▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ MARKET LEADER TRUST
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 3rd day of December, 1996 between ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Market Leader Trust, an unincorporated business trust organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Fund"), and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Distributors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
Whereas, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), as a diversified open-end investment company and it
is in the interest of the Fund to offer its shares for sale continuously, and
Whereas, the Fund and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement with
each other with respect to the continuous offering of the Fund's transferable
shares of beneficial interest, of $0.01 par value (the "Shares"), to commence
on the date listed above, in order to promote the growth of the Fund and
facilitate the distribution of its shares.
Now, Therefore, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment of the Distributor. (a) The Fund hereby appoints the
Distributor as the principal underwriter of the Fund to sell Shares to the
public on the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Fund's Prospectus and
the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act hereunder.
The Fund, during the term of this Agreement, shall sell Shares to the
Distributor upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(b) The Distributor agrees to purchase Shares, as principal for its own
account, from the Fund and to sell Shares as principal to investors, and
securities dealers, including ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. ("DWR") upon the
terms described herein and in the Fund's prospectus (the "Prospectus") and
statement of additional information included in the Fund's registration
statement (the "Registration Statement") most recently filed from time to
time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and effective
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and 1940 Act
or as the Prospectus may be otherwise amended or supplemented and filed with
the SEC pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act.
Section 2. Exclusive Nature of Duties. The Distributor shall be the
exclusive principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund, except that the
exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not
apply to Shares issued by the Fund: (i) in connection with the merger or
consolidation of any other investment company or personal holding company
with the Fund or the acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all (or
substantially all) the assets or the outstanding shares of any such company
by the Fund; or (ii) pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions; or (iii) pursuant to the reinstatement privilege afforded
redeeming shareholders.
Section 3. Purchase of Shares from the Fund. (a) The Distributor shall have
the right to buy from the Fund the Shares needed, but not more than the
Shares needed (except for clerical errors in transmission), to fill
unconditional orders for Shares placed with the Distributor by investors and
securities dealers. The price which the Distributor shall pay for the Shares
so purchased from the Fund shall be the net asset value, determined as set
forth in the Prospectus.
(b) The shares are to be resold by the Distributor at the net asset value
per share, as set forth in the Prospectus to investors, or to securities
dealers of its choice, including DWR, who have entered into selected dealer
agreements with the Distributor pursuant to Section 7 ("Selected Dealers").
(c) The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of the Shares at
times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions set forth in
Section 4(d) hereof. The Fund shall also have the right to suspend the sale
of the Shares if trading on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been
suspended, if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New
York authorities, or if there shall have been some other extraordinary event
which, in the judgment of the Fund, makes it impracticable to sell the
Shares.
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(d) The Fund, or any agent of the Fund designated in writing by the Fund,
shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for Shares received by the
Distributor. Any order may be rejected by the Fund; provided, however, that
the Fund will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause refuse to accept
orders for the purchase of Shares. The Distributor will confirm orders upon
their receipt, and the Fund (or its agent) upon receipt of payment therefor
and instructions will deliver share certificates for such Shares or a
statement confirming the issuance of Shares. Payment shall be made to the
Fund in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor agrees to cause such
payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to the Fund (or its
agent).
With respect to Shares sold by any Selected Dealer, the Distributor is
authorized to direct the Fund's transfer agent to receive instructions
directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor as to
registration of Shares in the names of investors and to confirm issuance of
the Shares to such investors. The Distributor is also authorized to instruct
the transfer agent to receive payment directly from the Selected Dealer on
behalf of the Distributor, for prompt transmittal to the Fund's custodian, of
the purchase price of the Shares. In such event the Distributor shall obtain
from the Selected Dealer and maintain a record of such registration
instructions and payments.
Section 4. Repurchase or Redemption of Shares. (a) Any of the outstanding
Shares may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Fund agrees to
redeem the Shares so tendered in accordance with the applicable provisions
set forth in the Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem the Shares shall
be equal to the net asset value determined as set forth in the Prospectus
less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. All payments by the
Fund hereunder shall be made in the manner set forth below.
The proceeds of any redemption of shares shall be paid by the Fund as
follows: (i) any applicable contingent deferred sales charge shall be paid to
the Distributor or to the Selected Dealer, or, when applicable, pursuant to
the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. ("NASD"), retained by the Fund and (ii) the balance shall be paid to the
redeeming shareholders, in each case in accordance with applicable provisions
of the Prospectus in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor is
authorized to direct the Fund to pay directly to the Selected Dealer any
contingent deferred sales charges payable by the Fund to the Distributor in
respect of Shares sold by the Selected Dealer to the redeeming shareholders.
(b) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares, represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any office
of the Distributor in accordance with applicable provisions set forth in the
Prospectus. The Distributor shall promptly transmit to the transfer agent of
the Fund for redemption all Shares so delivered. The Distributor shall be
responsible for the accuracy of instructions transmitted to the Fund's
transfer agent in connection with all such repurchases.
(c) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares held in a shareholder's account with the Fund for which no share
certificate has been issued, upon the telephonic or telegraphic request of
the shareholder, or at the discretion of the Distributor. The Distributor
shall promptly transmit to the transfer agent of the Fund, for redemption,
all such orders for repurchase of shares. Payment for shares repurchased may
be made by the Fund to the Distributor for the account of the shareholder.
The Distributor shall be responsible for the accuracy of instructions
transmitted to the Fund's transfer agent in connection with all such
repurchases.
(d) Redemption of Shares or payment by the Fund may be suspended at times
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, when trading on said Exchange is
restricted, when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the
Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net
assets, or during any other period when the Securities and Exchange
Commission, by order, so permits.
With respect to Shares tendered for redemption or repurchase by any
Selected Dealer on behalf of its customers, the Distributor is authorized to
instruct the transfer agent of the Fund to accept orders for redemption or
repurchase directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor and
to instruct the Fund to transmit payments for such redemptions and
repurchases directly to the Selected Dealer on
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behalf of the Distributor for the account of the shareholder. The Distributor
shall obtain from the Selected Dealer and maintain a record of such orders.
The Distributor is further authorized to obtain from the Fund; and shall
maintain, a record of payments made directly to the Selected Dealer on behalf
of the Distributor.
Section 5. Duties of the Fund. (a) The Fund shall furnish to the Distributor
copies of all information, financial statements and other papers which the
Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the
distribution of the Shares, including one certified copy, upon request by the
Distributor, of all financial statements prepared by the Fund and examined by
independent accountants. The Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor,
make available to the Distributor such number of copies of the Prospectus as
the Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) The Fund shall take, from time to time, but subject to the necessary
approval of its shareholders, all necessary action to fix the number of its
authorized Shares and to register Shares under the 1933 Act, to the end that
there will be available for sale such number of Shares as investors may
reasonably be expected to purchase.
(c) The Fund shall use its best efforts to qualify and maintain the
qualification of an appropriate number of the Shares for sale under the
securities laws of such states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve.
Any such qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Fund
at any time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, the
expense of qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by
the Fund. The Distributor shall furnish such information and other material
relating to its affairs and activities as may be required by the Fund in
connection with such qualification.
(d) The Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor, furnish, in
reasonable quantities upon request by the Distributor, copies of annual and
interim reports of the Fund.
Section 6. Duties of the Distributor. (a) The Distributor shall sell shares
of the Fund through DWR and may sell shares through other securities dealers,
and shall devote reasonable time and effort to promote sales of the Shares,
but shall not be obligated to sell any specific number of Shares. The
services of the Distributor hereunder are not exclusive and it is understood
that the Distributor may act as principal underwriter for other registered
investment companies. It is also understood that Selected Dealers, including
DWR, may also sell shares for other registered investment companies.
(b) Neither the Distributor nor any Selected Dealer shall give any
information or make any representations, other than those contained in the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus and any sales literature
specifically approved by the Fund.
(c) The Distributor agrees that it will comply with the terms and
limitations of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD.
Section 7. Selected Dealers Agreements. (a) The Distributor shall have the
right to enter into selected dealers agreements with Selected Dealers for the
sale of Shares. In making agreements with Selected Dealers, the Distributor
shall act only as principal and not as agent for the Fund. Shares sold to
Selected Dealers shall be for resale by such dealers only at the public
offering price set forth in the Prospectus.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell Shares
only to such Selected Dealers as are members in good standing of the NASD.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by the
Fund, for the confirmation of sales of Shares to investors and Selected
Dealers, the collection of amounts payable by investors and Selected Dealers
on such sales, and the cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may be
necessary to comply with the requirements of the NASD, as such requirements
may from time to time exist.
Section 8. Payment of Expenses. (a) The Distributor shall bear all expenses
incurred by it in connection with its duties and activities under this
Agreement including the payment to Selected Dealers of any sales commissions,
service fees and other expenses for sales of the Fund's shares (except such
expenses as are specifically undertaken herein by the Fund) incurred or paid
by Selected Dealers,
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including DWR. It is understood and agreed that, so long as the Fund's Plan
of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act continues in
effect, any expenses incurred by the Distributor hereunder may be paid from
amounts the Distributor and any Selected Dealer are entitled to receive from
the Fund under such Plan. It is further understood and agreed that expenses
for which the Distributor and any Selected Dealer may be paid under said Plan
include opportunity costs, which may be calculated as a carrying charge on
the excess of distribution expenses, incurred by the Distributor and/or the
Selected Dealer over distribution revenues received by each of them,
respectively, under this Agreement.
(b) The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including fees
and disbursements of legal counsel including counsel to the Trustees of the
Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Fund
or the Distributor, and independent accountants, in connection with the
preparation and filing of any required Registration Statements and
Prospectuses and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the expense of
preparing, printing, mailing and otherwise distributing prospectuses and
statements of additional information, annual or interim reports or proxy
materials to shareholders.
(c) The Fund shall bear the cost and expenses of qualification of the
Shares for sale, and, if necessary or advisable in connection therewith, of
qualifying the Fund as a broker or dealer, in such states of the United
States or other jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Fund and the
Distributor pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof and the cost and expenses payable
to each such state for continuing qualification therein until the Fund
decides to discontinue such qualification pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.
Section 9. Indemnification. (a) The Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor against
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost
of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising
by reason of any person acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon the
1933 Act, or on any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information, as from time to time amended and supplemented, or the annual or
interim reports to shareholders of the Fund, includes an untrue statement of
a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading,
unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in connection therewith by
or on behalf of the Distributor; provided, however, that in no case (i) is
the indemnity of the Fund in favor of the Distributor and any such
controlling persons to be deemed to protect the Distributor or any such
controlling persons thereof against any liability to the Fund or its security
holders to which the Distributor or any such controlling persons would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement; or (ii) is the
Fund to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph
with respect to any claim made against the Distributor or any such
controlling persons, unless the Distributor or any such controlling persons,
as the case may be, shall have notified the Fund in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the
Distributor or such controlling persons (or after the Distributor or such
controlling persons shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any such claim shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to the person against whom
such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph. The Fund will be entitled to participate at its
own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense, of
any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but if the Fund elects to
assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it
and satisfactory to the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund elects to assume
the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them, but,
in case the Fund does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, it
will reimburse the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of
any counsel retained by them. The Fund shall promptly notify the Distributor
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
officers or trustees in connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares.
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(b) (i) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls
the Fund against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense described
in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but only
with respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in writing by or on
behalf of the Distributor for use in connection with the Registration
Statement or related Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information,
as from time to time amended, or the annual or interim reports to
shareholders.
(ii) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the
Fund's transfer agent, individually and in its capacity as the Fund's
transfer agent, from and against any claims, damages and liabilities which
arise as a result of actions taken pursuant to instructions from, or on
behalf of, the Distributor to: (1) redeem all or a part of shareholder
accounts in the Fund pursuant to subsection 4(c) hereof and pay the
proceeds to, or as directed by, the Distributor for the account of each
shareholder whose Shares are so redeemed; and (2) register Shares in the
names of investors, confirm the issuance thereof and receive payment
therefor pursuant to subsection 3(d).
(iii) In case any action shall be brought against the Fund or any
person so indemnified by this subsection 9(b) in respect of which
indemnity may be sought against the Distributor, the Distributor shall
have the rights and duties given to the Fund, and the Fund and each person
so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the Distributor
by the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 9.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) referred to herein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the
Distributor on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Fund on the one hand and the Distributor on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Fund on the one hand and the Distributor on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund bear to the total
compensation received by the Distributor, in each case as set forth in the
Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Fund or the Distributor and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Fund and the Distributor agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), the Distributor
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Shares distributed by it to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which it has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
Section 10. Duration and Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement shall
become effective as of the date first above written and shall remain in force
until April 30, 1997, and thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Trustees of the
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Fund, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund, cast in person or by proxy, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees
who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party
and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in
the operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan or in any agreement related
thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting upon
such approval.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty, by the Trustees of the Fund, by a majority of the Trustees of the
Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in this Agreement, or by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or by the Distributor, on
sixty days' written notice to the other party. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"assignment" and "interested person," when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.
Section 11. Amendments of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by
the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the
Trustees of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who
are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party and
who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in any
Agreement related to the Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval.
Section 12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the law of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act. To the extent the applicable law of the State of New York, or any
of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940
Act, the latter shall control.
Section 13. Personal Liability. The Declaration of the Trust establishing
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Market Leader Trust, dated November 4, 1996, a copy of which,
together with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the
office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that
the name ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Market Leader Trust refers to the Trustees under the
Declaration collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally;
and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Market
Leader Trust shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had
to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or
otherwise, in connection with the affairs of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Market Leader Trust,
but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first written in New York, New York.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Market Leader Trust
By:
................................
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc.
By:
................................
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