Exhibit 6(m)
FORM OF
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
between
FIDELITY ADVISOR SERIES VII: FIDELITY ADVISOR NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
and
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
AGREEMENT made this __ day of ___, ___, by and between Fidelity Advisor
Series VII, a Massachusetts business trust which may issue one or more
series of shares of beneficial interest ("Issuer"), with respect to shares
of Fidelity Advisor Natural Resources Fund, a series of the Issuer, and
Fidelity Distributors Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation, having its
principal place of business in Boston, Massachusetts ("Distributor").
In consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained,
the parties agree as follows:
1. Sale of Shares - The Issuer grants to the Distributor the right to sell
shares on behalf of the Issuer during the term of this Agreement and
subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended ("1933 Act"), and of the laws governing the sale of securities in
the various states ("Blue Sky Laws") under the following terms and
conditions: the Distributor (i) shall have the right to sell, as agent on
behalf of the Issuer, shares authorized for issue and registered under the
1933 Act, and (ii) may sell shares under offers of exchange, if available,
between and among the funds advised by Fidelity Management & Research
Company ("FMR").
2. Sale of Shares by the Issuer - The rights granted to the Distributor
shall be nonexclusive in that the Issuer reserves the right to sell its
shares to investors on applications received and accepted by the Issuer.
Further, the Issuer reserves the right to issue shares in connection with
the merger or consolidation, or acquisition by the Issuer through purchase
or otherwise, with any other investment company, trust, or personal holding
company.
3. Shares Covered by this Agreement - This Agreement shall apply to
unissued shares of the Issuer, shares of the Issuer held in its treasury in
the event that in the discretion of the Issuer treasury shares shall be
sold, and shares of the Issuer repurchased for resale.
4. Public Offering Price - Except as otherwise noted in the Issuer's
current Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information, all shares
sold to investors by the Distributor or the Issuer will be sold at the
public offering price. The public offering price for all accepted
subscriptions will be the net asset value per share, as determined in the
manner described in the Issuer's current Prospectus and/or Statement of
Additional Information, plus a sales charge (if any) described in the
Issuer's current Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional Information.
The Issuer shall in all cases receive the net asset value per share on all
sales. If a sales charge is in effect, the Distributor shall have the
right subject to such rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission as may then be in effect pursuant to Section 22 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 to pay a portion of the sales charge to
dealers who have sold shares of the Issuer. If a fee in connection with
shareholder redemptions is in effect, the Issuer shall collect the fee on
behalf of the Distributor and, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Issuer
and the Distributor, the Distributor shall be entitled to receive all of
such fees.
5. Suspension of Sales - If and whenever the determination of net asset
value is suspended and until such suspension is terminated, no further
orders for shares shall be processed by the Distributor except such
unconditional orders as may have been placed with the Distributor before it
had knowledge of the suspension. In addition, the Issuer reserves the
right to suspend sales and the Distributor's authority to process orders
for shares on behalf of the Issuer if, in the judgment of the Issuer, it is
in the best interests of the Issuer to do so. Suspension will continue for
such period as may be determined by the Issuer.
6. Solicitation of Sales - In consideration of these rights granted to the
Distributor, the Distributor agrees to use all reasonable efforts,
consistent with its other business, to secure purchasers for shares of the
Issuer. This shall not prevent the Distributor from entering into like
arrangements (including arrangements involving the payment of underwriting
commissions) with other issuers. This does not obligate the Distributor to
register as a broker or dealer under the Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction
in which it is not now registered or to maintain its registration in any
jurisdiction in which it is now registered. If a sales charge is in
effect, the Distributor shall have the right to enter into sales agreements
with dealers of its choice for the sale of shares of the Issuer to the
public at the public offering price only and fix in such agreements the
portion of the sales charge which may be retained by dealers, provided that
the Issuer shall approve the form of the dealer agreement and the dealer
discounts set forth therein and shall evidence such approval by filing said
form of dealer agreement and amendments thereto as an exhibit to its
currently effective Registration Statement under the 1933 Act.
7. Authorized Representations - The Distributor is not authorized by the
Issuer to give any information or to make any representations other than
those contained in the appropriate registration statements or Prospectuses
and Statements of Additional Information filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the 1933 Act (as these registration statements,
Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information may be amended from
time to time), or contained in shareholder reports or other material that
may be prepared by or on behalf of the Issuer for the Distributor's use.
This shall not be construed to prevent the Distributor from preparing and
distributing sales literature or other material as it may deem appropriate.
8. Portfolio Securities - Portfolio securities of the Issuer may be bought
or sold by or through the Distributor, and the Distributor may participate
directly or indirectly in brokerage commissions or "spreads" for
transactions in portfolio securities of the Issuer. However, all sums of
money received by the Distributor as a result of such purchases and sales
or as a result of such participation must, after reimbursement of actual
expenses of the Distributor in connection with such activity, be paid over
by the Distributor for the benefit of the Issuer.
9. Registration of Shares - The Issuer agrees that it will take all action
necessary to register shares under the 1933 Act (subject to the necessary
approval of its shareholders) so that there will be available for sale the
number of shares the Distributor may reasonably be expected to sell. The
Issuer shall make available to the Distributor such number of copies of its
currently effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information as
the Distributor may reasonably request. The Issuer 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 shares of the Issuer.
10. Expenses - The Issuer shall pay all fees and expenses (a) in connection
with the preparation, setting in type and filing of any registration
statement, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information under the
1933 Act and amendments for the issue of its shares, (b) in connection with
the registration and qualification of shares for sale in the various states
in which the Board of Trustees of the Issuer shall determine it advisable
to qualify such shares for sale (including registering the Issuer as a
broker or dealer or any officer of the Issuer as agent or salesman in any
state), (c) of preparing, setting in type, printing and mailing any report
or other communication to shareholders of the Issuer in their capacity as
such, and (d) of preparing, setting in type, printing and mailing
Prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information and any supplements
thereto sent to existing shareholders. As provided in the Distribution and
Service Plan adopted by the Issuer, it is recognized by the Issuer that FMR
may reimburse the Distributor for any direct expenses incurred in the
distribution of shares of the Issuer from any source available to it,
including advisory and service or management fees paid to it by the Issuer.
11. Indemnification - The Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Distributor and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any,
who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the
reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability,
claim, damages, or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in
connection therewith) arising by reason of any person acquiring any shares,
based upon the ground that the registration statement, Prospectus,
Statement of Additional Information, shareholder reports or other
information filed or made public by the Issuer (as from time to time
amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make
the statements not misleading under the 1933 Act, or any other statute or
the common law. However, the Issuer does not agree to indemnify the
Distributor or hold it harmless to the extent that the statement or
omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information
furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of the Distributor. In no case (i)
is the indemnity of the Issuer in favor of the Distributor or any person
indemnified to be deemed to protect the Distributor or any person against
any liability to the Issuer or its security holders to which the
Distributor or such person would otherwise be subject by reason of wilful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties
or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under
this Agreement, or (ii) is the Issuer to be liable under its indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made
against the Distributor or any person indemnified unless the Distributor or
person, as the case may be, shall have notified the Issuer in writing of
the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written
notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been
served upon the Distributor or any such person (or after the Distributor or
such person shall have received notice of service on any designated agent).
However, failure to notify the Issuer of any claim shall not relieve the
Issuer from any liability which it may have to the Distributor or any
person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its
indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. The Issuer shall 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 claims,
but if the Issuer elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be
conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Distributor or
person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the
Issuer elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the
Distributor, officers or directors or controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of
any additional counsel retained by them. If the Issuer does not elect to
assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Distributor, officers
or directors or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in
the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by
them. The Issuer agrees to notify the Distributor promptly 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 any of the
shares.
The Distributor also covenants and agrees that it will indemnify and hold
harmless the Issuer and each of its Board members and officers and each
person, if any, who controls the Issuer within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act, against any loss, liability, damages, claim or expense
(including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged
loss, liability, damages, claim or expense and reasonable counsel fees
incurred in connection therewith) arising by reason of any person acquiring
any shares, based upon the 1933 Act or any other statute or common law,
alleging any wrongful act of the Distributor or any of its employees or
alleging that the registration statement, Prospectus, Statement of
Additional Information, shareholder reports or other information filed or
made public by the Issuer (as from time to time amended) included an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading,
insofar as the statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with information furnished to the Issuer by or on behalf of the
Distributor. In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Distributor in favor
of the Issuer or any person indemnified to be deemed to protect the Issuer
or any person against any liability to which the Issuer or such person
would otherwise be subject by reason of wilful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or
(ii) is the Distributor to be liable under its indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the
Issuer or any person indemnified unless the Issuer or person, as the case
may be, shall have notified the Distributor in writing of the claim within
a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon
the Issuer or any such person (or after the Issuer or such person shall
have received notice of service on any designated agent). However, failure
to notify the Distributor of any claim shall not relieve the Distributor
from any liability which it may have to the Issuer or any person against
whom the action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph. In the case of any notice to the
Distributor, it shall 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 the claim, but if the Distributor elects to assume the defense,
the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to
the Issuer, to its officers and Board and to any controlling person or
persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event that the
Distributor elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel,
the Issuer or controlling persons, defendant or defendants in the suit,
shall bear the fees and expense of any additional counsel retained by them.
If the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it
will reimburse the Issuer, officers and Board or controlling person or
persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and
expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Distributor agrees to notify
the Issuer promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against it in connection with the issue and sale of any of the shares.
12. Effective Date - This agreement shall be effective upon its execution,
and unless terminated as provided, shall continue in force until January
31, ___ and thereafter from year to year, provided continuance is approved
annually by the vote of a majority of the Board members of the Issuer, and
by the vote of those Board members of the Issuer who are not "interested
persons" of the Issuer and, if a 12b-1 Plan is in effect, by the vote of
those Board members of the Issuer who are not "interested persons" of the
Issuer and who are not parties to the 12b-1 Plan or this Agreement and have
no financial interest in the operation of the 12b-1 Plan or in any
agreements related to the 12b-1 Plan, cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on the approval. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. As used in this
paragraph, the terms "assignment" and "interested persons" shall have the
respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now
in effect or as hereafter amended. In addition to termination by failure
to approve continuance or by assignment, this Agreement may at any time be
terminated by either party upon not less than sixty days' prior written
notice to the other party.
13. Notice - Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party
to the other shall be deemed sufficient if sent by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, addressed by the party giving notice to the other
party at the last address furnished by the other party to the party giving
notice: if to the Issuer, at 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
and if to the Distributor, at 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
14. Limitation of Liability - The Distributor is expressly put on notice of
the limitation of shareholder liability as set forth in the Declaration of
Trust of the Issuer and agrees that the obligations assumed by the Issuer
under this contract shall be limited in all cases to the Issuer and its
assets. The Distributor shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation
from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Issuer. Nor shall the
Distributor seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the Trustees or
any individual Trustee of the Issuer. The Distributor understands that the
rights and obligations of each series of shares of the Issuer under the
Issuer's Declaration of Trust are separate and distinct from those of any
and all other series.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has executed this instrument in its name
and behalf, and its seal affixed, by one of its officers duly authorized,
and the Distributor has executed this instrument in its name and behalf,
and its corporate seal affixed, by one of its officers duly authorized, as
of the day and year first above written.
FIDELITY ADVISOR SERIES VII
on behalf of Fidelity Advisor Natural Resources
Fund
Attest: By
Secretary
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
Attest: By
Clerk
