of Fair Practice as applicable to such Distribution
Fee on the date hereof.
14.2 The Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees
paid by the Fund in respect of Shares shall be equal to the portion of the Asset
Based Sales Charge allocable to Distributor Shares (as defined in Schedule I
hereto to this Agreement) in accordance with Schedule I hereto. The Fund agrees
to cause its transfer agent to maintain the records and arrange for the payments
on behalf of the Fund at the times and in the amounts and to the accounts
required by Schedule I hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time. It
is acknowledged and agreed that by virtue of the operation of Schedule I hereto
the Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees paid by the
Fund in respect of Shares, may, to the extent provided in Schedule I hereto,
take into account Distribution Fees payable by the Fund in respect of other
existing and future classes and/or sub-classes of shares of the Fund which would
be treated as "Shares" under Schedule I hereto. The Fund will limit amounts paid
to any subsequent principal underwriters of Shares to the portion of the Asset
Based Sales Charge paid in respect of Shares which is allocable to
Post-distributor Shares (as defined in Schedule I hereto) in accordance with
Schedule I hereto. The Fund's payments to the Principal Underwriter in
consideration of its services in connection with the sale of B-1 Shares shall be
the Distribution Fees attributable to B-1 Shares which are Distributor Shares
(as defined in Schedule I hereto) and all other amounts constituting the
Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees shall be the
Distribution Fees related to the sale of other Shares which are Distributor
Shares (as defined in Schedule I hereto).
The Fund shall cause its transfer agent and sub-transfer agents to withhold
from redemption proceeds payable to holders of Shares on redemption thereof the
contingent deferred sales charges payable upon redemption thereof as set forth
in the then current prospectus and/or statement of additional information of the
Fund ("CDSCs") and to pay over to the Principal Underwriter The Principal
Underwriter's Allocable Portion of said CDSCs paid in respect of Shares which
shall be equal to the portion thereof allocable to Distributor Shares (as
defined in Schedule I hereto) in accordance with Schedule I hereto.
14.3 The Principal Underwriter shall be considered to have completely
earned the right to the payment of its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fee
and the right to payment over to it of its' Allocable Portion of the CDSC in
respect of Shares as provided for hereby upon the completion of the sale of each
Commission Share (as defined in Schedule I hereto) taken into account as a
Distributor Share in computing the Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion in
accordance with Schedule I hereto.
14.4 Except as provided in Section 14.5 hereof in respect of Distribution
Fees only, the Fund's obligation to pay the Principal Underwriter the
Distribution Fees and to pay over to the Principal Underwriter CDSCs provided
for hereby shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be subject to
dispute, offset, counterclaim or any defense whatsoever (it being understood
that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed a waiver by the Fund of its right
separately to pursue any claims it may have against the Principal Underwriter
and enforce such claims against any assets (other than the Principal
Underwriter's right to its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs
(the "Collection Rights") of the Principal Underwriter).
14.5 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fund
shall pay to the Principal Underwriter its Allocable Portion of Distribution
Fees provided for hereby notwithstanding its termination as Principal
Underwriter for the Shares or any termination of this Agreement and such payment
of such Distribution Fees, and that obligation and the method of computing such
payment, shall not be changed or terminated except to the extent required by any
change in applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, the Rules
promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Rules
of Fair Practice, in each case enacted or promulgated after June 1, 1995, or in
connection with a Complete Termination (as hereinafter defined). For the
purposes of this Section 14.5, "Complete Termination" means a termination of the
Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for B-2 Shares involving the cessation of payments of the
Distribution Fees, and the cessation of payments of distribution fees pursuant
to every other Rule 12b-1 plan of the Fund for every existing or future
B-Class-of-Shares (as hereinafter defined) and the Fund's discontinuance of the
offering of every existing or future B-Class-of-Shares, which conditions shall
be deemed satisfied when they are first complied with hereafter and so long
thereafter as they are complied with prior to the earlier of (i) the date upon
which all of the B-2 Shares which are Distributor Shares pursuant to Schedule I
hereto shall have been redeemed or converted or (ii) June 1, 2005. For purposes
of this Section 14.5, the term B-Class-of-Shares means each of the B-1 Class of
Shares of the Fund, the B-2 Class of Shares of the Fund and each other class of
shares of the Fund hereafter issued which would be treated as Shares under
Schedule I hereto or which has substantially similar economic characteristics to
the B-1 or B-2 Classes of Shares taking into account the total sales charge,
CDSC or other similar charges borne directly or indirectly by the holder of the
shares of such class. The parties agree that the existing C Class of Shares of
the Fund does not have substantially similar economic characteristics to the B-1
or B-2 Classes of Shares taking into account the total sales charge, CDSC or
other similar charges borne directly or indirectly by the holder of such shares.
For purposes of clarity the parties to this agreement hereby state that they
intend that a new installment load class of shares which may be authorized by
amendments to Rule 6(c)-10 under the 1940 Act will be considered to be a
B-Class-of-Shares if it has economic characteristics substantially similar to
the economic characteristics of the existing B-1 or B-2 Classes of Shares taking
into account the total sale charge, CDSC or other similar charges borne directly
or indirectly by the holder of such shares and will not be considered to be a
B-Class-of-Shares if it has economic characteristics substantially similar to
the economic characteristics of the existing C Class of shares of the Fund
taking into account the total sales charge, CDSC or other similar charges borne
directly or indirectly by the holder of such shares.
14.6 The Principal Underwriter may assign any part of its Allocable
Portions and obligations of the Fund related thereto (but not the Principal
Underwriter's obligations to the Fund provided for in this Agreement) to any
person (an "Assignee") and any such assignment shall be effective as to the Fund
upon written notice to the Fund by the Principal Underwriter. In connection
therewith the Fund shall pay all or any amounts in respect of its Allocable
Portions directly to the Assignee thereof as directed in a writing by the
Principal Underwriter in the Irrevocable Payment Instruction, as the same may be
amended from time to time with the consent of the Fund, and the Fund shall be
without liability to any person if it pays such amounts when and as so directed,
except for underpayments of amounts actually due, without any amount payable as
consequential or other damages due to such underpayment and without interest
except to the extent that delay in payment of Distribution Fees and CDSCs
results in an increase in the maximum Sales Charge allowable under the Rules of
Fair Practice, which increases daily at a rate of prime plus one percent per
annum.
14.7 The Fund will not, to the extent it may otherwise be empowered to do
so, change or waive any CDSC with respect to B-1 Shares, except as provided in
the Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information without the
Principal Underwriter's or Assignee's consent, as applicable. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any termination of this Agreement
or the Principal Underwriter as principal underwriter for the Shares of the
Fund, the Principal Underwriter shall be entitled to be paid its Allocable
Portion of the CDSCs whether or not the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for B-1 Shares is
terminated and whether or not any such termination is a Complete Termination, as
defined above.
15. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All sales hereunder are to be made, and title to
the Shares shall pass, in Boston, Massachusetts.
16. The Fund is a Massachusetts business trust established under a
Declaration of Trust, as it may be amended from time to time. The obligations of
the Fund are not personally binding upon, nor shall recourse be had against the
private property of any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, employees or
agents of the Fund, but only the property of the Fund shall be bound.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized at Boston,
Massachusetts, on the day and year first written above.
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
By: /s/
----------------------------
Title:
KEYSTONE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/
----------------------------
Title:
SCHEDULE I
TO
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
FOR CLASS B-1 SHARES
OF
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
TRANSFER AGENT PROCEDURES FOR DIFFERENTIATING
AMONG DISTRIBUTOR SHARES AND POST-DISTRIBUTOR SHARES
Amounts (in respect of Asset Based Sales Charges (as hereinafter defined)
and CDSCs (as hereinafter defined) in respect of Shares (as hereinafter defined)
of each Fund (as hereinafter defined) shall be allocated between Distributor
Shares (as hereinafter defined) and Post-distributor Shares (as hereinafter
defined) of such Fund in accordance with the rules set forth in clauses (B) and
(C). Clause (B) sets forth the rules to be followed by the Transfer Agent for
each Fund and the record owner of each Omnibus Account (as hereinafter defined)
in maintaining records relating to Distributor Shares and Post-distributor
Shares. Clause (C) sets forth the rules to be followed by the Transfer Agent for
each Fund and the record owner of each Omnibus Account in determining what
portion of the Asset Based Sales Charge (as hereinafter defined) payable in
respect of each class of Shares of such Fund and what portion of the CDSC (as
hereinafter defined) payable by the holders of Shares of such Fund is
attributable to Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares, respectively.
(A) DEFINITIONS:
Generally, for purposes of this Schedule I, defined terms shall be used
with the meaning assigned to them in the Agreement, except that for purposes of
the following rules the following definitions are also applicable:
"Agreement" shall mean the Principal Underwriting Agreement for Class B-1
Shares of the Instant Fund dated as of June 1, 1995 between the Instant Fund and
the Distributor.
"Asset Based Sales Charge" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
26(b)(8)(C) of the Rules of Fair Practice it being understood that for purposes
of this Exhibit I such term does not include the Service Fee.
"Business Day" shall mean any day on which the banks and the New York Stock
Exchange are not authorized or required to close in New York City.
"Capital Gain Dividend" shall mean, in respect of any Share of any Fund, a
Dividend in respect of such Share which is designated by such Fund as being a
"capital gain dividend" as such term is defined in Section 852 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"CDSC" shall mean with respect to any Fund, the contingent deferred sales
charge payable, either directly or by withholding from the proceeds of the
redemption of the Shares of such Fund, by the shareholders of such Fund on any
redemption of Shares of such Fund in accordance with the Prospectus relating to
such Fund.
"Commission Share" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, a Share of such Fund
issued under circumstances where a CDSC would be payable upon the redemption of
such Share if such CDSC is not waived or shall have not otherwise expired.
"Date of Original Purchase" shall mean, in respect of any Commission Share
of any Fund, the date on which such Commission Share was first issued by such
Fund; provided, that if such Share is a Commission Share and such Fund issued
the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question in connection with a Free
Exchange for a Commission Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund, the Date
of Original Purchase for the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question
shall be the date on which the Commission Share (or portion thereof) of the
other Fund was first issued by such other Fund (unless such Commission Share (or
portion thereof) was also issued by such other Fund in a Free Exchange, in which
case this proviso shall apply to that Free Exchange and this application shall
be repeated until one reaches a Commission Share (or portion thereof) which was
issued by a Fund other than in a Free Exchange).
"Distributor" shall mean Keystone Investment Distributors Company, its
successors and assigns.
"Distributor's Account" shall mean the account of the Distributor, account
no. 0000-000-0, ABA No. 011 0000 28, entitled "General Account" maintained with
State Street Bank & Trust Company or such other account as the Distributor may
designate in a notice to the Transfer Agent.
"Distributor Inception Date" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, the date
identified as the date Shares of such Fund are first sold by the Distributor.
"Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date" shall mean, in respect of any Fund,
the date identified as the last sale of a Commission Share during the period the
Distributor served as principal underwriter under the Agreement.
"Distributor Shares" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, all Shares of such
Fund the Month of Original Purchase of which occurs on or after the Inception
Date for such Fund and on or prior to the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date in
respect of such Fund.
"Dividend" shall mean, in respect of any Share of any Fund, any dividend or
other distribution by such Fund in respect of such Share.
"Free Exchange" shall mean any exchange of a Commission Share (or portion
thereof) of one Fund (the "Redeeming Fund") for a Share (or portion thereof) of
another Fund (the "Issuing Fund"), under any arrangement which defers the
exchanging Shareholder's obligation to pay the CDSC in respect of the Commission
Share (or portion thereof) of the Redeeming Fund so exchanged until the later
redemption of the Share (or portion thereof) of the Issuing Fund received in
such exchange.
"Free Share" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, each Share of such Fund
other than a Commission Share, including, without limitation: (i) Shares issued
in connection with the automatic reinvestment of Capital Gain Dividends or Other
Dividends by such Fund, (ii) Special Free Shares issued by such Fund and (iii)
Shares (or portion thereof) issued by such Fund in connection with an exchange
whereby a Free Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund is redeemed and the
Net Asset Value of such redeemed Free Share (or portion thereof) is invested in
such Shares (or portion thereof) of such Fund.
"Fund" shall mean each of the regulated investment companies or series or
portfolios of regulated investment companies identified in Schedule II to the
Irrevocable Payment Instruction, as the same may be amended from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
"Instant Fund" shall mean [Keystone Equity Fund].
"ML Omnibus Account" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, the Omnibus
Account maintained by Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx as subtransfer
agent.
"Month of Original Purchase" shall mean, in respect of any Share of any
Fund, the calendar month in which such Share was first issued by such Fund;
provided, that if such Share is a Commission Share and such Fund issued the
Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question in connection with a Free
Exchange for a Commission Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund, the Month
of Original Purchase for the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question
shall be the calendar month in which the Commission Share (or portion thereof)
of the other Fund was first issued by such other Fund (unless such Commission
Share (or portion thereof) was also issued by such other Fund in a Free
Exchange, in which case this proviso shall apply to that Free Exchange and this
application shall be repeated until one reaches a Commission Share (or portion
thereof) which was issued by a Fund other than in a Free Exchange); provided,
further, that if such Share is a Free Share and such Fund issued such Free Share
in connection with the automatic reinvestment of dividends in respect of other
Shares of such Fund, the Month of Original Purchase of such Free Share shall be
deemed to be the Month of Original Purchase of the Share in respect of which
such dividend was paid; provided, further, that if such Share is a Free Share
and such Fund issued such Free Share in connection with an exchange whereby a
Free Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund is redeemed and the Net Asset
Value of such redeemed Free Share (or portion thereof) is invested in a Free
Share (or portion thereof) of such Fund, the Month of Original Issue of such
Free Share shall be the Month of Original Issue of the Free Share of such other
Fund so redeemed (unless such Free Share of such other Fund was also issued by
such other Fund in such an exchange, in which case this proviso shall apply to
that exchange and this application shall be repeated until one reaches a Free
Share which was issued by a Fund other than in such an exchange); and provided,
finally, that for purposes of this Schedule I each of the following periods
shall be treated as one calendar month for purposes of applying the rules of
this Schedule I to any Fund: (i) the period of time from and including the
Distributor Inception Date for such Fund to and including the last day of the
calendar month in which such Distributor Inception Date occurs; (ii) the period
of time commencing with the first day of the calendar month in which the
Distributor Last Sale Cutoff Date in respect of such Fund occurs to and
including such Distributor Last Sale Cutoff Date; and (iii) the period of time
commencing on the day immediately following the Distributor Last Sale Cutoff
Date in respect of such Fund to and including the last day of the calendar month
in which such Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date occurs.
"Omnibus Account" shall mean any Shareholder Account the record owner of
which is a registered broker-dealer which has agreed with the Transfer Agent to
provide sub-transfer agent functions relating to each Sub-shareholder Account
within such Shareholder Account as contemplated by this Schedule I in respect of
each of the Funds.
"Omnibus Asset Based Sales Charge Settlement Date" shall mean, in respect
of each Omnibus Account, the Business Day next following the twentieth day of
each calendar month for the calendar month immediately preceding such date so
long as the record owner is able to allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge
accruing in respect of Shares of any Fund as contemplated by this Schedule I no
more frequently than monthly; provided, that at such time as the record owner of
such Omnibus Account is able to provide information sufficient to allocate the
Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in respect of such Shares of such Fund owned
of record by such Omnibus Account as contemplated by this Schedule I on a weekly
or daily basis, the Omnibus Asset Based Sales Charge Settlement Date shall be a
weekly date as in the case of the Omnibus CDSC Settlement Date or a daily date
as in the case of Asset Based Sales Charges accruing in respect of Shareholder
Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts, as the case may be.
"Omnibus CDSC Settlement Date" shall mean, in respect of each Omnibus
Account, the third Business Day of each calendar week for the calendar week
immediately preceding such date so long as the record owner of such Omnibus
Account is able to allocate the CDSCs accruing in respect of any Shares of any
Fund as contemplated by this Schedule I for no more frequently than weekly;
provided, that at such time as the record owner of such Shares of such Fund
owned of record by such Omnibus Account is able to provide information
sufficient to allocate the CDSCs accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account as
contemplated by this Schedule I on a daily basis, the Omnibus CDSC Settlement
Date for such Omnibus Account shall be a daily date as in the case of CDSCs
accruing in respect of Shareholder Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts.
"Original Purchase Amount" shall mean, in respect of any Commission Share
of any Fund, the amount paid (i.e., the Net Asset Value thereof on such date),
on the Date of Original Purchase in respect of such Commission Share, by such
Shareholder Account or Sub-shareholder Account for such Commission Share;
provided, that if such Fund issued the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in
question in connection with a Free Exchange for a Commission Share (or portion
thereof) of another Fund, the Original Purchase Amount for the Commission Share
(or portion thereof) in question shall be the Original Purchase Amount in
respect of such Commission Share (or portion thereof) of such other Fund (unless
such Commission Share (or portion thereof) was also issued by such other Fund in
a Free Exchange, in which case this proviso shall apply to that Free Exchange
and this application shall be repeated until one reaches a Commission Share (or
portion thereof) which was issued by a Fund other than in a Free Exchange).
"Other Dividend" shall mean in respect of any Share, any Dividend paid in
respect of such Share other than a Capital Gain Dividend.
"Post-distributor Shares" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, all Shares of
such Fund the Month of Original Purchase of which occurs after the Distributor
Last Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund.
"Program Agent" shall mean Citicorp North America, Inc., as Program Agent
under the Purchase Agreement, and its successors and assigns in such capacity.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement
dated as of May 31, 1995, among Keystone Investment Distributors Company, as
Seller, Citibank, N.A., as Purchaser, and Citicorp North America, Inc., as
Program Agent.
"Share" shall mean in respect of any Fund any share of the classes of
shares specified in Schedule II to the Irrevocable Payment Instruction opposite
the name of such Fund, as the same may be amended from time to time by notice
from the Distributor and the Program Agent to the Fund and the Transfer Agent;
provided, that such term shall include, after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off
Date, a share of a new class of shares of such Fund: (i) with respect to each
record owner of Shares which is not treated in the records of each Transfer
Agent and Sub-transfer Agent for such Fund as an entirely separate and distinct
class of shares from the classes of shares specified Schedule II to the
Irrevocable Payment Instruction or (ii) the shares of which class may be
exchanged for shares of another Fund of the classes of shares specified on
Schedule II to the Irrevocable Payment Instruction of any class existing on or
prior to the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date; or (iii) dividends on which can
be reinvested in shares of the classes specified on Schedule II to the
Irrevocable Payment Instruction under the automatic dividend reinvestment
options; or (iv) which is otherwise treated as though it were of the same class
as the class of shares specified on Schedule II to the Irrevocable Payment
Instruction.
"Shareholder Account" shall have the meaning set forth in clause (B)(1)
hereof.
"Special Free Share" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, a Share (other
than a Commission Share) issued by such Fund other than in connection with the
automatic reinvestment of Dividends and other than in connection with an
exchange whereby a Free Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund is redeemed
and the Net Asset Value of such redeemed Share (or portion thereof) is invested
in a Share (or portion thereof) of such Fund.
"Sub-shareholder Account" shall have the meaning set forth in clause (B)(1)
hereof.
"Sub-transfer Agent" shall mean, in respect of each Omnibus Account, the
record owner thereof.
(B) RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR EACH FUND AND THE
RECORD OWNER OF EACH OMNIBUS ACCOUNT:
The Transfer Agent shall maintain Shareholder Accounts, and shall cause
each record owner of each Omnibus Account to maintain Sub-shareholder Accounts,
each in accordance with the following rules:
(1) SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS AND SUB-SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS. The Transfer Agent
shall maintain a separate account (a "Shareholder Account") for each record
owner of Shares of each Fund. Each Shareholder Account (other than Omnibus
Accounts) will represent a record owner of Shares of such Fund, the records of
which will be kept in accordance with this Schedule I. In the case of an Omnibus
Account, the Transfer Agent shall require that the record owner of the Omnibus
Account maintain a separate account (a "Sub-shareholder Account") for each
record owner of Shares which are reflected in the Omnibus Account, the records
of which will be kept in accordance with this Schedule I. Each such Shareholder
Account and Sub-shareholder Account shall relate solely to Shares of such Fund
and shall not relate to any other class of shares of such Fund.
(2) COMMISSION SHARES. For each Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus
Account), the Transfer Agent shall maintain daily records of each Commission
Share of such Fund which records shall identify each Commission Share of such
Fund reflected in such Shareholder Account by the Month of Original Purchase of
such Commission Share.
For each Omnibus Account, the Transfer Agent shall require that the
Sub-transfer Agent in respect thereof maintain daily records of such
Sub-shareholder Account which records shall identify each Commission Share of
such Fund reflected in such Sub-shareholder Account by the Month of Original
Purchase; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML
Omnibus Account develops the data processing capability to conform to the
foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent shall maintain daily records of
Sub-shareholder Accounts which identify each Commission Share of such Fund
reflected in such Sub-shareholder Account by the Date of Original Purchase. Each
such Commission Share shall be identified as either a Distributor Share or a
Post-distributor Share based upon the Month of Original Purchase of such
Commission Share (or in the case of a Sub-shareholder Account within the ML
Omnibus Account, based upon the Date of Original Purchase).
(3) FREE SHARES. The Transfer Agent shall maintain daily records of each
Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account) in respect of any Fund so as
to identify each Free Share (including each Special Free Share) reflected in
such Shareholder Account by the Month of Original Purchase of such Free Share.
In addition, the Transfer Agent shall require that each Shareholder Account
(other than an Omnibus Account) have in effect separate elections relating to
reinvestment of Capital Gain Dividends and relating to reinvestment of Other
Dividends in respect of any Fund. Either such Shareholder Account shall have
elected to reinvest all Capital Gain Dividends or such Shareholder Account shall
have elected to have all Capital Gain Dividends distributed. Similarly, either
such Shareholder Account shall have elected to reinvest all Other Dividends or
such Shareholder Account shall have elected to have all Other Dividends
distributed.
The Transfer Agent shall require that the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of
each Omnibus Account maintain daily records for each Sub-shareholder Account in
the manner described in the immediately preceding paragraph for Shareholder
Accounts (other than Omnibus Accounts); provided, that until the Sub-transfer
Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing
capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent
shall not be obligated to conform to the foregoing requirements. Each
Sub-shareholder Account shall also have in effect Dividend reinvestment
elections as described in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The Transfer Agent and each Sub-transfer Agent in respect of an Omnibus
Account shall identify each Free Share as either a Distributor Share or a
Post-distributor Share based upon the Month of Original Purchase of such Free
Share; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus
Account develops the data processing capability to conform to the foregoing
requirements, the Transfer Agent shall require such Sub-transfer Agent to
identify each Free Share of a given Fund in the ML Omnibus Account as a
Distributor Share, or Post-distributor Share, as follows:
(a) Free Shares of such Fund which are outstanding on the Distributor Last
Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund shall be identified as Distributor
Shares.
(b) Free Shares of such Fund which are issued (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for a Free Share of another Fund) to the
ML Omnibus Account during any calendar month (or portion thereof)
after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund shall be
identified as Distributor Shares in a number computed as follows:
A X (B/C)
where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund issued to the ML Omnibus Account during
such calendar month (or portion thereof)
B = Number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund in the
ML Omnibus Account identified as Distributor Shares and
outstanding as of the close of business in the last day of the
immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof)
C = Total number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund
in the ML Omnibus Account and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month (or portion thereof).
(c) Free Shares of such Fund which are issued (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for a free share of another Fund) to the
ML Omnibus Account during any calendar month (or portion thereof)
after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund shall be
identified as Post-distributor Shares in a number computed as follows:
(A X (B/C)
where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund issued to the ML Omnibus Account during
such calendar month (or portion thereof)
B = Number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund in the
ML Omnibus Account identified as Post-distributor Shares and
outstanding as of the close of business in the last day of the
immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof)
C = Total number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund
in the ML Omnibus Account and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month (or portion thereof).
(d) Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a Class A Share of
such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account in any calendar month (or
portion thereof) after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such
Fund shall be identified as Distributor Shares in a number computed as
follows:
A X (B/C)
Where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a class A share
of such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account during such calendar
month (or portion thereof)
B = Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account identified as
Distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of business on
the last day of the immediately preceding calendar month.
C = Total number of Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus
Account and outstanding as of the close of business on the last
day of the immediately preceding calendar month.
(e) Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a class A share of
such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account in any calendar month (or
portion thereof) after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such
Fund shall be identified as Post-distributor Shares in a number
computed as follows:
A X (B/C)
where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a class A share
of such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account during such calendar
month (or portion thereof)
B = Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account identified as
Post-distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month.
C = Total number of Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus
Account and outstanding as of the close of business on the last
day of the immediately preceding calendar month.
(4) APPRECIATION AMOUNT AND COST ACCUMULATION AMOUNT. The Transfer Agent
shall maintain on a daily basis in respect of each Shareholder Account (other
than Omnibus Accounts) a Cost Accumulation Amount representing the total of the
Original Purchase Amounts paid by such Shareholder Account for all Commission
Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account as of the close of business on each
day. In addition, the Transfer Agent shall maintain on a daily basis in respect
of each Shareholder Account (other than Omnibus Accounts) sufficient records to
enable it to compute, as of the date of any actual or deemed redemption or Free
Exchange of a Commission Share reflected in such Shareholder Account an amount
(such amount an "Appreciation Amount") equal to the excess, if any, of the Net
Asset Value as of the close of business on such day of the Commission Shares
reflected in such Shareholder Account minus the Cost Accumulation Amount as of
the close of business on such day. In the event that a Commission Share (or
portion thereof) reflected in a Shareholder Account is redeemed or under these
rules is deemed to have been redeemed (whether in a Free Exchange or otherwise),
the Appreciation Amount for such Shareholder Account shall be reduced, to the
extent thereof, by the Net Asset Value of the Commission Share (or portion
thereof) redeemed, and if the Net Asset Value of the Commission Share (or
portion thereof) being redeemed equals or exceeds the Appreciation Amount, the
Cost Accumulation Amount will be reduced to the extent thereof, by such excess.
If the Appreciation Amount for such Shareholder Account immediately prior to any
redemption of a Commission Share (or portion thereof) is equal to or greater
than the Net Asset Value of such Commission Share (or portion thereof) deemed to
have been tendered for redemption, no CDSCs will be payable in respect of such
Commission Share (or portion thereof).
The Transfer Agent shall require that the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of
each Omnibus Account maintain on a daily basis in respect of each
Sub-shareholder Account reflected in such Omnibus Account a Cost Accumulation
Amount and sufficient records to enable it to compute, as of the date of any
actual or deemed redemption or Free Exchange of a Commission Share reflected in
such Sub-shareholder Account an Appreciation Amount in accordance with the
preceding paragraph and to apply the same to determine whether a CDSC is payable
(as though such Sub-shareholder Account were a Shareholder Account other than an
Omnibus Account; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the
ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing capability to conform to the
foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent shall maintain for each
Sub-shareholder Account a separate Cost Accumulation Amount and a separate
Appreciation Amount for each Date of Original Purchase of any Commission Share
which shall be applied as set forth in the preceding paragraph as if each Date
of Original Purchase were a separate Month of Original Purchase.
(5) NASD CAP. On the date the distribution fees paid in respect of any
class of Shares equals the maximum amount thereon under the Rules of Fair
Practice, in respect of such class, all outstanding Shares of such class of such
Fund shall be converted into Class A shares of such Fund and will be deemed to
have been redeemed for their Net Asset Value for purposes of this Schedule I.
(6) IDENTIFICATION OF REDEEMED SHARES. If a Shareholder Account (other than
an Omnibus Account) tenders a Share of a Fund for redemption (other than in
connection with an exchange of such Share for a Share of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Share pursuant to a Conversion Feature),
such tendered Share will be deemed to be a Free Share if there are any Free
Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately prior to such tender.
If there is more than one Free Share reflected in such Shareholder Account
immediately prior to such tender, such tendered Share will be deemed to be the
Free Share with the earliest Month of Original Purchase. If there are no Free
Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately prior to such tender,
such tendered Share will be deemed to be the Commission Share with the earliest
Month of Original Purchase reflected in such Shareholder Account.
If a Sub-shareholder Account reflected in an Omnibus Account tenders a
Share for redemption (other than in connection with an Exchange of such Share
for a Share of another Fund or in connection with the conversion of such Share
pursuant to a Conversion Feature), the Transfer Agent shall require that the
record owner of each Omnibus Account supply the Transfer Agent sufficient
records to enable the Transfer Agent to apply the rules of the preceding
paragraph to such Sub-shareholder Account (as though such Sub-shareholder
Account were a Shareholder Account other than an Omnibus Account); provided,
that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops
the data processing capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such
Sub-transfer Agent shall not be required to conform to the foregoing rules
regarding Free Shares (and the Transfer Agent shall account for such Free Shares
as provided in (3) above) but shall apply the foregoing rules to each Commission
Share with respect to the Date of Original Purchase of any Commission Share as
though each such Date were a separate Month of Original Purchase.
(7) IDENTIFICATION OF EXCHANGED SHARES. When a Shareholder Account (other
than an Omnibus Account) tenders Shares of one Fund (the "Redeeming Fund") for
redemption where the proceeds of such redemption are to be automatically
reinvested in shares of another Fund (the "Issuing Fund") to effect an exchange
(whether or not pursuant to a Free Exchange) into Shares of the Issuing Fund:
(1) such Shareholder Account will be deemed to have tendered Shares (or portions
thereof) of the Redeeming Fund with each Month of Original Purchase represented
by Shares of the Redeeming Fund reflected in such Shareholder Account
immediately prior to such tender in the same proportion that the number of
Shares of the redeeming Fund with such Month of Original Purchase reflected in
such Shareholder immediately prior to such tender bore to the total number of
Shares of the Redeeming Fund reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately
prior to such tender, and on that basis the tendered Shares of the Redeeming
Fund will be identified as Distributor Shares or Post-distributor Shares; (2)
such Shareholder Account will be deemed to have tendered Commission Shares (or
portions thereof) and Free Shares (or portions thereof) of the Redeeming Fund of
each category (i.e., Distributor Shares or Post-distributor Shares) in the same
proportion that the number of Commission Shares or Free Shares (as the case may
be) of the Redeeming Fund in such category reflected in such Shareholder Account
bore to the total number of Shares of the Redeeming Fund in such category
reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately prior to such tender, (3) the
Shares (or portions thereof) of the Issuing Fund issued in connection with such
exchange will be deemed to have the same Months of Original Purchase as the
Shares (or portions thereof) of the Redeeming Fund so tendered and will be
categorized as Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares accordingly, and
(4) the Shares (or portions thereof) of each Category of the Issuing Fund issued
in connection with such exchange will be deemed to be Commission Shares and Free
Shares in the same proportion that the Shares of such Category of the Redeeming
Fund were Commission Shares and Free Shares.
The Transfer Agent shall require that each record owner of an Omnibus
Account maintain records relating to each Sub-shareholder Account in such
Omnibus Account sufficient to apply the foregoing rules to each such
Sub-shareholder Account (as though such Sub-shareholder Account were a
Shareholder Account other than an Omnibus Account); provided, that until the
Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data
processing capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such
Sub-transfer Agent shall not be required to conform to the foregoing rules
relating to Free Shares (and the Sub-transfer Agent shall account for such Free
Shares as provided in (3) above) and shall apply a first-in-first-out procedure
(based upon the Date of Original Purchase) to determine which Commission Shares
(or portions thereof) of a Redeeming Fund were redeemed in connection with an
exchange.
(8) IDENTIFICATION OF CONVERTED SHARES. The Transfer Agent records
maintained for each Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account) will
treat each Commission Share of a Fund as though it were redeemed at its Net
Asset Value on the date such Commission Share converts into a class A share of
such Fund in accordance with an applicable Conversion Feature applied with
reference to its Month of Original Purchase and will treat each Free Share of
such Fund with a given Month of Original Purchase as though it were redeemed at
its Net Asset Value when it is simultaneously converted to a class A share at
the time the Commission Shares of such Fund with such Month of Original Purchase
are so converted.
The Transfer Agent shall require that each record owner of an Omnibus
Account maintain records relating to each Sub-shareholder Account in such
Omnibus Account sufficient to apply the foregoing rules to each such
Sub-shareholder Account (as though such Sub-shareholder Account were a
Shareholder Account other than an Omnibus Account) ; provided, that until the
Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data
processing capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such
Sub-transfer Agent shall apply the foregoing rules to Commission Shares with
reference to the Date of Original Issue of each Commission Share (as though each
such date were a separate Month of Original Issue) and shall not be required to
apply the foregoing rules to Free Shares (and the Sub-transfer Agent shall
account for such Free Shares as provided in (3) above).
(C) ALLOCATIONS OF ASSET BASED SALE CHARGES AND CDSCS AMONG DISTRIBUTOR
SHARES AND POST-DISTRIBUTOR SHARES:
The Transfer Agent shall use the following rules to allocate the amounts of
Asset Based Sales Charges and CDSCs payable by each Fund in respect of Shares
between Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares:
(1) RECEIVABLES CONSTITUTING CDSCS: CDSCs will be treated as relating to
Distributor Shares or Post-distributor Shares depending upon the Month of
Original Purchase of the Commission Share the redemption of which gives rise to
the payment of a CDSC by a Shareholder Account.
The Transfer Agent shall cause each Sub-transfer Agent to apply the
foregoing rule to each Sub-shareholder Account based on the records maintained
by such Sub-transfer Agent; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in
respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing capability to
conform to the foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent shall apply the
foregoing rules to each Sub-shareholder Account with respect to the Date of
Original Purchase of any Commission Share as though each such date were a
separate Month of Original Purchase.
(2) RECEIVABLES CONSTITUTING ASSET BASED SALES CHARGES:
The Asset Based Sales Charges accruing in respect of each Shareholder
Account (other than an Omnibus Account) shall be allocated to each Share
reflected in such Shareholder Account as of the close of business on such day on
an equal per share basis. For example, the Asset Based Sales Charges
attributable to Distributor Shares on any day shall be computed and allocated as
follows:
A X (B/C)
where:
A. = Total amount of Asset Based Sales Charge accrued in respect of such
Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account) on such day.
B. = Number of Distributor Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account
(other than an Omnibus Account) on the close of business on such day
C. = Total number of Distributor Shares and Post-Distributor Shares
reflected in such Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account)
and outstanding as of the close of business on such day.
The Portion of the Asset Based Sales Charges of such Fund accruing in respect of
such Shareholder Account for such day allocated to Post-distributor Shares will
be obtained using the same formula but substituting for "B" the number of
Post-distributor Shares, as the case may be, reflected in such Shareholder
Account and outstanding on the close of business on such day. The foregoing
allocation formula may be adjusted from time to time by notice to the Fund and
the transfer agent for the Fund from the Seller and the Program Agent pursuant
to Section 8.18 of the Purchase Agreement.
The Transfer Agent shall, based on the records maintained by the record
owner of such Omnibus Account, allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in
respect of each Omnibus Account on each day among all Sub-shareholder Accounts
reflected in such Omnibus Account on an equal per share basis based upon the
total number of Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares reflected in each
such Sub-shareholder Account as of the close of business on such day. In
addition, the Transfer Agent shall apply the foregoing rules to each
Sub-shareholder Account (as though it were a Shareholder Account other than an
Omnibus Account), based on the records maintained by the record owner, to
allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge so allocated to any Sub-shareholder
Account among the Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares reflected in
each such Sub-shareholder Account in accordance with the rules set forth in the
preceding paragraph; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of
the ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing capacity to apply the rules
of this Schedule I as applicable to Sub-shareholder Accounts other than ML
Omnibus Accounts, the Transfer Agent shall allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge
accruing in respect of Shares of any Fund in the ML Omnibus Account during any
calendar month (or portion thereof) among Distributor Shares and
Post-distributor Shares as follows:
(a) The portion of such Asset Based Sales Charge allocable to Distributor
Shares shall be computed as follows:
A X ((B + C)/2)
-----------
((D + E)/2)
where:
A = Total amount of Asset Based Sales Charge accrued during such
calendar month (or portion thereof) in respect of Shares of such
Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
B = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of business on
the last day of the immediately preceding calendar month (or
portion thereof), times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time
C = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of business on
the last day of such calendar month (or portion thereof), times
Net Asset Value per Share as of such time
D = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
and outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of
the immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof),
times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time.
E = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
and outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of
such calendar month (or portion thereof), times Net Asset Value
per Share as of such time.
(b) The portion of such Asset Based Sales Charge allocable to
Post-distributor Shares shall be computed s follows:
A X ((B + C)/2)
-----------
((D + E)/2)
where:
A = Total amount of Asset Based Sales Charge accrued during such
calendar month (or portion thereof) in respect of Shares of such
Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
B = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Post-distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month (or portion thereof), times Net Asset Value per Share as of
such time
C = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Post-distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of such calendar month (or portion
thereof), times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time
D = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
and outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of
the immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof),
times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time.
E = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of such
calendar month, times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time.
(3) PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF EACH FUND.
On the close of business on each day the Transfer Agent shall cause payment to
be made of the amount of the Asset Based Sales Charge and CDSCs accruing on such
day in respect of the Shares of such Fund owned of record by Shareholder
Accounts (other than Omnibus Accounts) by two separate wire transfers, directly
from accounts of such Fund as follows:
1. The Asset Based Sales Charge and CDSCs accruing in respect of
Shareholder Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts and allocable to
Distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be paid to
the Distributor's Account, unless the Distributor otherwise instructs the
Fund in any irrevocable payment instruction; and
2. The Asset Based Sales Charges and CDSCs accruing in respect of
Shareholder Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts and allocable to
Post-distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be
paid in accordance with direction received from any future distributor of
Shares of the Instant Fund.
On each Omnibus CDSC Settlement Date, the Transfer Agent for each Fund
shall cause the applicable Sub-transfer Agent to cause payment to be made of the
amount of the CDSCs accruing during the period to which such Omnibus CDSC
Settlement Date relates in respect of the Shares of such Fund owned of record by
each Omnibus Account by two separate wire transfers directly from the account of
such Fund maintained by such Transfer Agent, as follows:
1. The CDSCs accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account and allocable to
Distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be paid to
the Distributor's Account, unless the Distributor otherwise instructs the
Fund in any irrevocable payment instruction; and
2. The CDSCs accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account and allocable to
Post-distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be
paid in accordance with direction received from any future distributor of
Shares of the Instant Fund.
On each Omnibus Asset Based Sales Charge Settlement Date the Transfer Agent
for each Fund shall cause payment to be made of the amount of the Asset Based
Sales Charge accruing for the period to which such Omnibus Asset Based Sales
Charge Settlement Date relates in respect of the Shares of such Fund owned of
record by each Omnibus Account by two separate wire transfers directly from
accounts of such Fund as follows:
1. The Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account
and allocable to Distributor Shares shall be paid to the Distributor's
Collection Account, unless the Distributor otherwise instructs the Fund in
any irrevocable payment instruction; and
2. The Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account
and allocable to Post-Distributor Shares shall be paid in accordance with
direction received from any future distributor of Shares of the Instant
Fund.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
FOR CLASS B-2 SHARES
OF
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
AGREEMENT made this 31st day of May 1995 by and between Keystone Strategic
Income Fund, a Massachusetts business trust, ("Fund"), and Keystone Investment
Distributors Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Principal Underwriter").
The Fund, individually and/or on behalf of its series, if any, referred to
above in the title of this Agreement, to which series, if any, this Agreement
shall relate, as applicable (the Fund ), may act as the distributor of certain
securities of which it is the issuer pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 0000 (xxx 0000 Xxx ). Accordingly, it is hereby mutually agreed
as follows:
1. The Fund hereby appoints the Principal Underwriter a principal
underwriter of the Class B-2 shares of beneficial interest of the Fund ("B-2
Shares") as an independent contractor upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth. The general term "Shares" as used herein has the same meaning as is
provided therefor in Schedule I hereto. Except as the Fund may from time to time
agree, the Principal Underwriter will act as agent for the Fund and not as
principal.
2. The Principal Underwriter will use its best efforts to find purchasers
for the B-2 Shares and to promote distribution of the B-2 Shares and may obtain
orders from brokers, dealers or other persons for sales of B-2 Shares to them.
No such dealer, broker or other person shall have any authority to act as agent
for the Fund; such dealer, broker or other person shall act only as principal in
the sale of B-2 Shares.
3. Sales of B-2 Shares by Principal Underwriter shall be at the public
offering price determined in the manner set forth in the prospectus and/or
statement of additional information of the Fund current at the time of the
Fund's acceptance of the order for B-2 Shares. All orders shall be subject to
acceptance by the Fund and the Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to
reject any order received. The Fund shall not be liable to anyone for failure to
accept any order.
4. On all sales of B-2 Shares the Fund shall receive the current net asset
value. The Fund shall pay the Principal Underwriter Distribution Fees (as
defined in Section 14 hereof), as commissions for the sale of B-2 Shares and
other Shares, which shall be paid in conjunction with distribution fees paid to
the Principal Underwriter by other classes of Shares of the Fund to the extent
required in order to comply with Section 14 hereof, and shall pay over to the
Principal Underwriter CDSCs (as defined in Section 14 hereof) as set forth in
the Fund's current prospectus and statement of additional information, and as
required by Section 14 hereof. The Principal Underwriter shall also receive
payments consisting of shareholder service fees ("Service Fees") at the rate of
.25% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Class B-2 Shares. The
Principal Underwriter may allow all or a part of said Distribution Fees and
CDSCs received by it (not paid to others as hereinafter provided) to such
brokers, dealers or other persons as Principal Underwriter may determine.
5. Payment to the Fund for B-2 Shares shall be in New York or Boston
Clearing House funds received by the Principal Underwriter within three business
days after notice of acceptance of the purchase order and the amount of the
applicable public offering price has been given to the purchaser. If such
payment is not received within such period, the Fund reserves the right, without
further notice, forthwith to cancel its acceptance of any such order. The Fund
shall pay such issue taxes as may be required by law in connection with the
issue of the B-2 Shares.
6. The Principal Underwriter shall not make in connection with any sale or
solicitation of a sale of the B-2 Shares any representations concerning the B-2
Shares except those contained in the then current prospectus and/or statement of
additional information covering the Shares and in printed information approved
by the Fund as information supplemental to such prospectus and statement of
additional information. Copies of the then current prospectus and statement of
additional information and any such printed supplemental information will be
supplied by the Fund to the Principal Underwriter in reasonable quantities upon
request.
7. The Principal Underwriter agrees to comply with the Rules of Fair
Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (as defined in
the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of May 31, 1995 (the Purchase
Agreement ), between the Principal Underwriter, Citibank, N.A. and Citicorp
North America, Inc., as agent (the "Rules of Fair Practice")).
8. The Fund appoints the Principal Underwriter as its agent to accept
orders for redemptions and repurchases of B-2 Shares at values and in the manner
determined in accordance with the then current prospectus and/or statement of
additional information of the Fund.
9. The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Principal
Underwriter, its officers and Directors and each person, if any, who controls
the Principal Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
of 1933 ("1933 Act"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred in connection therewith)
which the Principal Underwriter, its officers, Directors or any such controlling
person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon
a. any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Fund's registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information (including amendments and
supplements thereto) or
b. any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be stated in the Fund's registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided, however, that insofar as losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based
upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance and in conformity with information
furnished to the Fund by the Principal Underwriter for use in the
Fund's registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information, such indemnification is not applicable. In no case shall
the Fund indemnify the Principal Underwriter or its controlling person
as to any amounts incurred for any liability arising out of or based
upon any action for which the Principal Underwriter, its officers and
Directors or any controlling person would otherwise be subject to
liability by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
10. The Principal Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund, its officers and Trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Fund
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any loss, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred
in connection therewith) which the Fund, its officers, Directors or any such
controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at
common law or otherwise arising out of the acquisition of any Shares by any
person which
(a) may be based upon any wrongful act by the Principal Underwriter or any
of its employees or representatives, or
(b) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in the Fund's registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information (including
amendments and supplements thereto), or any omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished
or confirmed in writing to the Fund by the Principal Underwriter.
11. The Fund agrees to execute such papers and to do such acts and things
as shall from time to time be reasonably requested by the Principal Underwriter
for the purpose of qualifying the B-2 Shares for sale under the so-called "blue
sky" laws of any state or for registering B-2 Shares under the 1933 Act or the
Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). The Principal
Underwriter shall bear the expenses of preparing, printing and distributing
advertising, sales literature, prospectuses, and statements of additional
information. The Fund shall bear the expense of registering B-2 Shares under the
1933 Act and the Fund under the 1940 Act, qualifying B-2 Shares for sale under
the so-called "blue sky" laws of any state, the preparation and printing of
prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports required to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other authorities, the
preparation, printing and mailing of prospectuses and statements of additional
information to holders of B-2 Shares, and the direct expenses of the issue of
B-2 Shares.
12. The Principal Underwriter shall, at the request of the Fund, provide to
the Board of Trustees or Directors (together herein called the Directors ) of
the Fund in connection with sales of B-2 Shares not less than quarterly a
written report of the amounts received from the Fund therefor and the purpose
for which such expenditures by the Fund were made.
13. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date hereof and, unless
sooner terminated or continued as provided below, shall expire after one year.
This Agreement shall continue in effect after such term if its continuance is
specifically approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
Class B-2 of the Fund or by a majority of the Directors of the Fund and a
majority of the Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested
persons", as defined in the Investment Company Act of 0000 (xxx 0000 Xxx ), of
any such party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for Class B-2 Shares or in any
agreements related to the plan at least annually in accordance with the 1940 Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of a majority of the Directors of the Fund, or a majority of
such Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested persons", as
defined in the 1940 Act, of any such party and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for Class B-2
Shares or in any agreement related to the plan or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of Class B-2 on not more than sixty days written
notice to any other party to the agreement; and shall terminate automatically in
the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act), which shall not
include assignment of the Principal Underwriter's (as hereinafter defined)
provided for hereunder and/or rights related to such Allocable Portions.
14. The provisions of this Section 14 shall be applicable to the extent
necessary to enable the Fund to comply with the obligation of the Fund to pay
the Principal Underwriter its Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees paid in
respect of Shares while the Fund is required to do so pursuant the Principal
Underwriting Agreement, of even date herewith, in respect of Class B-2 Shares,
and shall remain in effect so long as any payments are required to be made by
the Fund pursuant to the irrevocable payment instruction (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement (the Irrevocable Payment Instruction )).
14.1 The Fund shall pay to the Principal Underwriter the Principal
Underwriter's Allocable Portion (as hereinafter defined) of a fee (the
"Distribution Fee") at the rate of .75% per annum of the average daily net asset
value of the Shares, subject to the limitation on the maximum aggregate amount
of such fees under the Rules of Fair Practice as applicable to such Distribution
Fee on the date hereof.
14.2 The Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees
paid by the Fund in respect of Shares shall be equal to the portion of the Asset
Based Sales Charge allocable to Distributor Shares (as defined in Schedule I
hereto to this Agreement) in accordance with Schedule I hereto. The Fund agrees
to cause its transfer agent to maintain the records and arrange for the payments
on behalf of the Fund at the times and in the amounts and to the accounts
required by Schedule I hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time. It
is acknowledged and agreed that by virtue of the operation of Schedule I hereto
the Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees paid by the
Fund in respect of Shares, may, to the extent provided in Schedule I hereto,
take into account Distribution Fees payable by the Fund in respect of other
existing and future classes and/or sub-classes of shares of the Fund which would
be treated as "Shares" under Schedule I hereto. The Fund will limit amounts paid
to any subsequent principal underwriters of Shares to the portion of the Asset
Based Sales Charge paid in respect of Shares which is allocable to
Post-distributor Shares (as defined in Schedule I hereto) in accordance with
Schedule I hereto. The Fund's payments to the Principal Underwriter in
consideration of its services in connection with the sale of B-2 Shares shall be
the Distribution Fees attributable to B-2 Shares which are Distributor Shares
(as defined in Schedule I hereto) and all other amounts constituting the
Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion of Distribution Fees shall be the
Distribution Fees related to the sale of other Shares which are Distributor
Shares (as defined in Schedule I hereto).
The Fund shall cause its transfer agent and sub-transfer agents to withhold
from redemption proceeds payable to holders of Shares on redemption thereof the
contingent deferred sales charges payable upon redemption thereof as set forth
in the then current prospectus and/or statement of additional information of the
Fund ("CDSCs") and to pay over to the Principal Underwriter The Principal
Underwriter's Allocable Portion of said CDSCs paid in respect of Shares which
shall be equal to the portion thereof allocable to Distributor Shares (as
defined in Schedule I hereto) in accordance with Schedule I hereto.
14.3 The Principal Underwriter shall be considered to have completely
earned the right to the payment of its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fee
and the right to payment over to it of its' Allocable Portion of the CDSC in
respect of Shares as provided for hereby upon the completion of the sale of each
Commission Share (as defined in Schedule I hereto) taken into account as a
Distributor Share in computing the Principal Underwriter's Allocable Portion in
accordance with Schedule I hereto.
14.4 Except as provided in Section 14.5 hereof in respect of Distribution
Fees only, the Fund's obligation to pay the Principal Underwriter the
Distribution Fees and to pay over to the Principal Underwriter CDSCs provided
for hereby shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be subject to
dispute, offset, counterclaim or any defense whatsoever (it being understood
that nothing in this sentence shall be deemed a waiver by the Fund of its right
separately to pursue any claims it may have against the Principal Underwriter
and enforce such claims against any assets (other than the Principal
Underwriter's right to its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs
(the "Collection Rights") of the Principal Underwriter).
14.5 Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fund
shall pay to the Principal Underwriter its Allocable Portion of Distribution
Fees provided for hereby notwithstanding its termination as Principal
Underwriter for the Shares or any termination of this Agreement and such payment
of such Distribution Fees, and that obligation and the method of computing such
payment, shall not be changed or terminated except to the extent required by any
change in applicable law, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, the Rules
promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Rules
of Fair Practice, in each case enacted or promulgated after May 31, 1995, or in
connection with a Complete Termination (as hereinafter defined). For the
purposes of this Section 14.5, "Complete Termination" means a termination of the
Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for B-2 Shares involving the cessation of payments of the
Distribution Fees, and the cessation of payments of distribution fees pursuant
to every other Rule 12b-1 plan of the Fund for every existing or future
B-Class-of-Shares (as hereinafter defined) and the Fund's discontinuance of the
offering of every existing or future B-Class-of-Shares, which conditions shall
be deemed satisfied when they are first complied with hereafter and so long
thereafter as they are complied with prior to the earlier of (i) the date upon
which all of the B-2 Shares which are Distributor Shares pursuant to Schedule I
hereto shall have been redeemed or converted or (ii) May 31, 2005. For purposes
of this Section 14.5, the term B-Class-of-Shares means each of the B-1 Class of
Shares of the Fund, the B-2 Class of Shares of the Fund and each other class of
shares of the Fund hereafter issued which would be treated as Shares under
Schedule I hereto or which has substantially similar economic characteristics to
the B-1 or B-2 Classes of Shares taking into account the total sales charge,
CDSC or other similar charges borne directly or indirectly by the holder of the
shares of such class. The parties agree that the existing C Class of Shares of
the Fund does not have substantially similar economic characteristics to the B-1
or B-2 Classes of Shares taking into account the total sales charge, CDSC or
other similar charges borne directly or indirectly by the holder of such shares.
For purposes of clarity the parties to this agreement hereby state that they
intend that a new installment load class of shares which may be authorized by
amendments to Rule 6(c)-10 under the 1940 Act will be considered to be a
B-Class-of-Shares if it has economic characteristics substantially similar to
the economic characteristics of the existing B-1 or B-2 Classes of Shares taking
into account the total sale charge, CDSC or other similar charges borne directly
or indirectly by the holder of such shares and will not be considered to be a
B-Class-of-Shares if it has economic characteristics substantially similar to
the economic characteristics of the existing C Class of shares of the Fund
taking into account the total sales charge, CDSC or other similar charges borne
directly or indirectly by the holder of such shares.
14.6 The Principal Underwriter may assign any part of its Allocable
Portions and obligations of the Fund related thereto (but not the Principal
Underwriter's obligations to the Fund provided for in this Agreement) to any
person (an "Assignee") and any such assignment shall be effective as to the Fund
upon written notice to the Fund by the Principal Underwriter. In connection
therewith the Fund shall pay all or any amounts in respect of its Allocable
Portions directly to the Assignee thereof as directed in a writing by the
Principal Underwriter in the Irrevocable Payment Instruction, as the same may be
amended from time to time with the consent of the Fund, and the Fund shall be
without liability to any person if it pays such amounts when and as so directed,
except for underpayments of amounts actually due, without any amount payable as
consequential or other damages due to such underpayment and without interest
except to the extent that delay in payment of Distribution Fees and CDSCs
results in an increase in the maximum Sales Charge allowable under the Rules of
Fair Practice, which increases daily at a rate of prime plus one percent per
annum.
14.7 The Fund will not, to the extent it may otherwise be empowered to do
so, change or waive any CDSC with respect to B-2 Shares, except as provided in
the Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information without the
Principal Underwriter's or Assignee's consent, as applicable. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any termination of this Agreement
or the Principal Underwriter as principal underwriter for the Shares of the
Fund, the Principal Underwriter shall be entitled to be paid its Allocable
Portion of the CDSCs whether or not the Fund's Rule 12b-1 plan for B-2 Shares is
terminated and whether or not any such termination is a Complete Termination, as
defined above.
15. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All sales hereunder are to be made, and title to
the Shares shall pass, in Boston, Massachusetts.
16. The Fund is a Massachusetts business trust established under a
Declaration of Trust, as it may be amended from time to time. The obligations of
the Fund are not personally binding upon, nor shall recourse be had against the
private property of any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, employees or
agents of the Fund, but only the property of the Fund shall be bound.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized at Boston,
Massachusetts, on the day and year first written above.
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
By: /s/
-------------------------------
Title:
KEYSTONE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/
-------------------------------
Title:
SCHEDULE I
TO
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
FOR CLASS B-2SHARES
OF
KEYSTONE STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
TRANSFER AGENT PROCEDURES FOR DIFFERENTIATING
AMONG DISTRIBUTOR SHARES AND POST-DISTRIBUTOR SHARES
Amounts (in respect of Asset Based Sales Charges (as hereinafter defined)
and CDSCs (as hereinafter defined) in respect of Shares (as hereinafter defined)
of each Fund (as hereinafter defined) shall be allocated between Distributor
Shares (as hereinafter defined) and Post-distributor Shares (as hereinafter
defined) of such Fund in accordance with the rules set forth in clauses (B) and
(C). Clause (B) sets forth the rules to be followed by the Transfer Agent for
each Fund and the record owner of each Omnibus Account (as hereinafter defined)
in maintaining records relating to Distributor Shares and Post-distributor
Shares. Clause (C) sets forth the rules to be followed by the Transfer Agent for
each Fund and the record owner of each Omnibus Account in determining what
portion of the Asset Based Sales Charge (as hereinafter defined) payable in
respect of each class of Shares of such Fund and what portion of the CDSC (as
hereinafter defined) payable by the holders of Shares of such Fund is
attributable to Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares, respectively.
(A) DEFINITIONS:
Generally, for purposes of this Schedule I, defined terms shall be used
with the meaning assigned to them in the Agreement, except that for purposes of
the following rules the following definitions are also applicable:
"Agreement" shall mean the Principal Underwriting Agreement for Class B-2
Shares of the Instant Fund dated as of June 1, 1995 between the Instant Fund and
the Distributor.
"Asset Based Sales Charge" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
26(b)(8)(C) of the Rules of Fair Practice it being understood that for purposes
of this Exhibit I such term does not include the Service Fee.
"Business Day" shall mean any day on which the banks and the New York Stock
Exchange are not authorized or required to close in New York City.
"Capital Gain Dividend" shall mean, in respect of any Share of any Fund, a
Dividend in respect of such Share which is designated by such Fund as being a
"capital gain dividend" as such term is defined in Section 852 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"CDSC" shall mean with respect to any Fund, the contingent deferred sales
charge payable, either directly or by withholding from the proceeds of the
redemption of the Shares of such Fund, by the shareholders of such Fund on any
redemption of Shares of such Fund in accordance with the Prospectus relating to
such Fund.
"Commission Share" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, a Share of such Fund
issued under circumstances where a CDSC would be payable upon the redemption of
such Share if such CDSC is not waived or shall have not otherwise expired.
"Date of Original Purchase" shall mean, in respect of any Commission Share
of any Fund, the date on which such Commission Share was first issued by such
Fund; provided, that if such Share is a Commission Share and such Fund issued
the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question in connection with a Free
Exchange for a Commission Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund, the Date
of Original Purchase for the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question
shall be the date on which the Commission Share (or portion thereof) of the
other Fund was first issued by such other Fund (unless such Commission Share (or
portion thereof) was also issued by such other Fund in a Free Exchange, in which
case this proviso shall apply to that Free Exchange and this application shall
be repeated until one reaches a Commission Share (or portion thereof) which was
issued by a Fund other than in a Free Exchange).
"Distributor" shall mean Keystone Investment Distributors Company, its
successors and assigns.
"Distributor's Account" shall mean the account of the Distributor, account
no. 0000-000-0, ABA No. 011 0000 28, entitled "General Account" maintained with
State Street Bank & Trust Company or such other account as the Distributor may
designate in a notice to the Transfer Agent.
"Distributor Inception Date" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, the date
identified as the date Shares of such Fund are first sold by the Distributor.
"Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date" shall mean, in respect of any Fund,
the date identified as the last sale of a Commission Share during the period the
Distributor served as principal underwriter under the Agreement.
"Distributor Shares" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, all Shares of such
Fund the Month of Original Purchase of which occurs on or after the Inception
Date for such Fund and on or prior to the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date in
respect of such Fund.
"Dividend" shall mean, in respect of any Share of any Fund, any dividend or
other distribution by such Fund in respect of such Share.
"Free Exchange" shall mean any exchange of a Commission Share (or portion
thereof) of one Fund (the "Redeeming Fund") for a Share (or portion thereof) of
another Fund (the "Issuing Fund"), under any arrangement which defers the
exchanging Shareholder's obligation to pay the CDSC in respect of the Commission
Share (or portion thereof) of the Redeeming Fund so exchanged until the later
redemption of the Share (or portion thereof) of the Issuing Fund received in
such exchange.
"Free Share" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, each Share of such Fund
other than a Commission Share, including, without limitation: (i) Shares issued
in connection with the automatic reinvestment of Capital Gain Dividends or Other
Dividends by such Fund, (ii) Special Free Shares issued by such Fund and (iii)
Shares (or portion thereof) issued by such Fund in connection with an exchange
whereby a Free Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund is redeemed and the
Net Asset Value of such redeemed Free Share (or portion thereof) is invested in
such Shares (or portion thereof) of such Fund.
"Fund" shall mean each of the regulated investment companies or series or
portfolios of regulated investment companies identified in Schedule II to the
Irrevocable Payment Instruction, as the same may be amended from time to time in
accordance with the terms thereof.
"Instant Fund" shall mean [Keystone Equity Fund].
"ML Omnibus Account" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, the Omnibus
Account maintained by Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx as subtransfer
agent.
"Month of Original Purchase" shall mean, in respect of any Share of any
Fund, the calendar month in which such Share was first issued by such Fund;
provided, that if such Share is a Commission Share and such Fund issued the
Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question in connection with a Free
Exchange for a Commission Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund, the Month
of Original Purchase for the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in question
shall be the calendar month in which the Commission Share (or portion thereof)
of the other Fund was first issued by such other Fund (unless such Commission
Share (or portion thereof) was also issued by such other Fund in a Free
Exchange, in which case this proviso shall apply to that Free Exchange and this
application shall be repeated until one reaches a Commission Share (or portion
thereof) which was issued by a Fund other than in a Free Exchange); provided,
further, that if such Share is a Free Share and such Fund issued such Free Share
in connection with the automatic reinvestment of dividends in respect of other
Shares of such Fund, the Month of Original Purchase of such Free Share shall be
deemed to be the Month of Original Purchase of the Share in respect of which
such dividend was paid; provided, further, that if such Share is a Free Share
and such Fund issued such Free Share in connection with an exchange whereby a
Free Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund is redeemed and the Net Asset
Value of such redeemed Free Share (or portion thereof) is invested in a Free
Share (or portion thereof) of such Fund, the Month of Original Issue of such
Free Share shall be the Month of Original Issue of the Free Share of such other
Fund so redeemed (unless such Free Share of such other Fund was also issued by
such other Fund in such an exchange, in which case this proviso shall apply to
that exchange and this application shall be repeated until one reaches a Free
Share which was issued by a Fund other than in such an exchange); and provided,
finally, that for purposes of this Schedule I each of the following periods
shall be treated as one calendar month for purposes of applying the rules of
this Schedule I to any Fund: (i) the period of time from and including the
Distributor Inception Date for such Fund to and including the last day of the
calendar month in which such Distributor Inception Date occurs; (ii) the period
of time commencing with the first day of the calendar month in which the
Distributor Last Sale Cutoff Date in respect of such Fund occurs to and
including such Distributor Last Sale Cutoff Date; and (iii) the period of time
commencing on the day immediately following the Distributor Last Sale Cutoff
Date in respect of such Fund to and including the last day of the calendar month
in which such Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date occurs.
"Omnibus Account" shall mean any Shareholder Account the record owner of
which is a registered broker-dealer which has agreed with the Transfer Agent to
provide sub-transfer agent functions relating to each Sub-shareholder Account
within such Shareholder Account as contemplated by this Schedule I in respect of
each of the Funds.
"Omnibus Asset Based Sales Charge Settlement Date" shall mean, in respect
of each Omnibus Account, the Business Day next following the twentieth day of
each calendar month for the calendar month immediately preceding such date so
long as the record owner is able to allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge
accruing in respect of Shares of any Fund as contemplated by this Schedule I no
more frequently than monthly; provided, that at such time as the record owner of
such Omnibus Account is able to provide information sufficient to allocate the
Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in respect of such Shares of such Fund owned
of record by such Omnibus Account as contemplated by this Schedule I on a weekly
or daily basis, the Omnibus Asset Based Sales Charge Settlement Date shall be a
weekly date as in the case of the Omnibus CDSC Settlement Date or a daily date
as in the case of Asset Based Sales Charges accruing in respect of Shareholder
Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts, as the case may be.
"Omnibus CDSC Settlement Date" shall mean, in respect of each Omnibus
Account, the third Business Day of each calendar week for the calendar week
immediately preceding such date so long as the record owner of such Omnibus
Account is able to allocate the CDSCs accruing in respect of any Shares of any
Fund as contemplated by this Schedule I for no more frequently than weekly;
provided, that at such time as the record owner of such Shares of such Fund
owned of record by such Omnibus Account is able to provide information
sufficient to allocate the CDSCs accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account as
contemplated by this Schedule I on a daily basis, the Omnibus CDSC Settlement
Date for such Omnibus Account shall be a daily date as in the case of CDSCs
accruing in respect of Shareholder Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts.
"Original Purchase Amount" shall mean, in respect of any Commission Share
of any Fund, the amount paid (i.e., the Net Asset Value thereof on such date),
on the Date of Original Purchase in respect of such Commission Share, by such
Shareholder Account or Sub-shareholder Account for such Commission Share;
provided, that if such Fund issued the Commission Share (or portion thereof) in
question in connection with a Free Exchange for a Commission Share (or portion
thereof) of another Fund, the Original Purchase Amount for the Commission Share
(or portion thereof) in question shall be the Original Purchase Amount in
respect of such Commission Share (or portion thereof) of such other Fund (unless
such Commission Share (or portion thereof) was also issued by such other Fund in
a Free Exchange, in which case this proviso shall apply to that Free Exchange
and this application shall be repeated until one reaches a Commission Share (or
portion thereof) which was issued by a Fund other than in a Free Exchange).
"Other Dividend" shall mean in respect of any Share, any Dividend paid in
respect of such Share other than a Capital Gain Dividend.
"Post-distributor Shares" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, all Shares of
such Fund the Month of Original Purchase of which occurs after the Distributor
Last Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund.
"Program Agent" shall mean Citicorp North America, Inc., as Program Agent
under the Purchase Agreement, and its successors and assigns in such capacity.
"Purchase Agreement" shall mean that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement
dated as of May 31, 1995, among Keystone Investment Distributors Company, as
Seller, Citibank, N.A., as Purchaser, and Citicorp North America, Inc., as
Program Agent.
"Share" shall mean in respect of any Fund any share of the classes of
shares specified in Schedule II to the Irrevocable Payment Instruction opposite
the name of such Fund, as the same may be amended from time to time by notice
from the Distributor and the Program Agent to the Fund and the Transfer Agent;
provided, that such term shall include, after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off
Date, a share of a new class of shares of such Fund: (i) with respect to each
record owner of Shares which is not treated in the records of each Transfer
Agent and Sub-transfer Agent for such Fund as an entirely separate and distinct
class of shares from the classes of shares specified Schedule II to the
Irrevocable Payment Instruction or (ii) the shares of which class may be
exchanged for shares of another Fund of the classes of shares specified on
Schedule II to the Irrevocable Payment Instruction of any class existing on or
prior to the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date; or (iii) dividends on which can
be reinvested in shares of the classes specified on Schedule II to the
Irrevocable Payment Instruction under the automatic dividend reinvestment
options; or (iv) which is otherwise treated as though it were of the same class
as the class of shares specified on Schedule II to the Irrevocable Payment
Instruction.
"Shareholder Account" shall have the meaning set forth in clause (B)(1)
hereof.
"Special Free Share" shall mean, in respect of any Fund, a Share (other
than a Commission Share) issued by such Fund other than in connection with the
automatic reinvestment of Dividends and other than in connection with an
exchange whereby a Free Share (or portion thereof) of another Fund is redeemed
and the Net Asset Value of such redeemed Share (or portion thereof) is invested
in a Share (or portion thereof) of such Fund.
"Sub-shareholder Account" shall have the meaning set forth in clause (B)(1)
hereof.
"Sub-transfer Agent" shall mean, in respect of each Omnibus Account, the
record owner thereof.
(B) RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR EACH FUND AND THE
RECORD OWNER OF EACH OMNIBUS ACCOUNT:
The Transfer Agent shall maintain Shareholder Accounts, and shall cause
each record owner of each Omnibus Account to maintain Sub-shareholder Accounts,
each in accordance with the following rules:
(1) SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS AND SUB-SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS. The Transfer Agent
shall maintain a separate account (a "Shareholder Account") for each record
owner of Shares of each Fund. Each Shareholder Account (other than Omnibus
Accounts) will represent a record owner of Shares of such Fund, the records of
which will be kept in accordance with this Schedule I. In the case of an Omnibus
Account, the Transfer Agent shall require that the record owner of the Omnibus
Account maintain a separate account (a "Sub-shareholder Account") for each
record owner of Shares which are reflected in the Omnibus Account, the records
of which will be kept in accordance with this Schedule I. Each such Shareholder
Account and Sub-shareholder Account shall relate solely to Shares of such Fund
and shall not relate to any other class of shares of such Fund.
(2) COMMISSION SHARES. For each Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus
Account), the Transfer Agent shall maintain daily records of each Commission
Share of such Fund which records shall identify each Commission Share of such
Fund reflected in such Shareholder Account by the Month of Original Purchase of
such Commission Share.
For each Omnibus Account, the Transfer Agent shall require that the
Sub-transfer Agent in respect thereof maintain daily records of such
Sub-shareholder Account which records shall identify each Commission Share of
such Fund reflected in such Sub-shareholder Account by the Month of Original
Purchase; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML
Omnibus Account develops the data processing capability to conform to the
foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent shall maintain daily records of
Sub-shareholder Accounts which identify each Commission Share of such Fund
reflected in such Sub-shareholder Account by the Date of Original Purchase. Each
such Commission Share shall be identified as either a Distributor Share or a
Post-distributor Share based upon the Month of Original Purchase of such
Commission Share (or in the case of a Sub-shareholder Account within the ML
Omnibus Account, based upon the Date of Original Purchase).
(3) FREE SHARES. The Transfer Agent shall maintain daily records of each
Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account) in respect of any Fund so as
to identify each Free Share (including each Special Free Share) reflected in
such Shareholder Account by the Month of Original Purchase of such Free Share.
In addition, the Transfer Agent shall require that each Shareholder Account
(other than an Omnibus Account) have in effect separate elections relating to
reinvestment of Capital Gain Dividends and relating to reinvestment of Other
Dividends in respect of any Fund. Either such Shareholder Account shall have
elected to reinvest all Capital Gain Dividends or such Shareholder Account shall
have elected to have all Capital Gain Dividends distributed. Similarly, either
such Shareholder Account shall have elected to reinvest all Other Dividends or
such Shareholder Account shall have elected to have all Other Dividends
distributed.
The Transfer Agent shall require that the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of
each Omnibus Account maintain daily records for each Sub-shareholder Account in
the manner described in the immediately preceding paragraph for Shareholder
Accounts (other than Omnibus Accounts); provided, that until the Sub-transfer
Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing
capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent
shall not be obligated to conform to the foregoing requirements. Each
Sub-shareholder Account shall also have in effect Dividend reinvestment
elections as described in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The Transfer Agent and each Sub-transfer Agent in respect of an Omnibus
Account shall identify each Free Share as either a Distributor Share or a
Post-distributor Share based upon the Month of Original Purchase of such Free
Share; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus
Account develops the data processing capability to conform to the foregoing
requirements, the Transfer Agent shall require such Sub-transfer Agent to
identify each Free Share of a given Fund in the ML Omnibus Account as a
Distributor Share, or Post-distributor Share, as follows:
(a) Free Shares of such Fund which are outstanding on the Distributor Last
Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund shall be identified as Distributor
Shares.
(b) Free Shares of such Fund which are issued (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for a Free Share of another Fund) to the
ML Omnibus Account during any calendar month (or portion thereof)
after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund shall be
identified as Distributor Shares in a number computed as follows:
A X (B/C)
where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund issued to the ML Omnibus Account
during such calendar month (or portion thereof)
B = Number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund in the
ML Omnibus Account identified as Distributor Shares and
outstanding as of the close of business in the last day of the
immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof)
C = Total number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund
in the ML Omnibus Account and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month (or portion thereof).
(c) Free Shares of such Fund which are issued (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for a free share of another Fund) to the
ML Omnibus Account during any calendar month (or portion thereof)
after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such Fund shall be
identified as Post-distributor Shares in a number computed as follows:
(A X (B/C)
where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund issued to the ML Omnibus Account
during such calendar month (or portion thereof)
B = Number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund in the
ML Omnibus Account identified as Post-distributor Shares and
outstanding as of the close of business in the last day of the
immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof)
C = Total number of Commission Shares and Free Shares of such Fund
in the ML Omnibus Account and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month (or portion thereof).
(d) Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a Class A Share of
such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account in any calendar month (or
portion thereof) after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such
Fund shall be identified as Distributor Shares in a number computed as
follows:
A X (B/C)
Where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a class A
share of such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account during such
calendar month (or portion thereof)
B = Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account identified
as Distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of business
on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar month.
C = Total number of Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus
Account and outstanding as of the close of business on the last
day of the immediately preceding calendar month.
(e) Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a class A share of
such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account in any calendar month (or
portion thereof) after the Distributor Last Sale Cut-off Date for such
Fund shall be identified as Post-distributor Shares in a number
computed as follows:
A X (B/C)
where:
A = Free Shares of such Fund which are redeemed (whether or not in
connection with an exchange for Free Shares of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Shares into a class A
share of such Fund) from the ML Omnibus Account during such
calendar month (or portion thereof)
B = Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account identified
as Post-distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month.
C = Total number of Free Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus
Account and outstanding as of the close of business on the last
day of the immediately preceding calendar month.
(4) APPRECIATION AMOUNT AND COST ACCUMULATION AMOUNT. The Transfer Agent
shall maintain on a daily basis in respect of each Shareholder Account (other
than Omnibus Accounts) a Cost Accumulation Amount representing the total of the
Original Purchase Amounts paid by such Shareholder Account for all Commission
Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account as of the close of business on each
day. In addition, the Transfer Agent shall maintain on a daily basis in respect
of each Shareholder Account (other than Omnibus Accounts) sufficient records to
enable it to compute, as of the date of any actual or deemed redemption or Free
Exchange of a Commission Share reflected in such Shareholder Account an amount
(such amount an "Appreciation Amount") equal to the excess, if any, of the Net
Asset Value as of the close of business on such day of the Commission Shares
reflected in such Shareholder Account minus the Cost Accumulation Amount as of
the close of business on such day. In the event that a Commission Share (or
portion thereof) reflected in a Shareholder Account is redeemed or under these
rules is deemed to have been redeemed (whether in a Free Exchange or otherwise),
the Appreciation Amount for such Shareholder Account shall be reduced, to the
extent thereof, by the Net Asset Value of the Commission Share (or portion
thereof) redeemed, and if the Net Asset Value of the Commission Share (or
portion thereof) being redeemed equals or exceeds the Appreciation Amount, the
Cost Accumulation Amount will be reduced to the extent thereof, by such excess.
If the Appreciation Amount for such Shareholder Account immediately prior to any
redemption of a Commission Share (or portion thereof) is equal to or greater
than the Net Asset Value of such Commission Share (or portion thereof) deemed to
have been tendered for redemption, no CDSCs will be payable in respect of such
Commission Share (or portion thereof).
The Transfer Agent shall require that the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of
each Omnibus Account maintain on a daily basis in respect of each
Sub-shareholder Account reflected in such Omnibus Account a Cost Accumulation
Amount and sufficient records to enable it to compute, as of the date of any
actual or deemed redemption or Free Exchange of a Commission Share reflected in
such Sub-shareholder Account an Appreciation Amount in accordance with the
preceding paragraph and to apply the same to determine whether a CDSC is payable
(as though such Sub-shareholder Account were a Shareholder Account other than an
Omnibus Account; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the
ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing capability to conform to the
foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent shall maintain for each
Sub-shareholder Account a separate Cost Accumulation Amount and a separate
Appreciation Amount for each Date of Original Purchase of any Commission Share
which shall be applied as set forth in the preceding paragraph as if each Date
of Original Purchase were a separate Month of Original Purchase.
(5) NASD CAP. On the date the distribution fees paid in respect of any
class of Shares equals the maximum amount thereon under the Rules of Fair
Practice, in respect of such class, all outstanding Shares of such class of such
Fund shall be converted into Class A shares of such Fund and will be deemed to
have been redeemed for their Net Asset Value for purposes of this Schedule I.
(6) IDENTIFICATION OF REDEEMED SHARES. If a Shareholder Account (other than
an Omnibus Account) tenders a Share of a Fund for redemption (other than in
connection with an exchange of such Share for a Share of another Fund or in
connection with the conversion of such Share pursuant to a Conversion Feature),
such tendered Share will be deemed to be a Free Share if there are any Free
Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately prior to such tender.
If there is more than one Free Share reflected in such Shareholder Account
immediately prior to such tender, such tendered Share will be deemed to be the
Free Share with the earliest Month of Original Purchase. If there are no Free
Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately prior to such tender,
such tendered Share will be deemed to be the Commission Share with the earliest
Month of Original Purchase reflected in such Shareholder Account.
If a Sub-shareholder Account reflected in an Omnibus Account tenders a
Share for redemption (other than in connection with an Exchange of such Share
for a Share of another Fund or in connection with the conversion of such Share
pursuant to a Conversion Feature), the Transfer Agent shall require that the
record owner of each Omnibus Account supply the Transfer Agent sufficient
records to enable the Transfer Agent to apply the rules of the preceding
paragraph to such Sub-shareholder Account (as though such Sub-shareholder
Account were a Shareholder Account other than an Omnibus Account); provided,
that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops
the data processing capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such
Sub-transfer Agent shall not be required to conform to the foregoing rules
regarding Free Shares (and the Transfer Agent shall account for such Free Shares
as provided in (3) above) but shall apply the foregoing rules to each Commission
Share with respect to the Date of Original Purchase of any Commission Share as
though each such Date were a separate Month of Original Purchase.
(7) IDENTIFICATION OF EXCHANGED SHARES. When a Shareholder Account (other
than an Omnibus Account) tenders Shares of one Fund (the "Redeeming Fund") for
redemption where the proceeds of such redemption are to be automatically
reinvested in shares of another Fund (the "Issuing Fund") to effect an exchange
(whether or not pursuant to a Free Exchange) into Shares of the Issuing Fund:
(1) such Shareholder Account will be deemed to have tendered Shares (or portions
thereof) of the Redeeming Fund with each Month of Original Purchase represented
by Shares of the Redeeming Fund reflected in such Shareholder Account
immediately prior to such tender in the same proportion that the number of
Shares of the redeeming Fund with such Month of Original Purchase reflected in
such Shareholder immediately prior to such tender bore to the total number of
Shares of the Redeeming Fund reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately
prior to such tender, and on that basis the tendered Shares of the Redeeming
Fund will be identified as Distributor Shares or Post-distributor Shares; (2)
such Shareholder Account will be deemed to have tendered Commission Shares (or
portions thereof) and Free Shares (or portions thereof) of the Redeeming Fund of
each category (i.e., Distributor Shares or Post-distributor Shares) in the same
proportion that the number of Commission Shares or Free Shares (as the case may
be) of the Redeeming Fund in such category reflected in such Shareholder Account
bore to the total number of Shares of the Redeeming Fund in such category
reflected in such Shareholder Account immediately prior to such tender, (3) the
Shares (or portions thereof) of the Issuing Fund issued in connection with such
exchange will be deemed to have the same Months of Original Purchase as the
Shares (or portions thereof) of the Redeeming Fund so tendered and will be
categorized as Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares accordingly, and
(4) the Shares (or portions thereof) of each Category of the Issuing Fund issued
in connection with such exchange will be deemed to be Commission Shares and Free
Shares in the same proportion that the Shares of such Category of the Redeeming
Fund were Commission Shares and Free Shares.
The Transfer Agent shall require that each record owner of an Omnibus
Account maintain records relating to each Sub-shareholder Account in such
Omnibus Account sufficient to apply the foregoing rules to each such
Sub-shareholder Account (as though such Sub-shareholder Account were a
Shareholder Account other than an Omnibus Account); provided, that until the
Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data
processing capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such
Sub-transfer Agent shall not be required to conform to the foregoing rules
relating to Free Shares (and the Sub-transfer Agent shall account for such Free
Shares as provided in (3) above) and shall apply a first-in-first-out procedure
(based upon the Date of Original Purchase) to determine which Commission Shares
(or portions thereof) of a Redeeming Fund were redeemed in connection with an
exchange.
(8) IDENTIFICATION OF CONVERTED SHARES. The Transfer Agent records
maintained for each Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account) will
treat each Commission Share of a Fund as though it were redeemed at its Net
Asset Value on the date such Commission Share converts into a class A share of
such Fund in accordance with an applicable Conversion Feature applied with
reference to its Month of Original Purchase and will treat each Free Share of
such Fund with a given Month of Original Purchase as though it were redeemed at
its Net Asset Value when it is simultaneously converted to a class A share at
the time the Commission Shares of such Fund with such Month of Original Purchase
are so converted.
The Transfer Agent shall require that each record owner of an
Omnibus Account maintain records relating to each Sub-shareholder Account in
such Omnibus Account sufficient to apply the foregoing rules to each such
Sub-shareholder Account (as though such Sub-shareholder Account were a
Shareholder Account other than an Omnibus Account) ; provided, that until the
Sub-transfer Agent in respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data
processing capability to conform to the foregoing requirements, such
Sub-transfer Agent shall apply the foregoing rules to Commission Shares with
reference to the Date of Original Issue of each Commission Share (as though each
such date were a separate Month of Original Issue) and shall not be required to
apply the foregoing rules to Free Shares (and the Sub-transfer Agent shall
account for such Free Shares as provided in (3) above).
(C) ALLOCATIONS OF ASSET BASED SALE CHARGES AND CDSCS AMONG DISTRIBUTOR
SHARES AND POST-DISTRIBUTOR SHARES:
The Transfer Agent shall use the following rules to allocate the amounts of
Asset Based Sales Charges and CDSCs payable by each Fund in respect of Shares
between Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares:
(1) RECEIVABLES CONSTITUTING CDSCS: CDSCs will be treated as relating to
Distributor Shares or Post-distributor Shares depending upon the Month of
Original Purchase of the Commission Share the redemption of which gives rise to
the payment of a CDSC by a Shareholder Account.
The Transfer Agent shall cause each Sub-transfer Agent to apply the
foregoing rule to each Sub-shareholder Account based on the records maintained
by such Sub-transfer Agent; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in
respect of the ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing capability to
conform to the foregoing requirements, such Sub-transfer Agent shall apply the
foregoing rules to each Sub-shareholder Account with respect to the Date of
Original Purchase of any Commission Share as though each such date were a
separate Month of Original Purchase.
(2) RECEIVABLES CONSTITUTING ASSET BASED SALES CHARGES:
The Asset Based Sales Charges accruing in respect of each Shareholder
Account (other than an Omnibus Account) shall be allocated to each Share
reflected in such Shareholder Account as of the close of business on such day on
an equal per share basis. For example, the Asset Based Sales Charges
attributable to Distributor Shares on any day shall be computed and allocated as
follows:
A X (B/C)
where:
A. = Total amount of Asset Based Sales Charge accrued in respect of such
Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account) on such day.
B. = Number of Distributor Shares reflected in such Shareholder Account
(other than an Omnibus Account) on the close of business on such day
C. = Total number of Distributor Shares and Post-Distributor Shares
reflected in such Shareholder Account (other than an Omnibus Account)
and outstanding as of the close of business on such day.
The Portion of the Asset Based Sales Charges of such Fund accruing in respect of
such Shareholder Account for such day allocated to Post-distributor Shares will
be obtained using the same formula but substituting for "B" the number of
Post-distributor Shares, as the case may be, reflected in such Shareholder
Account and outstanding on the close of business on such day. The foregoing
allocation formula may be adjusted from time to time by notice to the Fund and
the transfer agent for the Fund from the Seller and the Program Agent pursuant
to Section 8.18 of the Purchase Agreement.
The Transfer Agent shall, based on the records maintained by the record
owner of such Omnibus Account, allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in
respect of each Omnibus Account on each day among all Sub-shareholder Accounts
reflected in such Omnibus Account on an equal per share basis based upon the
total number of Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares reflected in each
such Sub-shareholder Account as of the close of business on such day. In
addition, the Transfer Agent shall apply the foregoing rules to each
Sub-shareholder Account (as though it were a Shareholder Account other than an
Omnibus Account), based on the records maintained by the record owner, to
allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge so allocated to any Sub-shareholder
Account among the Distributor Shares and Post-distributor Shares reflected in
each such Sub-shareholder Account in accordance with the rules set forth in the
preceding paragraph; provided, that until the Sub-transfer Agent in respect of
the ML Omnibus Account develops the data processing capacity to apply the rules
of this Schedule I as applicable to Sub-shareholder Accounts other than ML
Omnibus Accounts, the Transfer Agent shall allocate the Asset Based Sales Charge
accruing in respect of Shares of any Fund in the ML Omnibus Account during any
calendar month (or portion thereof) among Distributor Shares and
Post-distributor Shares as follows:
(a) The portion of such Asset Based Sales Charge allocable to Distributor
Shares shall be computed as follows:
A X ((B + C)/2)
((D + E)/2)
where:
A = Total amount of Asset Based Sales Charge accrued during such
calendar month (or portion thereof) in respect of Shares of such
Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
B = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of business on
the last day of the immediately preceding calendar month (or
portion thereof), times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time
C = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of business on
the last day of such calendar month (or portion thereof), times
Net Asset Value per Share as of such time
D = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
and outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of
the immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof),
times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time.
E = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
and outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of
such calendar month (or portion thereof), times Net Asset Value
per Share as of such time.
(b) The portion of such Asset Based Sales Charge allocable to
Post-distributor Shares shall be computed s follows:
A X ((B + C)/2)
-----------
((D + E)/2)
where:
A = Total amount of Asset Based Sales Charge accrued during such
calendar month (or portion thereof) in respect of Shares of such
Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
B = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Post-distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar
month (or portion thereof), times Net Asset Value per Share as of
such time
C = Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account and identified as
Post-distributor Shares and outstanding as of the close of
business on the last day of such calendar month (or portion
thereof), times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time
D = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
and outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of
the immediately preceding calendar month (or portion thereof),
times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time.
E = Total number of Shares of such Fund in the ML Omnibus Account
outstanding as of the close of business on the last day of such
calendar month, times Net Asset Value per Share as of such time.
(3) PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF EACH FUND.
On the close of business on each day the Transfer Agent shall cause payment to
be made of the amount of the Asset Based Sales Charge and CDSCs accruing on such
day in respect of the Shares of such Fund owned of record by Shareholder
Accounts (other than Omnibus Accounts) by two separate wire transfers, directly
from accounts of such Fund as follows:
1. The Asset Based Sales Charge and CDSCs accruing in respect of
Shareholder Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts and allocable to
Distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be paid to
the Distributor's Account, unless the Distributor otherwise instructs the
Fund in any irrevocable payment instruction; and
2. The Asset Based Sales Charges and CDSCs accruing in respect of
Shareholder Accounts other than Omnibus Accounts and allocable to
Post-distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be
paid in accordance with direction received from any future distributor of
Shares of the Instant Fund.
On each Omnibus CDSC Settlement Date, the Transfer Agent for each Fund
shall cause the applicable Sub-transfer Agent to cause payment to be made of the
amount of the CDSCs accruing during the period to which such Omnibus CDSC
Settlement Date relates in respect of the Shares of such Fund owned of record by
each Omnibus Account by two separate wire transfers directly from the account of
such Fund maintained by such Transfer Agent, as follows:
1. The CDSCs accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account and allocable to
Distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be paid to
the Distributor's Account, unless the Distributor otherwise instructs the
Fund in any irrevocable payment instruction; and
2. The CDSCs accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account and allocable to
Post-distributor Shares in accordance with the preceding rules shall be
paid in accordance with direction received from any future distributor of
Shares of the Instant Fund.
On each Omnibus Asset Based Sales Charge Settlement Date the Transfer Agent
for each Fund shall cause payment to be made of the amount of the Asset Based
Sales Charge accruing for the period to which such Omnibus Asset Based Sales
Charge Settlement Date relates in respect of the Shares of such Fund owned of
record by each Omnibus Account by two separate wire transfers directly from
accounts of such Fund as follows:
1. The Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account
and allocable to Distributor Shares shall be paid to the Distributor's
Collection Account, unless the Distributor otherwise instructs the Fund in
any irrevocable payment instruction; and
2. The Asset Based Sales Charge accruing in respect of such Omnibus Account
and allocable to Post-Distributor Shares shall be paid in accordance with
direction received from any future distributor of Shares of the Instant
Fund.
