DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of December 30, 1998, between Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Equity Series, a Delaware business trust ("Trust"), and Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Management Inc., a New York corporation ("Distributor).
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended ("1940 Act"), as an open-end, diversified management investment
company and has the power to establish several separate series of shares
("Series"), with each Series having its own assets and investment policies;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Distributor to furnish certain
distribution, shareholder, and administrative services to each Series listed in
Schedule A attached hereto, and to such other Series of the Trust hereinafter
established as agreed to from time to time by the parties, evidenced by an
addendum to Schedule A (hereinafter "Series" shall refer to each Series which is
subject to this Agreement, and all agreements and actions described herein to be
made or taken by a Series shall be made or taken by the Trust on behalf of the
Series), and the Distributor is willing to furnish such services; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has approved a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
1940 Act ("Plan");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. The Trust hereby appoints the Distributor as agent to sell the
shares of beneficial interest of each Series ("Shares") and the Distributor
hereby accepts such appointment. All sales by the Distributor shall be expressly
subject to acceptance by the Trust, acting on behalf of the Series. The Trust
may suspend sales of the Shares of any one or more Series at any time, and may
resume sales at any later time.
2. (a) The Distributor agrees that (i) all Shares sold by the
Distributor shall be sold at the net asset value ("NAV") thereof as described in
Section 3 hereof, and (ii) the Series shall receive 100% of such NAV.
(b) The Distributor may enter into agreements, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Trust, with dealers selected by the Distributor, providing
for the sale to such dealers and resale by such dealers of Shares at their NAV.
The Distributor may compensate dealers for services they provide under such
agreements.
3. The Trust agrees to supply to the Distributor, promptly after the
time or times at which NAV is determined, on each day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for unrestricted trading and on such other days as the
Board of Trustees of the Trust ("Trustees") may from time to time determine
(each such day being hereinafter called a "business day"), a statement of the
NAV of each Series, determined in the manner set forth in the then-current
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") of each Series. Each
determination of NAV shall take effect as of such time or times on each business
day as set forth in the then-current Prospectus of each Series.
4. Upon receipt by the Trust at its principal place of business of a
written order from the Distributor, together with delivery instructions, the
Trust shall, if it elects to accept such order, as promptly as practicable,
cause the Shares purchased by such order to be delivered in such amounts and in
such names as the Distributor shall specify, against payment therefor in such
manner as may be acceptable to the Trust. The Trust may, in its discretion,
refuse to accept any order for the purchase of Shares that the Distributor may
tender to it.
5. (a) All sales literature and advertisements used by the
Distributor in connection with sales of Shares shall be subject to approval by
the Trust. The Trust authorizes the Distributor, in connection with the sale or
arranging for the sale of Shares of any Series, to provide only such information
and to make only such statements or representations as are contained in the
Series's then-current Prospectus and SAI or in such financial and other
statements furnished to the Distributor pursuant to the next paragraph or as may
properly be included in sales literature or advertisements in accordance with
the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), the 1940 Act and
applicable rules of self-regulatory organizations. Neither the Trust nor any
Series shall be responsible in any way for any information provided or
statements or representations made by the Distributor or its representatives or
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agents other than the information, statements and representations described in
the preceding sentence.
(b) Each Series shall keep the Distributor fully informed with
regard to its affairs, shall furnish the Distributor with a certified copy of
all of its financial statements and a signed copy of each report prepared for it
by its independent auditors, and shall cooperate fully in the efforts of the
Distributor to negotiate and sell Shares of such Series and in the Distributor's
performance of all its duties under this Agreement.
6. The Distributor, as agent of each Series and for the account and
risk of each Series, is authorized, subject to the direction of the Trust, to
redeem outstanding Shares of such Series when properly tendered by shareholders
pursuant to the redemption right granted to such Series' shareholders by the
Trust Instrument of the Trust, as from time to time in effect, at a redemption
price equal to the NAV per Share of such Series next determined after proper
tender and acceptance. The Trust has delivered to the Distributor a copy of the
Trust's Trust Instrument as currently in effect and agrees to deliver to the
Distributor any amendments thereto promptly upon filing thereof with the Office
of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
7. The Distributor shall assume and pay or reimburse each Series for
the following expenses of such Series: (i) costs of printing and distributing
reports, prospectuses and SAIs for other than existing shareholders used in
connection with the sale or offering of the Series' Shares; (ii) costs of
preparing, printing and distributing all advertising and sales literature
relating to such Series printed at the instruction of the Distributor; and (iii)
counsel fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. The Distributor
shall pay all its own costs and expenses connected with the sale of Shares and
may pay the compensation and expenses, including overhead and telephone and
other communication expenses, of organizations and employees that engage in or
support the distribution of Shares.
8. Each Series shall maintain a currently effective Registration
Statement on Form N-1A with respect to such Series and shall file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") such reports and other documents as
may be required under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act or by the rules and
regulations of the SEC thereunder.
Each Series represents and warrants that the Registration Statement,
post-effective amendments, Prospectus and SAI (excluding statements relating to
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the Distributor and the services it provides that are based upon written
information furnished by the Distributor expressly for inclusion therein) of
such Series shall not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and that all statements or information
furnished to the Distributor, pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, shall be true and
correct in all material respects.
9. In addition to the foregoing, the Distributor agrees to provide
or obtain certain administrative and shareholder services for the Series. Such
services shall include, but are not limited to, administering periodic
investment and periodic withdrawal programs; researching and providing
historical account activity information for shareholders requesting it;
preparing and mailing account and confirmation statements to account holders;
preparing and mailing tax forms to account holders; serving as custodian for
retirement plans investing in the Series; dealing appropriately with abandoned
accounts; collating and reporting the number of Shares attributable to each
state for blue sky registration and reporting purposes; identifying and
reporting transactions exempt from blue sky registration requirements; and
providing and maintaining ongoing shareholder services for the duration of the
shareholders' investment in each Series, which may include updates on
performance, total return, other related statistical information, and a
continual analysis of the suitability of the investment in each Series. The
Distributor may subcontract to third parties some or all of its responsibilities
to the Series under this paragraph. The Distributor may pay compensation and
expenses, including overhead and telephone and other communication expenses, to
organizations and employees who provide such services.
10. As compensation for the distribution, shareholder and
administrative services provided under this Agreement, the Distributor shall
receive from each Series a fee at the rate and under the terms and conditions
set forth in the Plan adopted by the Series, as such Plan may be amended from
time to time. In addition to the expenditures specifically authorized herein,
the Distributor may spend such amounts as it deems appropriate for any purpose
consistent with the Plan, as amended from time to time.
11. The Distributor shall prepare, at least quarterly, reports for
the Trustees showing expenditures under this Agreement and the purposes for
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which such expenditures were made. Such reports shall be in a format suitable to
ensure compliance with the applicable requirements of the SEC and the National
Association of Securities Dealers.
12. (a) This Agreement shall become effective on December 30, 1998
and shall remain in full force and effect until August 2, 1999 and may be
continued from year to year thereafter; PROVIDED, that such continuance shall be
specifically approved each year by the Trustees or by a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Series, and in either case, also by a
majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or the
Distributor ("Disinterested Trustees") and by a majority of those Disinterested
Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or this
Agreement ("Rule 12b-1 Trustees"). This Agreement may be amended as to any
Series with the approval of the Trustees or of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of such Series; PROVIDED, that in either case, such amendment
also shall be approved by a majority of both the Disinterested Trustees and the
Rule 12b-1 Trustees.
(b) Either party may terminate this Agreement without the
payment of any penalty, upon not more than sixty days' nor less than thirty
days' written notice delivered personally or mailed by registered mail, postage
prepaid, to the other party; PROVIDED, that in the case of termination by any
Series, such action shall have been authorized (i) by resolution of the
Trustees, (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
such Series or (iii) by written consent of a majority of the Disinterested
Trustees or the Rule 12b-1 Trustees.
(c) This Agreement shall automatically terminate if it is
assigned by the Distributor.
(d) Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of
this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or
provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or
provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United
States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court,
by rules, regulations or orders of the SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940
Act. Specifically, the terms "interested persons," "assignment" and "vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities," as used in this Agreement, shall
have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act. In addition,
when the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of
this Agreement is modified, interpreted or relaxed by a rule, regulation or
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order of the SEC, whether of special or of general application, such provision
shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order. The
Trust and the Distributor may from time to time agree on such provisions
interpreting or clarifying the provisions of this Agreement as, in their joint
opinion, are consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement and with the
specific provisions of this Section 12(d). Any such interpretations or
clarifications shall be in writing signed by the parties and annexed hereto, but
no such interpretation or clarification shall be effective if in contravention
of any applicable federal or state law or regulations, and no such
interpretation or clarification shall be deemed to be an amendment of this
Agreement.
No term or provision of this Agreement shall be construed to
require the Distributor to provide distribution, shareholder, or administrative
services to any series of the Trust other than the Series, or to require any
Series to pay any compensation or expenses that are properly allocable, in a
manner approved by the Trustees, to a series of the Trust other than such
Series.
(e) This Agreement is made and to be principally performed in
the State of New York, and except insofar as the 1940 Act or other federal laws
and regulations may be controlling, this Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New
York.
(f) This Agreement is made by the Trust solely with respect to
the Series, and the obligations created hereby with respect to one Series bind
only assets belonging to that Series and are not binding on any other series of
the Trust.
13. The Distributor or one of its affiliates may from time to time
deem it desirable to offer to the list of shareholders of each Series the shares
of other mutual funds for which it acts as Distributor, including other series
of the Trust or other products or services; however, any such use of the list of
shareholders of any Series shall be made subject to such terms and conditions,
if any, as shall be approved by a majority of the Disinterested Trustees.
14. The Distributor shall look only to the assets of a Series for
the performance of this Agreement by the Trust on behalf of such Series, or
satisfaction of any claim hereunder, and neither the shareholders, the Trustees
nor any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or
future, shall be personally liable therefor.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument
to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers and under their respective
seals.
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
EQUITY SERIES
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title: Vice President
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XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX
MANAGEMENT INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title: President
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