EXHIBIT 5(a)
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ NEW DISCOVERIES FUND
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
May 31, 2000
To: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc.:
The Distribution Agreement made as of July 28, 1997, and amended as of June
22, 1998, between you and various open-end investment companies to which ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Advisors Inc. acts as investment manager (the "Agreement")
provides that if at any time another such investment company (a "Fund") desires
to appoint you to serve as its principal underwriter and distributor under the
Agreement, it shall notify you in writing, and further provides that if you are
willing to serve as the Fund's principal underwriter and distributor under the
Agreement, you shall notify the Fund in writing, whereupon such other Fund shall
become a Fund under the Agreement.
This Fund hereby informs you that it desires to retain you as its principal
underwriter and distributor under the Agreement.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
NEW DISCOVERIES FUND
by:
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc. hereby notifies ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
New Discoveries Fund of its willingness to serve as the Fund's principal
underwriter and distributor under the Agreement.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
DISTRIBUTORS INC.
by:
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 28th day of July, 1997, and amended as of June
22, 1998, between each of the open-end investment companies to which ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Advisors Inc. acts as investment manager, that are listed on
Schedule A, as may be amended from time to time (each, a "Fund" and
collectively, the "Funds"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Distributors Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, each Fund is registered as an open-end investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and it is in
the interest of each Fund to offer its shares for sale continuously, and
WHEREAS, each Fund and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement with
each other with respect to the continuous offering of each Fund's transferable
shares, of $0.01 par value (the "Shares"), to commence on the date listed above,
in order to promote the growth of each Fund and facilitate the distribution of
its shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Appointment of the Distributor.
(a) Each Fund hereby appoints the Distributor as the principal underwriter
and distributor of the Fund to sell Shares to the public on the terms set forth
in this Agreement and that Fund's prospectus and the Distributor hereby accepts
such appointment and agrees to act hereunder. Each 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 each Fund and to sell Shares as principal to investors, and
securities dealers, including ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of
the Distributor, upon the terms described herein and in that 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 the
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 each Fund, except that the
exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not apply
to Shares issued by each 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; (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 each Fund. The Shares are offered in
four classes (each, a "Class"), as described in the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented from time to time.
(a) The Distributor shall have the right to buy from each Fund the Shares
of the particular class needed, but not more than the Shares needed (except for
clerical errors in transmission), to fill unconditional orders for Shares of
the applicable class placed with the Distributor by investors or 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, used in determining the public offering price on which such orders
were based.
(b) The Shares are to be resold by the Distributor at the public offering
price of Shares of the applicable class as set forth in the Prospectus, to
investors or to securities dealers, including DWR, who have entered into
selected dealer agreements with the Distributor upon the terms and conditions
set forth in Section 7 hereof ("Selected Dealers").
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(c) Each 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(f) hereof. Each 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 a Fund, makes it impracticable to sell its Shares.
(d) Each Fund, or any agent of a 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 a Fund; provided, however, that a 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
each 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).
(e) With respect to Shares sold by any Selected Dealer, the Distributor is
authorized to direct each 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 each 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 of a Fund may be tendered for redemption
at any time, and each Fund agrees to redeem its Shares so tendered in accordance
with the applicable provisions set forth in its 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
("CDSC"). Upon any redemption of Shares the Fund shall pay the total amount of
the redemption price in New York Clearing House funds in accordance with
applicable provisions of the Prospectus.
(b) The redemption by a Fund of any of its Class A Shares purchased by or
through the Distributor will not affect the applicable front-end sales charge
secured by the Distributor or any Selected Dealer in the course of the original
sale, except that if any Class A Shares are tendered for redemption within seven
business days after the date of the confirmation of the original purchase, the
right to the applicable front-end sales charge shall be forfeited by the
Distributor and the Selected Dealer which sold such Shares.
(c) The proceeds of any redemption of Class A, Class B or Class C Shares
shall be paid by each Fund as follows: (i) any applicable CDSC shall be paid to
the Distributor or to the Selected Dealer, or, when applicable, pursuant to the
Rules of the Association 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
its Prospectus in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor is authorized
to direct a Fund to pay directly to the Selected Dealer any CDSC payable by a
Fund to the Distributor in respect of Class A, Class B, or Class C Shares sold
by the Selected Dealer to the redeeming shareholders.
(d) 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 each
Fund's 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.
(e) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for each Fund, to repurchase
Shares held in a shareholder's account with a Fund for which no share
certificate has been issued, upon the telephonic request of the shareholders, or
at the discretion of the Distributor. The Distributor shall promptly transmit to
the
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transfer agent of the Fund, for redemption, all such orders for repurchase of
Shares. Payment for Shares repurchased may be made by a 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.
(f) Redemption of its Shares or payment by a 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 a Fund of
securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably
practicable for a Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or
during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits.
(g) With respect to its 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 a 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 behalf of the Distributor for the account of
the shareholder. The Distributor shall obtain from the Selected Dealer, and
shall maintain, a record of such orders. The Distributor is further authorized
to obtain from the Fund, and shall maintain, a record of payment made directly
to the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor.
SECTION 5. Duties of the Fund.
(a) Each 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 its Shares, including one
certified copy, upon request by the Distributor, of all financial statements
prepared by the Fund and examined by independent accountants. Each Fund shall,
at the expense of the Distributor, make available to the Distributor such number
of copies of its Prospectus as the Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) Each 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) Each Fund shall use its best efforts to pay the filing fees for an
appropriate number of its Shares to be sold under the securities laws of such
states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve. Any qualification to sell
its Shares in a state may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by a Fund at any
time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, such filing fees
shall be paid by the Fund. The Distributor shall furnish any information and
other material relating to its affairs and activities as may be required by a
Fund in connection with the sale of its Shares in any state.
(d) Each Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor, furnish, in
reasonable quantities upon request by the Distributor, copies of its annual and
interim reports.
SECTION 6. Duties of the Distributor.
(a) The Distributor shall sell shares of each Fund through DWR and may sell
shares through other securities dealers and its own Financial Advisors, 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, so long as the performance of its obligations hereunder is not
impaired thereby. 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 appropriate Fund.
(c) The Distributor agrees that it will at all times comply with the
applicable terms and limitations of the Rules of the Association of the NASD.
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SECTION 7. Selected Dealers Agreements.
(a) The Distributor shall have the right to enter into selected dealer
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 a Fund. Shares sold to Selected Dealers shall be for resale by such
dealers only at the public offering price set forth in the Prospectus. With
respect to Class A Shares, in such agreement the Distributor shall have the
right to fix the portion of the applicable front-end sales charge which may be
allocated to the Selected Dealers.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell Shares
only to Selected Dealers that are members in good standing of the NASD.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by each
Fund, for the confirmation of sales of its 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) Each Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including fees
and disbursements of legal counsel including counsel to the Directors/Trustees
of each 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.
(b) 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 a Fund's Shares (except such expenses as are specifically undertaken
herein by a Fund) incurred or paid by Selected Dealers, including DWR. The
Distributor shall bear the costs and expenses of preparing, printing and
distributing any supplementary sales literature used by the Distributor or
furnished by it for use by Selected Dealers in connection with the offering of
the Shares for sale. Any expenses of advertising incurred in connection with
such offering will also be the obligation of the Distributor. It is understood
and agreed that, so long as a Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act ("Rule 12b-1 Plan") continues in effect, any expenses
incurred by the Distributor hereunder may be paid in accordance with the terms
of such Rule 12b-1 Plan.
(c) Each Fund shall pay the filing fees, and, if necessary or advisable in
connection therewith, bear the cost and expense of qualifying each 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 to
offer Shares therein until the Fund decides to discontinue selling Shares
pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.
SECTION 9. Indemnification.
(a) Each 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 a 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 a Fund in
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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 a 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 a 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. Each Fund will be entitled to participate at its
own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense, of any
such suit brought to enforce any such liability, but if a 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. Each Fund shall promptly notify the Distributor of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or Directors/Trustees in connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares.
(b) (i) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless each Fund and
each of its Directors/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 a 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 each Fund and
each 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 Section 4(g) 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 Section 3(e) hereof.
(iii) In case any action shall be brought against a Fund or any person
so indemnified by this Section 9(b) in respect of which indemnity may be sought
against the Distributor, the Distributor shall have the rights and duties given
to a 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 indemnifiying 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 a 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 a 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
5
in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by a 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 a Fund or the Distributor and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. Each 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 remain in force until April 30, 1999, and thereafter, but only so long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Board of
Directors/Trustees of each 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 Directors/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 Directors/Trustees of a Fund, by a majority of the
Directors/Trustees of a 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 a 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
Directors/Trustees of a Fund, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting
securities of a Fund, and (ii) a majority of those Directors/Trustees of a 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 Rule 12b-1 Plan, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
SECTION 12. Additional Funds. If at any time another Fund desires to
appoint the Distributor as its principal underwriter and distributor under this
Agreement, it shall notify the Distributor in writing. If the Distributor is
willing to serve as the Fund's principal underwriter and distributor under this
Agreement, it shall notify the Fund in writing, whereupon such other Fund shall
become a Fund hereunder.
SECTION 13. 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, conflicts with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the
latter shall control.
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SECTION 14. Personal Liability. With respect to any Fund that is organized
as an unincorporated business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, its Declaration of the Trust (each, a "Declaration") is on file
in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Each
Declaration provides that the name of the Fund 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 any Fund 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 any Fund, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement, as amended, on June 22, 1998 in New York, New York.
ON BEHALF OF THE FUNDS SET FORTH ON
SCHEDULE A, ATTACHED HERETO
By:..........................................
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By:..........................................
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
AT MAY 31, 2000
1) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ 21st Century Trend Fund
2) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Aggressive Equity Fund
3) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ American Opportunities Fund
4) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Balanced Growth Fund
5) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Balanced Income Fund
6) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ California Tax-Free Income Fund
7) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Growth Securities
8) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Competitive Edge Fund, "Best Ideas" Portfolio
9) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Convertible Securities Trust
10) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Developing Growth Securities Trust
11) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Diversified Income Trust
12) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dividend Growth Securities Inc.
13) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Equity Fund
14) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ European Growth Fund Inc.
15) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Federal Securities Trust
16) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Financial Services Trust
17) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Fund of Funds
18) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Dividend Growth Securities
19) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Global Utilities Fund
20) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Growth Fund
21) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Health Sciences Trust
22) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ High Yield Securities Inc.
23) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Income Builder Fund
24) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Information Fund
25) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Intermediate Income Securities
26) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ International Fund
27) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ International SmallCap Fund
28) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Japan Fund
29) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Latin American Growth Fund
30) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Managers Focus Fund
31) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Market Leader Trust
32) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Mid-Cap Dividend Growth Securities
33) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Mid-Cap Equity Trust
34) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
35) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ New Discoveries Fund
36) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ New York Tax-Free Income Fund
37) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Next Generation Trust
38) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ North American Government Income Trust
39) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Pacific Growth Fund Inc.
40) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Real Estate Fund
41) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Small Cap Growth Fund
42) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Special Value Fund
43) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ S&P 500 Index Fund
44) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ S&P 500 Select Fund
45) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strategist Fund
46) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
47) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Tax-Managed Growth Fund
48) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Total Market Index Fund
49) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Total Return Trust
50) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ U.S. Government Securities Trust
51) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Utilities Fund
52) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Value-Added Market Series
53) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Value Fund
54) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Worldwide High Income Fund
55) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ World Wide Income Trust
8
