DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Agreement to be effective March 14, 2000, by and between PRINCIPAL EUROPEAN
EQUITY FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation (hereinafter sometimes called the
"Fund") and PRINCOR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION, an Iowa corporation
(Hereinafter sometimes called the "Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, The Fund and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement setting
forth the terms upon which the Distributor will act as underwriter and
distributor of the Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein contained, the Fund hereby appoints the Distributor to act as principal
underwriter (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(29) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (as amended) of the shares of Capital Stock of the Fund
(hereinafter sometimes call "shares"), and the distributor agrees to act and
perform the duties and functions of underwriter in the manner and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth.
1. SOLICITATION OF ORDERS
The Distributor will use its best efforts (but only in states where it
may lawfully do so) to obtain from investors unconditional orders for
shares authorized for issue by the Fund and registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided the Distributor may in its
own discretion refuse to accept orders for shares from any particular
applicant. The Distributor does not undertake to sell any specific
number of shares of the Fund.
2. SALE OF SHARES
The Distributor is authorized to sell as agent on behalf of the Fund
authorized shares of the Fund by accepting unconditional orders placed
with the Distributor by investors in states wherever sales may lawfully
be made.
3. PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE
Except as limited by paragraphs 6 and 7 hereof, all shares of the Fund
sold to investors by the Distributor as agent for the Fund will be sold
for the basic retail price, which basic retail price shall be the public
offering price applicable to each purchase as from time to time stated
in the current prospectus of the Fund.
4. COMMISSIONS
The Distributor shall receive a commission equal to the difference between
the basic retail price and the "net asset value" of the Fund's shares sold
through the Distributor subject to a sales charge at the basic retail
price. The term, "net asset value," as used herein, means said value as
determined either as of the close of trading of the New York Stock Exchange
on the day an order for purchase of shares is accepted or as of such other
time as may be in accordance with any provision of the 1940 Investment
Company Act, any rule or regulation thereunder, or any rule or regulation
made or adopted by any securities association registered under the 1934
Securities Exchange Act (all as the Distributor may determine) or as of
such time as the Board of Directors or duly authorized officers or agents
of the Fund may determine in the manner provided in the Fund's Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws as from time to time amended. If any such
commission is received by the Fund, it will pay such commission to the
Distributor. In addition, the Distributor will be paid the entire amount of
any contingent deferred sales charge imposed and paid by shareholders upon
the redemption or repurchase of the Fund's shares as set forth in the
Fund's prospectus, subject to any waivers or reductions in sales charge
that may be disclosed in the prospectus. The Distributor may pay its agents
and employees such compensation, allow to dealers such concessions, and
allow (and authorize dealers to re-allow) such discounts to purchasers, as
the Distributor may determine from time to time. The Distributor may also
purchase as principal shares of the Fund at "net asset value" and sell such
shares at the public offering price.
5. DELIVERY OF PAYMENTS AND ISSUANCE OF SHARES
The Distributor will deliver to the Fund all payments made pursuant to
orders accepted by the Distributor upon receipt thereof by the
Distributor in its principal place of business.
After payment the Fund will issue shares of Capital Stock by crediting
to a stockholder account in such names and such manner as specified in
the application or order relating to such shares. Certificates will be
issued only upon request by the shareholder.
6. SALES OF SHARES TO CERTAIN CLASSES OF INVESTORS OR TRANSACTIONS
The sale price of Class A shares of the Fund will reflect the scheduled
variations in, or elimination of, the sales load to particular classes
of investors or transactions as may be described in the Fund's current
prospectus or statement of additional information.
7. SALE OF SHARES TO INVESTORS BY THE FUND
Any right granted to the Distributor to accept orders for shares or make
sales on behalf of the Fund will not apply to shares issued in
connection with the merger or consolidation of any other investment
company with the Fund or its acquisition, purchase or otherwise, of all
or substantially all the assets of any investment company or
substantially all the outstanding shares of any such company. Also, any
such right shall not apply to shares issued, sold or transferred,
whether Treasury or newly issued shares, that may be offered by the Fund
to its shareholders as stock dividends or splits for not less than "net
asset value".
8. AGREEMENTS WITH DEALERS OR OTHERS
In making agreements with any dealers or others, the Distributor shall
act only in its own behalf and in no sense as agent for the Fund and
shall be agent for the Fund only in respect of sales and repurchases of
Fund shares.
9. COPIES OF CORPORATE DOCUMENTS
The Fund will furnish the Distributor promptly with properly certified
or authenticated copies of any registration statements filed by it with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, together
with any financial statements and exhibits included therein and all
amendments or supplements thereto hereafter filed. Also, the Fund shall
furnish the Distributor with a reasonable number of printed copies of
each semi-annual and annual report (quarterly if made) of the Fund as
the Distributor may request, and shall cooperate fully in the efforts of
the Distributor to sell and arrange for the sale of the Fund's shares of
Capital Stock and in the performance by the Distributor of all of its
duties under this Agreement.
10. RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTINUED REGISTRATION INCLUDING INCREASE IN SHARES
The Fund will assume the continued responsibility for meeting the
requirements of registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and under
the securities laws of the various states where the Distributor is
registered as a broker-dealer. The Fund, subject to the necessary
approval of its shareholders, will increase the number of authorized
shares from time to time as may be necessary to provide the Distributor
with such number of shares as the Distributor may reasonably be expected
to sell.
11. SUSPENSION OF SALES
If and whenever the determination of asset value is suspended pursuant
to applicable law, and such suspension has become effective, until such
suspension is terminated no further applications for shares shall be
accepted by the Distributor except unconditional orders placed with the
Distributor before the Distributor had knowledge of the suspension. In
addition, the Fund reserves the right to suspend sales and the
Distributor's authority to accept orders for shares on behalf of the
Fund, if in the judgment of the majority of its Board of Directors it is
in the best interest of the Fund to do so, suspension to continue for
such period as may be determined by such majority; and in that event no
shares will be sold by the Fund or by the Distributor on behalf of the
Fund while such suspension remains in effect except for shares necessary
to cover unconditional orders accepted by the Distributor before the
Distributor had knowledge of the suspension.
12. EXPENSES
The Fund will pay (or will enter into arrangements providing for the
payment of) all fees and expenses (1) in connection with the preparation
and filing of any registration statement or amendments thereto as
required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (2) in
connection with the preparation and filing of any registration statement
and prospectus or amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, covering the issue and sale of the Fund's shares; and (3) in
connection with the registration of the Fund and qualification of shares
for sale in the various states and other jurisdictions. The Fund will
also pay the cost of (i) preparation and distribution to shareholders of
prospectuses, reports, tax information, notices, proxy statements and
proxies; (ii) preparation and distribution of dividend and capital gain
payments to shareholders; (iii) issuance, transfer, registry and
maintenance of open account charges; (iv) delivery, remittance,
redemption and repurchase charges; (v) communication with shareholders
concerning these items; and (vi) stock certificates. The Fund will pay
taxes including, in the case of redeemed shares, any initial transfer
taxes unpaid.
The Distributor shall assume responsibility for the expense of printing
prospectuses used for the solicitation of new accounts. The Distributor
will pay the expenses of other sales literature, all fees and expenses
in connection with the Distributor's qualification as a dealer under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in the various states,
and all other expenses in connection with the sale and offering for sale
of shares of the Fund which have not been herein specifically allocated
to or assumed by the Fund.
13. CONFORMITY WITH LAW
The Distributor agrees that in selling the shares of the Fund it will
duly conform in all respects with the laws of the United States and any
state or other jurisdiction in which such shares may be offered for sale
pursuant to this Agreement.
14. MEMBERSHIP IN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS
The Fund recognizes that the Distributor is now a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, and in the conduct of its duties
under this Agreement the Distributor is subject to the various rules,
orders and regulations of such organization. The right to determine
whether such membership should or should not continue, or to join other
organizations, is reserved by the Distributor.
15. OTHER INTERESTS
It is understood that directors, officers, agents and stockholders of
the Fund are or may be interested in the Distributor as directors,
officers, stockholders, or otherwise; that directors, officers, agents,
and stockholders of the Distributor are or may be interested in the Fund
as directors, officers, stockholders or otherwise; that the Distributor
may be interested in the Fund as a stockholder or otherwise; and that
the existence of any dual interest shall not affect the validity hereof
or of any transaction hereunder except as otherwise provided in the
Certification of Incorporation of the Fund and the Distributor,
respectively, or by specific provision of applicable law.
16. INDEMNIFICATION
The Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, its
officers and directors, and any person who controls the Distributor
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, free and
harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and
expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims,
demands or liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection
therewith) which the Distributor, its officers, directors or any such
controlling person may incur under the Securities Act of 1933, or under
common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Fund's registration
statement or prospectus or arising out of or based upon any alleged
omission to state a material fact required to be stated in either
thereof or necessary to make the statements in either thereof not
misleading, except insofar as such claims, demands, liabilities or
expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or in
conformity with information furnished in writing by the Distributor to
the Fund for use in the Fund's registration statement or prospectus:
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement, to the extent that it
might require indemnity of any person who is also an officer or director
of the Fund or who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act of 1933, shall not inure to the benefit of such
officer, director or controlling person unless a court of competent
jurisdiction shall determine, or it shall have been determined by
controlling precedent that such result would not be against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and further provided,
that in no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to
protect the Distributor against any liability to the Fund or to its
security holders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, in the
performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its
obligations under this Agreement. The Fund's agreement to indemnify the
Distributor, its officers and directors and any such controlling person
as aforesaid is expressly conditioned upon the Fund being promptly
notified of any action brought against the Distributor, its officers or
directors, or any such controlling person, such notification to be given
by letter or telegram addressed to the Fund. The Fund agrees promptly to
notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against it or any of its directors in connection with the
issue and sale of any shares of it Capital Stock.
The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Fund, its
officers and directors and any person who controls the Fund, if any,
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, free and
harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and
expenses (including the cost of investigating or defending such claims,
demands liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection
therewith) which the Fund, its directors or officers or any such
controlling person may incur under the Securities Act of 1933 or under
common law or otherwise; but only to the extent that such liability or
expense incurred by the Fund, its directors or officers or such
controlling person resulting from such claims or demands shall arise out
of or be based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in information furnished in writing by the Distributor to the
Fund for use in the Fund's registration statement or prospectus or shall
arise out of or be based upon any alleged omission to state a material
fact in connection with such information required to be stated in the
registration statement or prospectus or necessary to make such
information not misleading. The Distributor's agreement to indemnify the
Fund, its directors and officers, and any such controlling person as
aforesaid is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor being promptly
notified of any action brought against the Fund, its officers or
directors or any such controlling person.
17. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective upon the effective date of the
Fund's initial registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933
and will remain in effect from year to year thereafter, but only so long
as such continuance is specifically approved, at least annually, either
by the Board of Directors of the Fund, or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund, provided that in either event
such continuation shall be approved by the vote of a majority of the
directors who are not interested persons of the Distributor, Principal
Life Insurance Company, or the Fund cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on such approval. This Agreement may on 60
days written notice be terminated at any time, without the payment of
any penalty, by the Fund, or by the Distributor. This Agreement shall
terminate automatically in the event of its assignment by the
Distributor and shall not be assignable by the Fund without the consent
of the Distributor.
In interpreting the provisions of this paragraph, the definitions
contained in section 2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
(particularly the definitions of "interested person", "assignment" and
"voting security") shall be applied.
18. AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or
terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the
party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or
termination is sought. If the Fund should at any time deem it necessary
or advisable in the best interests of the Fund that any amendment of
this Agreement be made in order to comply with the recommendations or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other
governmental authority or to obtain any advantage under state or federal
tax laws and should notify the Distributor of the form of such
amendment, and the reasons therefor, and if the Distributor should
decline to assent to such amendment, the Fund may terminate this
Agreement forthwith. If the Distributor should at any time request that
a change be made in the Fund's Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws,
or in its method of doing business, in order to comply with any
requirements of federal law or regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission or of a national securities association of which the
Distributor is or may be a member, relating to the sale of shares of the
Fund, and the Fund should not make such necessary change within a
reasonable time, the Distributor may terminate this Agreement forthwith.
19. ADDRESS FOR PURPOSES OF NOTICE
Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and
delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at such address
as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notices. Until
further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the address of the
Fund and that of the Distributor for this purpose shall be The Principal
Financial Group, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereof have caused this Agreement to be
executed in duplicate on the day and year first above written.
Principal European Equity Fund, Inc. Princor Financial Services Corporation
By _/s/A. S. Filean__________________ By /s/ R. C. Eucher_________________
A. S. Filean, Senior Vice President X. X. Xxxxxx, President
