UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99-e
THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”) is made as of __________, 2008 by and among PFPC DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a
Massachusetts corporation (“Distributor”), FAIRHOLME FUNDS, INC., a
Maryland corporation (the “Fund Company”) and FAIRHOLME CAPITAL MANAGEMENT,
L.L.C. (the “Advisor”), which is a party hereto with respect to Section 5
only.
W I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Fund Company is
registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and is currently offering
shares of common stock (such shares of all series are hereinafter called the
“Shares”), representing shares in investment portfolios of the Fund Company
identified on Exhibit
A hereto, as amended from time to time (each, a “Fund” and, collectively,
the “Funds”), which are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) pursuant to the Fund Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A;
and
WHEREAS, the Fund Company
wishes to retain Distributor to serve as principal underwriter and distributor
for the Fund Company to provide for the distribution of the Shares of the Funds,
and Distributor wishes to furnish such services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement:
(a)
|
“12b-1 Plan”
means a plan of distribution adopted by a Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act.
|
(b)
|
“1933 Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
|
(c)
|
“1934 Act”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
|
(d)
|
“1940 Act” has
the meaning provided in the recitals to the
Agreement.
|
(e)
|
“Affiliate”
means, when used with respect to any person, any other person that
directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with such person. A person shall be deemed to control
another person if such person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
other person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
|
(f)
|
“Authorized
Person” means any officer of the Fund Company and any other person
duly authorized by the Fund Company’s Board of Directors to give Oral
Instructions or Written Instructions on behalf of the Fund Company or any
Fund. An Authorized Person's scope of authority may be limited
by setting forth such limitation in a written document signed by both
parties hereto.
|
(g)
|
“FINRA” means
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority,
Inc.
|
(h)
|
"Intellectual Property
Rights" means copyright rights, patent rights, trade secret rights,
and any other proprietary or intellectual property rights recognized in
any jurisdiction in the world.
|
(i)
|
“Oral
Instructions” mean oral instructions received by Distributor from
an Authorized Person or from a person reasonably believed by Distributor
to be an Authorized Person. Distributor may, in its sole
discretion in each separate instance, consider and rely upon instructions
it receives from an Authorized Person via electronic mail as Oral
Instructions.
|
(j)
|
“Prospectus”
means any Prospectus relating to the Fund Company or any Fund filed with
the SEC and any amendments or supplements thereto at any time filed with
the SEC.
|
(k)
|
“Registration
Statement” means any Registration Statement, including any
Prospectus and any Statement of Additional Information included therein,
relating to the Fund Company or any Fund filed with the SEC and any
amendments or supplements thereto at any time filed with the
SEC.
|
(l)
|
“SEC” has the
meaning provided in the recitals to the
Agreement.
|
(m)
|
“Securities
Laws” mean the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000
Xxx.
|
(n)
|
“Statement of
Additional Information” means any Statement of Additional
Information relating to the Fund Company or any Fund filed with the SEC
and any amendments or supplements thereto at any time filed with the
SEC.
|
(o)
|
“Written
Instructions” mean (i) written instructions signed by an Authorized
Person (or a person reasonably believed by Distributor to be an Authorized
Person) and received by Distributor or (ii) trade instructions transmitted
(and received by Distributor) by means of an electronic transaction
reporting system access to which requires use of a password or other
authorized identifier. The instructions may be delivered
electronically (with respect to sub-item (ii) above by hand, mail, tested
telegram, cable, telex or facsimile sending
device.
|
2.
|
Appointment.
|
The Fund
Company hereby appoints Distributor to serve as the principal underwriter and
distributor of the Shares of the Funds in accordance with the terms set forth in
this Agreement. Distributor accepts such appointment and agrees to
furnish such services. The Fund Company understands that Distributor
is now, and may in the future be, the principal underwriter of the shares of
several investment companies and/or series (collectively, the “Investment
Entities”), including Investment Entities having investment objectives similar
to those of the Funds. The Fund Company further understands that
investors and potential investors in the Funds may invest in shares of such
other Investment Entities. The Fund Company agrees that Distributor’s
duties to such Investment Entities shall not be deemed in conflict with its
duties to the Fund Company or any Fund under this
Agreement. Distributor shall be under no duty to take any action
hereunder on behalf of the Fund Company or any Fund except as specifically set
forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by Distributor and the Fund
Company in a written amendment hereto.
2
3.
|
Duties and Obligations
of Distributor.
|
(a)
|
Distributor
agrees to use efforts deemed appropriate by Distributor to facilitate the
distribution of the Shares, including, but not limited to, entering into
selling and/or servicing agreements with other financial intermediaries
for the offer, sale and/or servicing of Shares of the Funds (“Dealer
Agreements”). Distributor will act only on its own behalf as
principal in entering into Dealer Agreements with selected financial
intermediaries. No financial intermediary which enters into a
Dealer Agreement with Distributor shall be authorized to act as agent for
the Fund Company or any Fund in connection with the offering or sale of
Shares to the public or otherwise. Distributor shall use its
best efforts to distribute Shares of the Funds but shall not be obligated
to distribute any certain number of
Shares.
|
(b)
|
To
the extent that Distributor receives fees under any 12b-1 Plan (“12b-1
Fees”), Distributor agrees to enter into Dealer Agreements with other
financial intermediaries for the furnishing of marketing or sales services
with respect to the Shares as may be permitted pursuant to such 12b-1
Plan. To the extent that Distributor receives shareholder
services fees under any shareholder services plan adopted by the Fund
Company or any Fund (“Service Fees”), Distributor agrees to enter into
Dealer Agreements with other financial intermediaries for the furnishing
of personal and/or account maintenance services with respect to the
relevant shareholders of the Fund as may be permitted pursuant to such
shareholder services plan. It is contemplated that Distributor
will enter into Dealer Agreements with broker-dealers, financial
institutions and other investment professionals, such as investment
advisers, insurance companies, accountants and estate planning
firms. The terms of the Dealer Agreements Distributor enters
into with other financial intermediaries will require the financial
intermediaries to conform to the applicable provisions of the Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information and relevant rules and regulations
relating to the sale of investment company shares, including with respect
to the public offering price of the Shares. Distributor shall
not cause the Fund Company to withhold the placing of purchase orders so
as to make a profit thereby.
|
(c)
|
Distributor
shall review and provide comments on all sales literature (advertisements,
brochures and shareholder communications) for the Fund Company and each
Fund. When required by rule or regulation and once approved by
the Fund Company and the applicable Fund, Distributor shall file such
materials with FINRA, the SEC or other federal and state agencies or other
organizations. The Fund Company acknowledges and agrees that
Distributor’s services hereunder are not, and shall not be construed as,
constituting legal advice or the provision of legal services for or on
behalf of the Fund Company or any other person. Distributor’s
review of sales literature under this Section 3(c) is subject to the
review and approval of the Fund Company or its
counsel.
|
(d)
|
In
furnishing its services and performing its duties under this Agreement,
Distributor shall act in conformity with the applicable Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information and shall not utilize any materials
except the applicable Fund Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information and such other materials as the Fund Company or Fund shall
provide or approve.
|
3
(e)
|
If
requested by the Fund, Distributor agrees to prepare and deliver to the
Board of Directors of the Fund Company at least quarterly reports listing
each financial intermediary to which Distributor pays 12b-1
Fees. Distributor agrees to provide annually such information
requested by the Fund Company or its counsel as may reasonably be
necessary for an informed determination in accordance with Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act of whether the applicable 12b-1 Plan should be
implemented or continued.
|
(f)
|
As
a Fund Member of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”),
Distributor will establish a NSCC participant number for the Fund Company
and will provide an interface for the Fund Company for trading and
settling transactions through the facilities of the NSCC (“NSCC
Interface”). Distributor will ensure that the Fund Company’s
NSCC participant number is properly established and
maintained.
|
(g)
|
Distributor
hereby grants to the Fund Company a limited, nonexclusive, nontransferable
right to access and utilize its Principal Review web portal and software
system for the review and submission of advertising and sales literature
(“PFPC Software”) and such license shall immediately be terminated with
the termination of this Agreement. No right is granted for use
of the PFPC Software by any third party affiliated with the Fund Company
unless such third party is approved in advance by
Distributor. Distributor and its suppliers reserve all rights
in the PFPC Software and related documentation not expressly granted to
the Fund Company herein. Distributor and its suppliers will
continue to own all of their respective right, title and interest in and
to the PFPC Software, computer programs, screen formats, report formats,
interactive design techniques, derivative works, inventions, discoveries,
patentable or copyrightable matters, concepts, expertise, patents,
copyrights, trade secrets and other related legal rights utilized in
connection with the services provided to the Fund Company and their
respective Intellectual Property Rights therein. The Fund
Company will own its respective right, title and interest in and to any
and all trademarks, data, information, records, files, input materials,
reports, and forms received, maintained, computed, stored, processed,
created, or generated on or by the PFPC
Software.
|
(h)
|
Distributor
and the Fund Company agree that all orders placed by financial
intermediaries or investors will be submitted directly to the Fund
Company, through the transfer agent for the Fund Company, and not through
the Distributor. Distributor agrees that it will direct any
orders received by it for purchase or redemption of the Shares to the
transfer agent for the Fund Company. Distributor will have no
liability for payment for the purchase of Shares sold pursuant to this
Agreement or with respect to redemptions or repurchases of
Shares.
|
(i)
|
No
Shares shall be distributed or offered by Distributor or the Fund Company
under any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the
purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Fund Company
if and so long as effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in
effect or any necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of
the provisions of the 1933 Act, or if and so long as a current Prospectus
as required by Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act is not on file with the
SEC; provided, however, that
nothing contained in this paragraph shall in any way restrict or have any
application to or bearing upon the Fund Company’s obligation to redeem
Shares tendered for redemption by any shareholder in accordance with the
provisions of the Fund Company’s Registration Statement, Articles of
Incorporation or bylaws.
|
4
(j)
|
Distributor
undertakes to comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities
Laws and any laws, rules and regulations of governmental authorities
having jurisdiction with respect to the duties to be performed by
Distributor hereunder. Distributor assumes no responsibility
for compliance by the Fund Company, any Fund or any other entity with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Laws or any laws, rules or
regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction over such
entity.
|
(k)
|
Distributor
will provide reports and assistance to, and enter into any necessary
contracts with, the third party agent servicing Class B shares for the
Fund Company, if necessary.
|
(l)
|
Distributor
represents and warrants to the Fund Company that Distributor is a
broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the 1934 Act and is a member
in good standing of FINRA. Distributor will immediately notify
Fund Company in the event Distributor receives a notice of expulsion or
suspension from FINRA. Distributor agrees to advise the Fund
Company promptly in writing of the initiation of any proceeding against
Distributor by the SEC, FINRA or any state regulatory
authority.
|
(m)
|
Distributor
has adopted appropriate compliance policies and procedures as required by
FINRA and the SEC. Distributor will upon request provide
certifications in a mutually agreed upon form to the Fund Company’s Chief
Compliance Officer to assist the Fund Company in complying with Rule 38a-1
promulgated under the 0000 Xxx.
|
(n)
|
Distributor
maintains a disaster recovery and business continuity plan as required by
the SEC and FINRA, and, upon the Fund Company’s request, Distributor will
provide a copy of such disaster recovery and business continuity plan to
Fund Company.
|
4.
|
Duties and Obligations
of the Fund Company.
|
(a)
|
The
Fund Company represents and warrants to Distributor that the Fund Company
is an investment company registered under the 1940 Act and the Shares sold
by each Fund are, and will be, registered under the 1933
Act.
|
(b)
|
The
Fund Company represents to Distributor that all Registration Statements
filed by the Fund Company or any Fund with the SEC under the 1933 Act with
respect to the Shares have been prepared in conformity with the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC
thereunder.
|
(c)
|
The
Fund Company represents and warrants to
Distributor:
|
(i)
|
that
any Registration Statement, when such Registration Statement becomes
effective, will contain statements required to be stated therein in
conformity with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the
SEC;
|
(ii)
|
that
all statements of fact contained in any such Registration Statement will
be true and correct when such Registration Statement becomes effective;
and
|
(iii)
|
that
no Registration Statement, when such Registration Statement becomes
effective, will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of the
Shares.
|
5
(d)
|
The
Fund Company shall not file any amendment to any Registration Statement or
supplement to any Prospectus without giving Distributor reasonable advance
notice thereof; provided, however, that
nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Fund
Company’s right to file at any time such amendments to any Registration
Statements and/or supplements to any Prospectus, of whatever character, as
the Fund Company may deem advisable, such right being in all respects
absolute and unconditional.
|
(e)
|
The
Fund Company authorizes Distributor to use any Prospectus or Statement of
Additional Information in the form furnished from time to time in
connection with distribution of the
Shares.
|
(f)
|
Distributor
may, but shall not be obligated to, propose from time to time such
disclosure amendments or supplements to any Registration Statement as
Distributor may deem to be advisable (“Required
Disclosures”). Distributor may, but shall not be obligated to,
at its option, terminate this Agreement if, within fifteen business days
after the Fund Company’s receipt of any such Required Disclosures from
Distributor, the Fund Company has not adopted such Required Disclosures
and filed with the SEC an amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement reflecting the Required
Disclosures.
|
(g)
|
The
net asset value of the Shares shall be determined in the manner provided
in the then current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
relating to the Shares, and when determined shall be applicable to all
transactions as provided in the Prospectus. The net asset value
of the Shares shall be calculated by the Fund Company or by another entity
on behalf of the Fund Company. Distributor shall have no duty
to inquire into, or liability for, the accuracy of the net asset value per
Share as calculated.
|
(h)
|
Whenever
in its judgment such action is warranted by unusual market, economic or
political conditions or abnormal circumstances of any kind, the Fund
Company or any Fund may decline to accept any orders for, or make any
sales of, the Shares until such time as the Fund Company or Fund deems it
advisable to accept such orders and to make such sales. The
Fund Company or Fund shall advise Distributor promptly of any
determination to decline to accept orders for or make sales of the Shares,
and shall advise Distributor promptly of any subsequent determination to
accept such orders and make such
sales.
|
(i)
|
The
Fund Company agrees to execute any and all documents and to furnish any
and all information and otherwise to take all actions that may be
reasonably necessary in connection with the qualification of the Shares
for sale in such states as the Fund Company determines. The
Fund Company shall notify Distributor in writing of the states in which
the Shares may be sold and shall notify Distributor promptly in writing of
any changes to the information contained in the previous
notification.
|
(j)
|
The
Fund Company agrees to furnish Distributor with sufficient copies of any
and all: agreements, plans, communications with the public, or
other materials which the Fund Company intends to use in connection any
sales of Shares in adequate time for Distributor to review and file such
materials with the proper authorities before they are put in
use. Distributor and the Fund Company may agree that any such
material does not need to be filed subsequent to
distribution. In addition, the Fund Company agrees not to use
any such materials until so filed and cleared for use, if required, by
appropriate authorities as well as by
Distributor.
|
6
(k)
|
The
Fund Company acknowledges and agrees that the NSCC participant number
established and maintained by the Distributor on behalf of the Fund
Company is for use by the Fund Company or its transfer agent, and that
Distributor is not an agent of the Fund Company for NSCC
purposes. The Fund Company agrees that it will comply, or cause
its transfer agent to comply, with the rules of the NSCC in the use of the
Distributor’s NSCC membership to effect transactions in
Shares.
|
(l)
|
The
Fund Company represents and warrants that it will not issue Shares of
Funds that are not in compliance with the applicable conditions and
qualifications set forth in NASD Rule 2830 of the Rules of FINRA, as
amended from time to time, which enables a member of FINRA to offer or
sell investment company securities.
|
(m)
|
The
Fund Company represents and warrants that it will comply with all 1940 Act
restrictions or prohibitions on transactions with Distributor and any of
its Affiliates, which include transactions with PFPC Inc., BlackRock, Inc.
and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and any subsidiaries
thereof. The Fund Company agrees to provide advance notice to
Distributor of any transactions it intends to engage in with Affiliates of
Distributor.
|
(n)
|
The
Fund Company undertakes generally to comply with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Laws and all laws, rules and regulations of
governmental authorities having jurisdiction over
it.
|
5.
|
Compensation.
|
(a)
|
As
compensation for services rendered by Distributor during the term of this
Agreement, the Advisor will pay to Distributor a fee or fees as may be
agreed to from time to time in writing (the “Fee Letter”), which is
incorporated into this Agreement and may be amended from time to
time.
|
(b)
|
As
compensation for services rendered by Distributor under the terms of this
Agreement, the Fund Company acknowledges and agrees that Distributor will
be entitled to the underwriter concessions as disclosed in each Fund’s
Prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information.
|
(c)
|
For
shareholder accounts opened directly with the Fund Company or which
otherwise do not have a retail broker-dealer assigned to the account as
“broker of record” (“Unassigned Accounts”), Distributor will be listed as
default payee in the applicable Fund’s records and on the transfer agent’s
systems. As compensation for services rendered by Distributor
under the terms of this Agreement, Distributor will be entitled to any
front-end sales charges, deferred sales charges and 12b-1 Fees for
Unassigned Accounts which are payable in accordance with the terms of the
Fund Company’s or the applicable Fund’s Prospectus, Statement of
Additional Information and 12b-1
Plan.
|
(d)
|
The
Fund Company acknowledges that Distributor may receive float benefits
and/or investment earnings in connection with maintaining certain accounts
required to provide services under this
Agreement.
|
(e)
|
The
Fund Company acknowledges that from time to time Distributor may make
payments out of its own revenue to the advisor or sponsor of the Fund
Company, or a third party vendor designated by the advisor or sponsor, for
marketing and distribution expenses incurred by the advisor or sponsor of
the Fund Company.
|
(f)
|
The
Fund Company represents and warrants to Distributor that (i) the terms of
this Agreement and the Fee Letter; (ii) the fees and expenses payable to
Distributor under the terms of this Agreement and the Fee Letter; and
(iii) any benefits accruing to Distributor, to sponsor or advisor to the
Fund Company or any Fund or to any affiliate of the Fund Company in
connection with this Agreement, including but not limited to any fee
waivers, conversion cost reimbursements, upfront payments, signing
payments or periodic payments made or to be made by Distributor to such
sponsor or advisor or Affiliate of the Fund Company relating to or in
connection with this Agreement, have been fully disclosed to the Board of
Directors of the Fund Company and that the Board of Directors has approved
or will approve the terms of this Agreement, the Fee Letter, any such fees
and expenses, and any such
benefits.
|
(g)
|
Distributor
and the Fund Company acknowledge and agree that (i) Distributor does not
and will not assist investors in purchasing Shares of the Funds or provide
investors with investment advice or ongoing services related thereto, and
(ii) Distributor’s compensation hereunder is for its services as principal
underwriter and distributor.
|
6.
|
Instructions.
|
|
(a)
|
Unless
otherwise provided in this Agreement, Distributor shall act only upon Oral
Instructions or Written
Instructions.
|
|
(b)
|
Distributor
shall be entitled to rely upon any Oral Instruction or Written Instruction
it receives from an Authorized Person (or from a person reasonably
believed by Distributor to be an Authorized Person) pursuant to this
Agreement. Distributor may assume that any Oral Instruction or
Written Instruction received hereunder is not in any way inconsistent with
the provisions of the Fund Company’s organizational documents or this
Agreement or with any vote, resolution or proceeding of the Fund Company’s
Board of Directors or any Fund's shareholders, unless and until
Distributor receives Written Instructions to the
contrary.
|
|
(c)
|
The
Fund Company agrees to forward to Distributor Written Instructions
confirming Oral Instructions so that Distributor receives the Written
Instructions by the close of business on the same day that such Oral
Instructions are received. The fact that such confirming
Written Instructions are not received by Distributor or differ from the
Oral Instructions shall in no way invalidate the transactions or
enforceability of the transactions authorized by the Oral Instructions or
Distributor’s ability to rely upon such Oral
Instructions. Where Oral Instructions or Written Instructions
reasonably appear to have been received from an Authorized Person,
Distributor shall incur no liability to the Fund Company or any Fund in
acting upon such Oral Instructions or Written Instructions provided that
Distributor’ actions comply with the other provisions of this
Agreement.
|
7
|
(d)
|
Where
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions reasonably appear to have been
received from an Authorized Person, Distributor shall incur no liability
to the Fund Company or any Fund in acting upon such Oral Instructions or
Written Instructions provided that Distributor’s actions comply with the
other provisions of this Agreement.
|
7.
|
Right to Receive
Advice.
|
|
(a)
|
Advice of the Fund
Company. If Distributor is in doubt as to any action it
should or should not take, Distributor may request directions or advice,
including Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, from the Fund
Company.
|
|
(b)
|
Advice of
Counsel. If Distributor is in doubt as to any question
of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, Distributor
may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel
for the Fund Company, the advisor for any Fund or Distributor, at the
option of Distributor).
|
|
(c)
|
Conflicting
Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions,
advice, Oral Instructions or Written Instructions Distributor receives
from the Fund Company on the one hand, and the advice it receives from
counsel on the other hand, Distributor may rely upon and follow the advice
of counsel.
|
|
(d)
|
Protection of
Distributor. Distributor shall be protected in any
action it takes or does not take in reliance upon directions, advice, Oral
Instructions or Written Instructions it receives from the Fund Company or
any Fund, or in reliance upon advice from counsel and which Distributor
believes, in good faith, to be consistent with such directions, advice,
Oral Instructions or Written Instructions. Nothing in this section shall
be construed so as to impose an obligation upon Distributor (i) to seek
such directions, advice, Oral Instructions or Written Instructions, or
(ii) to act in accordance with such directions or advice or Oral
Instructions or Written Instructions unless, under the terms of other
provisions of this Agreement, the same is a condition of Distributor’s
properly taking or not taking such
action.
|
8
8.
|
Records;
Visits.
|
(a) |
Any
books and records pertaining to the Fund Company or any Fund that are in
the possession or under the control of Distributor, shall be the property
of the Fund Company and such Fund. Such books and records shall be
prepared and maintained as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable
securities laws, rules and regulations. The Fund Company and Authorized
Persons shall have access to such books and records at all times during
Distributor’s normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the
Fund Company or any Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be
provided by Distributor to the Fund Company or to an Authorized Person, at
the Fund Company’s expense.
|
(b)
|
Upon
termination of this Agreement, all documents (including any tangible
media) related to this Agreement or the services provided hereunder shall
be handled as follows:
|
|
(i)
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each party shall retain the
documents it is required by law to
maintain;
|
|
(ii)
|
Documents
shall be returned to the party that owns the documents to the extent such
party so requests, or destroyed to the extent such party requests
destruction; provided that any request for return or destruction is made
within 90 days after the termination of this
Agreement;
|
|
(iii)
|
All
documents related to this Agreement or the services provided hereunder
retained by a party after termination of this Agreement, that contain
Confidential Information of the other party shall be maintained subject to
the provisions of Section 9 of this
Agreement;
|
|
(iv)
|
Either
party may request a copy of any document related to this Agreement or the
services provided hereunder retained by the other party after termination
of this Agreement; provided that the party making the request reimburses
the other party for the reasonable copying cost;
and
|
|
(v)
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 8(b), any document related to this
Agreement or the services provided hereunder, retained by a party after
termination of this Agreement may be destroyed by such party according to
its normal records destruction schedule, provided that such schedule is
consistent with applicable law.
|
9.
|
Confidentiality.
|
|
(a)
|
Each
party shall hold any and all information relating to the other party's
business (“Confidential Information”) in strictest confidence and shall
use and permit use of Confidential Information solely for the purposes of
this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any party receiving Confidential Information of the other party
shall use at least the same degree of care, but no less than reasonable
care, to avoid disclosure or use of this Confidential Information as the
receiving party employs with respect to its own Confidential
Information. Confidential Information includes, but is not
limited to:
|
|
(i)
|
any
data or information that is competitively sensitive material and not
generally known to the public, including, but not limited to, information
about product plans, marketing strategies, finances, operations, customer
relationships, customer profiles, customer lists, sales estimates,
business plans and internal performance results relating to the past,
present or future business activities of the Fund Company, Advisor or
Distributor, its subsidiaries and affiliated companies and the customers,
clients and suppliers of any of
them;
|
9
|
(ii)
|
any
scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure, formula
or improvement that is commercially valuable and secret in the sense that
its confidentiality affords the Fund Company, Advisor or Distributor (or
their respective Affiliates) a competitive advantage over its
competitors;
|
|
(iii)
|
all
confidential or proprietary concepts, documentation, reports, data,
specifications, computer software, source code, object code, flow charts,
databases, inventions, know-how and trade secrets, whether or not
patentable or copyrightable; and
|
|
(iv)
|
anything
designated as confidential.
|
|
(b)
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, information shall not be Confidential Information and shall
not be subject to the confidentiality obligations hereunder if
it:
|
|
(i)
|
is
already known to the receiving party at the time it is
obtained;
|
|
(ii)
|
is
or becomes publicly known or available through no wrongful act of the
receiving party;
|
|
(iii)
|
is
rightfully received from a third party who, to the best of the receiving
party’s knowledge, is not under a duty of
confidentiality;
|
|
(iv)
|
is
released by the protected party to a third party without
restriction;
|
|
(v)
|
is
requested or required to be disclosed pursuant to a court order, subpoena,
governmental or regulatory agency request or
law;
|
(vi) | is relevant to the defense of any claim or cause of action asserted against the receiving party; |
(vii) |
is
Fund information provided by Distributor in connection with an independent
third party compliance or other review; provided, however, that the party
to whom such information is disclosed is subject to a commercially
reasonable confidentiality
obligation;
|
(viii) |
needs
to be released by Distributor in connection with the provision of services
under this Agreement and the release of such information has been
consented to in writing by the Fund or its investment adviser (with such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld);
or
|
|
(ix)
|
has
been or is independently developed or obtained by the receiving
party.
|
|
(c)
|
Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, each party hereto agrees that any
Nonpublic Personal Information, as defined under Section 248.3(t) of
Regulation S-P (“Regulation S-P”), promulgated under the
Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act (the “Act”), disclosed by a party hereunder is for
the specific purpose of permitting the other party to perform the services
set forth in this Agreement. Each party agrees that (i) it will
comply with Regulation S-P and the Act with respect to such information,
and (ii) it will not disclose any Nonpublic Personal Information received
in connection with this Agreement to any other party, except to the extent
necessary to furnish the services set forth in this Agreement or as
otherwise permitted by Regulation S-P or the
Act.
|
10
|
(d)
|
The
provisions of this Section 9 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
|
10.
|
Standard of
Care/Limitations of
Liability.
|
|
(a)
|
Distributor
shall be under no duty to take any action hereunder on behalf of the Fund
Company except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically
agreed to by Distributor and the Fund Company in a written amendment
hereto.
|
(b) |
Subject
to the terms of this Section 10, Distributor shall be liable to the Fund
Company (or any person or entity claiming through the Fund Company) for
damages only to the extent caused by or related to (i) Distributor’s own
willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its
obligations or duties under this Agreement or in its compliance or failure
to comply with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in
connection with its activities hereunder, (ii) Distributor’s reckless
disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement (the
performance obligations of the Distributor set forth above in (i) and (ii)
are collectively, the “Standard of Care”), or (iii) any
Required Disclosures.
|
(c) |
Distributor
shall not be liable for damages (including without limitation damages
caused by delays, failure, errors, interruptions or losses of data)
occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its
reasonable control, including without limitation acts of God; action or
inaction of civil or military authority; national emergencies; public
enemy; war; terrorism; riot; fire; flood; catastrophe; sabotage;
epidemics; labor disputes; civil commotion; interruption, loss or
malfunction of utilities, transportation, computer or communications
capabilities; insurrection; elements of nature; non-performance by a third
party; failure of the mails; or functions or malfunctions of the internet,
firewalls, encryption systems or security devices caused by any of the
above.
|
(d) |
Distributor
shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into and shall not be
liable for the validity or invalidity, authority or lack thereof, or
truthfulness or accuracy or lack thereof, of any instruction, direction,
notice, instrument or other information which Distributor reasonably
believes to be genuine and authorized by the
Advisor. Distributor shall not be liable for any damages that
are caused by actions or omissions taken by Distributor in accordance with
Written Instructions, Oral Instructions or advice of
counsel. Distributor shall not be liable for any damages to the
extent arising out of any action or omission to act by any prior service
provider of the Fund Company or for any failure to discover any such
action or omission.
|
(e) | No party to this Agreement or its Affiliates shall be liable to the other party for any consequential, exemplary, punitive, special or indirect damages, whether or not the likelihood of such damages was known by such party or its Affiliates. |
(f)
|
Each
party shall have a duty to mitigate damages for which the other party may
become responsible.
|
(g)
|
This
Section 10 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
|
11
11.
|
Indemnification.
|
(a)
|
Unless
Distributor fails to meet its Standard of Care (as defined in Section
10(b) above), the Fund Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Distributor and its Affiliates and any person who controls Distributor
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and their respective
directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against all claims,
costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, payments and liabilities of any
sort or kind (including attorneys’ fees and court costs, travel costs and
other reasonable out-of-pocket costs related to dispute resolution)
arising directly or indirectly from any action taken or omitted to be
taken by Distributor in connection with this Agreement or the provision of
services to the Fund Company.
|
(b)
|
Unless
Distributor fails to meet its Standard of Care (as defined in Section
10(b) above), the Fund Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Distributor, its affiliates, and any person who controls Distributor
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and their respective
directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all
claims, costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, payments and
liabilities of any sort or kind (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
court costs, travel costs and other reasonable out-of-pocket costs related
to dispute resolution) which any such indemnified person may incur under
the 1933 Act or any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out
of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, Statement of
Additional Information, or sales literature (including amendments and
supplements thereto), (ii) any omission to state a material fact required
to be stated in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, Statement of
Additional Information or sales literature (including amendments or
supplements thereto), necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; (iii) any failure by the Fund Company to qualify or register
the Shares of the Funds as required by applicable federal or state laws,
rules or regulations; or (vi) any transaction effected through the NSCC
participant number established for the Fund Company by the Distributor;
provided,
however,
that the Fund Company shall have no indemnification obligation hereunder
insofar as any claim, cost, expense, loss, damage, charge, payment or
liability incurred under sub-section (i) and (ii) above arose out of or
was based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in, or
any omission of a material fact from, the Required Disclosures or
disclosure relating to Distributor furnished to the Fund Company
specifically for inclusion in the Fund’s Registration Statement,
Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or sales literature
(including amendments or supplements
thereto).
|
(c)
|
The
Fund Company acknowledges and agrees that in the event that Distributor,
at the request of the Fund Company or any Fund, is required to give
indemnification comparable to that set forth in this paragraph to any
broker-dealer or other financial intermediary selling Shares of the Funds
or servicing shareholders of the Funds and such broker-dealer or financial
intermediary shall make a claim for indemnification against Distributor,
Distributor shall make a similar claim for indemnification against the
Fund Company. The Fund Company acknowledges and agrees that
Distributor shall be indemnified hereunder for any such claim unless the
claim is a claim for which the Distributor is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder.
|
12
(d)
|
Subject
to the limitations of liability set forth in Section 10 of this Agreement,
Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund Company and
each Fund, their affiliates and each person who controls the Fund Company
or a Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and their
respective directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against any
and all claims, costs, expenses, losses, damages, charges, payments and
liabilities of any sort or kind (including reasonable attorneys' fees, and
court costs, travel costs and other reasonable out of-pocket costs related
to dispute resolution), which any such indemnified person may incur under
the 1933 Act, or any other statute, at common law or otherwise (i) arising
out of or based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any Registration Statement, Prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information (including amendments and supplements thereto), or any
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading which untrue
statement or omission was included in the Required Disclosures or made in
any written information relating to Distributor furnished to the Fund
Company specifically for inclusion in the Fund’s Registration Statement,
Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or sales literature
(including amendments or supplements thereto) or (ii) to the extent caused
by Distributor’s failure to meet its Standard of Care under this
Agreement.
|
(e)
|
In
any situation in which one party hereto (the “Indemnifying Party”) may be
asked to indemnify, defend or hold harmless a party, entitled to
indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnified Party”), the Indemnified Party
will notify the Indemnifying Party promptly after identifying any
situation which it believes presents or appears likely to present a claim
for indemnification (an “Indemnification Claim”) against the Indemnifying
Party, although the failure to do so shall not prevent recovery by the
Indemnified Party, and shall keep the Indemnifying Party advised with
respect to all developments concerning such situation. The
Indemnifying Party shall have the option to defend the Indemnified Party
against any Indemnification Claim which may be the subject of
indemnification hereunder, and, in the event that the Indemnifying Party
so elects, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the
Indemnifying Party and satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, and
thereupon the Indemnifying Party shall take over complete defense of the
Indemnification Claim and the Indemnified Party shall sustain no further
legal or other expenses in respect of such Indemnification
Claim. In the event that the Indemnifying Party does not elect
to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Indemnified Party
reasonably does not approve of counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party,
or in case there is a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party
and the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party will reimburse the
Indemnified Party for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the
Indemnified Party. The Fund Company agrees promptly to notify
Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against
the Fund Company or any Fund or any of their officers or directors in
connection with the issue and sale of any Shares. The
Indemnified Party will not confess or settle any Indemnification Claim or
make any compromise in any case in which the Indemnifying Party will be
asked to provide indemnification, except with the Indemnifying Party's
prior written consent.
|
(f)
|
This
Section 11 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
|
13
12.
|
Duration and
Termination.
|
This
Agreement shall become effective on the date first written above and, unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue for an initial two-year
term and thereafter shall be renewed for successive one-year terms, provided
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Fund
Company’s Board of Directors or (ii) a vote of a majority (as defined in the
1940 Act and Rule 18f-2 thereunder) of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund Company, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by
a majority of the Directors who are not parties to this Agreement and who are
not interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any party to this
Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval. This Agreement is terminable without penalty, on at
least ninety (90) days' prior written notice, by the Fund Company’s Board of
Directors, by vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act and Rule 18f-2
thereunder) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund Company, or by
Distributor. Subject to Section 15, this Agreement will terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act and the
rules thereunder). In the event the Fund Company gives notice of
termination, all expenses associated with movement (or duplication) of records
and materials and conversion thereof to a successor underwriter or other service
provider, and all trailing expenses incurred by Distributor, will be borne by
the Fund Company.
13.
|
Notices.
|
All
notices hereunder shall be given in writing (and shall be deemed to have been
duly given upon receipt) and delivered in person, by facsimile, by registered or
certified mail or by overnight delivery (postage prepaid, return receipt
requested) to the persons listed below at the following addresses:
To
Distributor:
000 Xxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx xx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
President
Facsimile
no.:________________
With a
copy to:
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Chief
Legal Officer
PFPC
Distributors, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
14
To the
Fund Company:
Fairholme
Funds, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
0xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx, XX
00000
Attention: President
Facsimile
no.: (000) 000-0000
To the Advisor:
Fairholme
Capital Management, L.L.C.
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
0xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx, XX
00000
Attention: President
Facsimile
no.: (000) 000-0000
Each
party may change its address by giving notice as herein provided.
14.
|
Amendments.
|
This
Agreement, or any term hereof, may be changed or waived only by a written
amendment, signed by both the Fund Company and the Distributor.
15.
|
Assignment.
|
Distributor
may assign its rights hereunder to any majority-owned direct or indirect
subsidiary of Distributor or of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. to the
extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. The Fund
Company may also assign its rights hereunder to the extent permitted by the 1940
Act and the rules thereunder. Any other assignment will result in
immediate termination of this Agreement.
16.
|
Non-Solicitation.
|
During
the term of this Agreement and for one year thereafter, the Fund Company shall
not (with the exceptions noted in the immediately succeeding sentence) knowingly
solicit or recruit for employment or hire any of Distributor’s employees, and
the Fund Company shall cause the sponsor, advisor or other Affiliates of the
Fund Company or any Fund to not (with the exceptions noted in the immediately
succeeding sentence) knowingly solicit or recruit for employment or hire any of
Distributor’s employees. To “knowingly” solicit, recruit or hire
within the meaning of this provision does not include, and therefore does not
prohibit, solicitation, recruitment or hiring of a Distributor employee by the
Fund Company or any sponsor, advisor or other Affiliate of the Fund Company or
any Fund if the Distributor employee was identified by such entity solely as a
result of the Distributor employee’s response to a general advertisement by such
entity in a publication of trade or industry interest or other similar general
solicitation by such entity.
15
17.
|
Counterparts.
|
|
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
|
18.
|
Further
Actions.
|
Each
party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such further documents as
are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.
19.
|
Miscellaneous.
|
(a)
|
Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the related Fee Letter
embody the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject
matter hereof, provided that the parties may embody in one or more
separate documents their agreement, if any, with respect to delegated
duties.
|
(b)
|
No Changes that
Materially Affect Obligations. Notwithstanding anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, the Fund Company agrees not to make any
modifications to its Registration Statement or 12b-1 Plan or adopt any
policies which would affect materially the obligations or responsibilities
of Distributor hereunder without the prior written approval of
Distributor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed.
|
(c)
|
Captions. The
captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference
only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or
effect.
|
(d)
|
Information. The
Fund Company will provide such information and documentation as
Distributor may reasonably request in connection with services provided by
Distributor to the Fund Company or any
Fund.
|
(e)
|
Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract
made in Delaware and governed by Delaware law, without regard to
principles of conflicts of law.
|
(f)
|
Partial
Invalidity. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby.
|
(g)
|
Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns. Except as may be explicitly stated in this
Agreement, (i) this Agreement is not for the benefit of any other person
or entity and (ii) there shall be no third party beneficiaries hereof
except the Fund Company and each of the
Funds.
|
16
(h)
|
No Representations or
Warranties. Except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, Distributor hereby disclaims all representations and
warranties, express or implied, made to the Fund Company or any other
person, including, without limitation, any warranties regarding quality,
suitability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or
otherwise (irrespective of any course of dealing, custom or usage of
trade), of any services or any goods provided incidental to services
provided under this Agreement. Distributor disclaims any
warranty of title or non-infringement except as otherwise set forth in
this Agreement.
|
(i)
|
Facsimile
Signatures. The facsimile signature of any party to this
Agreement shall constitute the valid and binding execution hereof by such
party.
|
(j)
|
Customer
Identification Program Notice. To help the U.S. government fight
the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, U.S. Federal law
requires each financial institution to obtain, verify, and record certain
information that identifies each person who initially opens an account
with that financial institution on or after October 1,
2003. Consistent with this requirement, Distributor will
request (or already has requested) each Fund’s name, address and taxpayer
identification number or other government-issued identification number
and, if such party is a natural person, that party’s date of birth.
Distributor may also ask (and may have already asked) for additional
identifying information, and Distributor may take steps (and may have
already taken steps) to verify the authenticity and accuracy of these data
elements.
|
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year
first above written.
PFPC
DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:
____________________
Name:
___________________
Title:
____________________
FAIRHOLME
FUNDS, INC.
By:
_____________________
Name:
___________________
Title:
____________________
FAIRHOLME
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
(with
respect to Section 5(a) only)
By:
_____________________
Name:
___________________
Title:
____________________
18
EXHIBIT
A
THIS EXHIBIT A, dated as of
_______,
2008, is Exhibit A to that certain Underwriting Agreement dated as of _________,
2008, between PFPC Distributors, Inc. and Fairholme Funds, Inc.
PORTFOLIOS
The
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
19