NON-EXCLUSIVE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 18th day of September, 1995, between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
FUNDS, INC., a Maryland corporation (herein referred to as the "Company") on
behalf of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ World Fund and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Foreign Fund (each a "Fund" and
collectively, the "Funds"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT SERVICES (ASIA)
LIMITED, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Hong Kong,
office address 2701 Shui On Centre, Hong Kong, (herein referred to as the
"Selling Company").
FIRST: The Selling Company shall be a non-exclusive underwriter of
shares of capital stock of the Fund (the "Shares") in Hong Kong and other parts
of Asia (the "Territory") with the functions hereinafter stated, and agrees to
use its best efforts to bring about and maintain a broad distribution of the
Shares among bona fide investors in the Territory (except United States
citizens) (the "Investors").
SECOND: The Selling Company shall solicit responsible dealers for
orders to purchase the Shares as agent for their clients, and may sign selling
contracts with any such dealer, the forms of such contracts to be as mutually
agreed upon between the Fund and the Selling Company. The Selling Company also
may sell Shares directly to Investors. While this Agreement is in force, the
Fund through its principal underwriter, Franklin ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors, Inc.,
may solicit sales or sell the Shares to any person in the Territory, including
Shares sold by dealers who are member firms of the United States National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., ("NASD") and may retain the sales
commission on such sales.
THIRD: All of the Shares sold under this Agreement shall be sold only
at the Offering Price in effect at the time of such sale (as described in the
then current prospectus or prospectuses and statements of additional
information, effective under the applicable laws of a country or jurisdiction
within the Territory, and approved by the Fund) and the Fund shall receive not
less than the full net asset value thereof, as defined in the Fund's Articles of
Incorporation ("Charter") or By-Laws. The difference between Offering Price and
net asset value shall be retained by the Selling Company, it being understood
that such amounts will not exceed those that are set forth in the then current
prospectus or prospectuses approved by the Fund (the "Sales Commission"). The
Selling Company agrees to return the Sales Commission to the Fund when an
Investor revokes his/her purchase pursuant to any applicable foreign investment
laws.
FOURTH: The Fund shall pay all costs and expenses incident to
registering and qualifying, and maintaining the registration and qualification
of, the Shares for sale under the laws of the countries within the Territory as
well as, insofar as applicable, the laws of the United States (including the
cost of preparing, setting-up, printing and distributing to the existing
Shareholders residing in each country within the Territory an initial and annual
supply of the respective prospectuses effective under the laws of each such
country, and for preparing, setting-up, printing and distributing an initial and
annual supply of reports in the appropriate language for existing Shareholders
in the Territory or in the English language where appropriate). The Selling
Company is liable for the cost of printing and delivering copies of prospectuses
and reports for selling purposes to dealers and prospective new Investors in
countries within the Territory. The Selling Company is also liable for the cost
of the preparation, excluding legal fees, and printing of all post-effective
amendments and supplements to the Fund's prospectuses and statement of
additional information if the post-effective amendment or supplement arises from
the Selling Company's (including its parent's) activities or rules and
regulations under 1940 Act related to the Selling Company's activities and those
expenses would not otherwise have been incurred by the Fund. In addition, the
Selling Company is liable for the cost of printing additional copies, for its
use as sales literature, of reports or other communications which the Fund has
prepared for distribution to its existing shareholders.
FIFTH: The Selling Company may re-allow to dealers all or any part of the
discount it is allowed.
SIXTH: The Selling Company shall be entitled to receive a contingent
deferred sales charge or distribution fee from the proceeds of redemption of
Shares of the Fund on such terms and in such amounts as are set forth in the
then current prospectus of the Fund. In addition, the Selling Company may retain
any amounts authorized for payment to the Selling Company under the Fund's
Distribution Plan.
SEVENTH: If Shares are tendered to the Fund for redemption or
repurchase by the Fund within seven business days after the Selling Company's
acceptance of the original purchase order for such Shares, the Selling Company
will immediately refund to the Fund the full sales commission (net of allowances
to dealers or brokers) allowed to the Selling Company on the original sale, and
will promptly, upon receipt thereof, pay to the Fund any refunds from dealers or
brokers of the balance of sales commissions reallowed by the Selling Company.
The Fund shall notify the Selling Company of such tender for redemption within
10 days of the day on which notice of such tender for redemption is received by
the Fund.
EIGHTH: The Selling Company will conduct its business in strict
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Charter and the By-Laws of
the Fund as from time to time amended, and in strict accordance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the Rules of Fair Practice of
the NASD. The Selling Company shall endeavor to see that dealers buying Shares
resell the same only to bona fide Investors and that the methods and materials
used in selling Shares are sound and conservative, and in accordance with the
Fund's current prospectus.
Advertisements with respect to the Fund prepared by the Selling Company
shall not contain any untrue statements of material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make such statements
not misleading and will conform to the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the regulations thereunder, and to the Rules of Fair Practice of
the NASD pertaining to the content of such material.
No person is authorized to make any representations concerning shares
of the Fund except those contained in the current prospectus, statement of
additional information, and printed information issued by the Fund.
NINTH: The Selling Company shall at all times use reasonable care and
act in good faith in performing its duties hereunder. The Selling Company shall
not be liable or responsible for delays or errors occurring by reason of
circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority,
national emergencies, fire, flood or other catastrophes, acts of God,
insurrection, war or riots.
TENTH: This Agreement shall be effective from the date hereof, subject
to registration of the Shares under the laws of the respective countries within
the Territory and other applicable laws as provided in Article FOURTH above. If
the number of Shareholders in any country is not sufficient in the opinion of
the Fund, then such registration may be discontinued, including its obligations
under Article FOURTH above.
ELEVENTH: Either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
without the payment of any penalty upon sixty (60) days' notice in writing to
the other, provided, however, that such termination on the part of the Fund
shall be directed or approved either by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the Board of Directors in office at the time or by the affirmative vote of a
majority (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the U.S. Investment Company Act of
1940) of the outstanding Shares. This Agreement shall continue in effect from
the date hereof until September 18, 1997, and from year to year thereafter,
provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the
Board of Directors or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares (as
defined in the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940) and also, in either event,
approved by a majority of those Directors who are not parties to the Agreement
or interested persons of any such party, in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval.
TWELFTH: The Selling Company agrees at all times to indemnify, save
harmless and defend the Fund from and against all claims for loss, damage or
injury and from and against any suits, actions, or legal proceedings of any kind
brought against the Fund by or on account of any person whosoever arising
directly or indirectly caused by, or incident to, or growing out of this
Agreement for its acts and omissions caused by its willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reckless
disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.
THIRTEENTH: The Selling Company, upon request of the Fund (made at
reasonable times and in a reasonable manner), will provide the Fund with copies
of its books and records relating to the Fund and/or allow inspection of such
books and records by representatives of the Fund.
The Selling Company shall at all times maintain books and records
relating to the Fund at its principal place of business and will comply
substantially with Section 31 of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the regulations pursuant to such Section.
FOURTEENTH: This Agreement shall automatically and immediately terminate in the
event of its assignment by the Selling Company. The term "assignment" as used
herein includes any transfer of a controlling block of the voting stock of the
Selling Company.
FIFTEENTH: All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered by hand (and duly receipted) or mailed, certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, as follows:
if to the Fund ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
Secretary
if to the Selling ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment
Company Services (Asia) Ltd.
2701 Shui On Centre
Hong Kong
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Managing Director
or to such other person or address as any party may furnish or designate to the
other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice given by mail shall be deemed to
have been given upon the date shown on the certified or registered postal
receipt showing delivery to the recipient.
SIXTEENTH: The Fund reserves the right at all times to suspend or
limit the public offering of the Shares of the Fund upon two day's written
notice to the Selling Company.
SEVENTEENTH: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of California, without reference to principles of conflicts of laws and the U.S.
Securities laws, including the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
from time to time, and the regulations thereunder. Venue for any dispute
hereunder shall be San Mateo, California.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their duly authorized officers and their respective corporate
seals to be hereunto duly affixed and attested.
ATTEST: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS, INC.
/s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ By:/s/▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇
Secretary Vice President
ATTEST: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT
SERVICES (ASIA) LIMITED
/s/▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ By:/s/▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Managing Director
