FORM OF DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of December 15, 2000, between
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Equity Funds, a Delaware business trust ("Trust"), and
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Management Inc., a New York corporation ("Distributor"), on
behalf of Equity Funds Trust Class.
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 the Trust Class of
each Series listed in Schedule A attached hereto, and to the Trust Class of 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 Distribution and Shareholder Services
Plan pursuant to Rule 00x-0 xxxxx xxx 0000 Xxx ("Xxxx") with respect to the
Trust Class of each Series;
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 the Trust Class 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.
(c) The Distributor can use any of the officers and employees
of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, LLC to provide any of the services or reports required
under this agreement.
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 the Trust Class 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 the
Trust Class 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 of the Trust Class 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 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.
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
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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 the Shares of 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 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 Trust
Class of each 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 Shares; 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
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providing and maintaining ongoing shareholder services for the duration of the
shareholders' investment in the Trust Class of 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 the Trust Class of
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 the Trust Class of each Series a fee at the rate and under the
terms and conditions set forth in the Plan adopted by the Trust Class of the
Series, as such Plan may be amended from time to time. In addition to the
expenditures specifically authorized herein, the Distributor may spend with
respect to the Trust Class 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
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, as amended, shall become effective on
December 16, 2000 and shall remain in full force and effect until June 30, 2001
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 Trust Class 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 the Trust Class of such
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Series; PROVIDED, that in either case, such amendment also shall be approved by
a majority of 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 the
Trust Class 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
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
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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 Trust Class or any Series to pay any compensation or expenses that are
properly allocable, in a manner approved by the Trustees, to a class or series
of the Trust other than Trust Class or 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 Trust
Class of one Series bind only assets belonging to Trust Class of 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 Trust Class 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 Trust
Class of a Series for the performance of this Agreement by the Trust on behalf
of such Series, 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 FUNDS
By: _______________________
Title: ______________________
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX MANAGEMENT INC.
By: _______________________
Title: ______________________
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