DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of January, 1997, by and between the
Evergreen Trust (the "Trust") and Evergreen Keystone Distributor, Inc. ("EKD")
WHEREAS, The Trust, has adopted one or more Plans of Distribution with
respect to certain Classes of shares of its separate investment series (each a
"Plan", or collectively the "Plans") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") which Plans authorize the Trust
on behalf of the Funds to enter into agreements regarding the distribution of
such Classes of shares (the "Shares") of the separate investment series of the
Trust (the "Funds") set forth on Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Trust has agreed that Evergreen Keystone Distributor, Inc.
(the "Distributor"), a Delaware corporation, shall act as the distributor of the
Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor agrees to act as distributor of the Shares for
the period of this Distribution Agreement (the "Agreement");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter contained,
it is agreed as follows:
1. SERVICES AS DISTRIBUTOR
1.1. The Distributor agrees to use appropriate efforts to promote each Fund
and to solicit orders for the purchase of Shares and will undertake such
advertising and promotion as it believes reasonable in connection with such
solicitation The services to be performed hereunder by the Distributor are
described in more detail in Section 7 hereof. . In the event that the Trust
establishes additional investment series with respect to which it desires to
retain Evergreen Funds Distributor, Inc. to act as distributor for one or more
Classes hereunder, it shall promptly notify the Distributor in writing. If the
Distributor is willing to render such services it shall notify the Trust in
writing whereupon such portfolio shall become a Fund and its designated Classes
of shares of beneficial interest shall become Shares hereunder.
1.2. All activities by the Distributor and its agents and employees as the
distributor of Shares shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations, including, without limitation, all rules and regulations made or
adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") or any securities association registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1.3 In selling the Shares, the Distributor shall use its best efforts in
all respects duly to conform with the requirements of all Federal and state laws
relating to the sale of such securities. Neither the Distributor, any selected
dealer or any other person is authorized by the Trust to give any information or
to make any representations, other than those contained in the Trust's
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") or related Fund prospectus
and statement of additional information ("Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information") and any sales literature specifically approved by the Trust.
1.4 The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by the
officers of the Trust, for the confirmation of sales 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 National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), as such requirements may from time to time exist.
1.5. The Distributor will transmit any orders received by it for purchase
or redemption of Shares to the transfer agent and custodian for the applicable
Fund.
1.6 The Distributor shall provide persons acceptable to the Trust to serve
as officers of the Trust.
1.7. Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by unusual market,
economic or political conditions, or by abnormal circumstances of any kind, the
Trust's officers may decline to accept any orders for, or make any sales of
Shares until such time as those officers deem it advisable to accept such orders
and to make such sales.
1.8. The Distributor will act only on its own behalf as principal if it
chooses to enter into selling agreements with selected dealers or others. The
Distributor shall offer and sell Shares only to such selected dealers as are
members, in good standing, of the NASD.
1.9 The Distributor agrees to adopt compliance standards, in a form
satisfactory to the Trust, governing the operation of the multiple class
distribution system under which Shares are offered.
2. DUTIES OF THE TRUST.
2.1. The Trust agrees at its own expense to execute any and all documents
and to furnish, at its own expense, any and all information and otherwise to
take all actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the
qualification of Shares for sale in such states as the Trust and the Distributor
may designate.
2.2. The Trust shall furnish from time to time, for use in connection with
the sale of Shares such information with respect to the Funds and the Shares as
the Distributor may reasonably request; and the Trust warrants that any such
information shall be true and correct. Upon request, the Trust shall also
provide or cause to be provided to the Distributor: (a) unaudited semi-annual
statements of each Fund's books and accounts, (b) quarterly earnings
statements of each Fund, (c) a monthly itemized list of the securities in each
Fund, (d) monthly balance sheets as soon as practicable after the end of each
month, and (e) from time to time such additional. information regarding each
Fund's financial condition as the Distributor may reasonably request.
3. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST.
3.1. The Trust represents to the Distributor that it is registered under
the 1940 Act and that the Shares of each of the Funds have been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Trust will
file such amendments to its Registration Statement as may be required and will
use its best efforts to ensure that such Registration Statement remains
accurate.
4. INDEMNIFICATION.
4.1 The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor, ITS
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act 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), which the
Distributor or such controlling person may incur under the Securities Act or
under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any untrue
statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, as from time to time amended or supplemented, any
prospectus or annual or interim report to shareholders of the Trust, or arising
out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Trust in connection therewith by
or on behalf of the Distributor, provided, however, that in no case (i) is the
indemnity of the Trust in favor of the Distributor, ITS OFFICER AND DIRECTORS,
or any such controlling persons would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their duties or
by reason of the reckless disregard of their obligations and duties under this
Agreement; or (ii) is the Trust 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 such
controlling person, as the case maybe, shall have notified the Trust 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 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 Trust of any such
claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to the person
against whom such action it brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph. The Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust shall promptly notify the Distributor of the commencement of any
litigation or proceeding against it or any of its officers or directors in
connection with the issuance or sale of any of the shares.
4.2 The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and each of
its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Trust
against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense described in the foregoing
indemnity contained in paragraph 4.1, but only with respect to statements or
omissions made in reliance upon , and in conformity with, information furnished
to the Trust in writing by or on behalf of the Distributor for uses in
connection with the Registration Statement, as from time to time amended, or the
annual or interim reports to shareholders. In case any action shall be brought
against the Trust or any persons so indemnified, in respect of which indemnity
may be sought against the Distributor, the Distributor shall have rights and
duties given to the Trust, and the Trust and each person so indemnified shall
have the rights and duties given to the Distributor by the provisions of
paragraph 4.1.
5. OFFERING OF SHARES.
5.1. None of the Shares shall be offered by either the Distributor or the
Trust under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and no orders for the
purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust, if and so
long as the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or any
necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of
the Securities Act or if and so long as a current prospectus and statement of
additional information as required by Section 10(b) (2) of the Securities Act,
as amended, is not on file with the Commission; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this paragraph 5.1 shall in any way restrict or have any
application to or bearing upon the Trust's obligation to repurchase Shares from
any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the prospectus of each Fund
or the Trust's prospectus or Declaration of Trust.
6. AMENDMENTS TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER MATERIAL EVENTS.
6.1. The Trust agrees to advise the Distributor as soon as reasonably
practical by a notice in writing delivered to the Distributor: (a) of any
request or action taken by the Commission which is material to the Distributor's
obligations hereunder or (b) any material fact of which the Trust becomes aware
which affects the Distributor's obligations hereunder.
For purposes of this section, informal requests by or acts of the Staff of
the Commission shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the Commission.
7. COMPENSATION OF DISTRIBUTOR.
7.1. (a) As promptly as possible after the first Business Day (as defined
in the Prospectus) of each month this Agreement is in effect, the Trust shall
compensate the Distributor for its distribution services rendered during the
previous month (but not prior to the Commencement Date); by making payment to
the Distributor in the amounts set forth on Exhibit A annexed hereto with
respect to each Class of Shares of each Fund to which this Agreement is
applicable. The compensation by the Trust of the Distributor is authorized
pursuant to the Plan or Plans adopted by the Trust pursuant to Rule 12b-l under
the 1940 Act.
(b) Under this Agreement, the Distributor shall: (i) make payments to
securities dealers and others engaged in the sale of Shares; (ii) make payments
of principal and interest in connection with the financing of commission
payments made by the Distributor in connection with the sale of Shares (iii)
incur the expense of obtaining such support services, telephone
facilities and shareholder services as may reasonably be required in connection
with its duties hereunder; (iv) formulate and implement marketing and
promotional activities, including, but not limited to, direct mail promotions
and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (v)
prepare, print and distribute sales literature; (vi) prepare, print and
distribute Prospectuses of the Funds and reports for recipients other than
existing shareholders of the Funds; and (vii) provide to the Trust such
information, analyses and opinions with respect to marketing and promotional
activities as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.
(c) The Distributor shall prepare and deliver reports to the Treasurer
of the Trust on a regular, at least monthly, basis, showing the distribution
expenditures incurred by the Distributor in connection with its services
rendered pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan and the purposes therefor, as
well as any supplemental reports as the Trustees, from time to time, may
reasonably request.
(d) The Distributor may retain as a sales charge the difference between
the current offering price of Shares, as set forth in the current prospectus for
each Fund, and net asset value, less any reallowance that is payable in
accordance with the sales charge schedule in effect at any given time with
respect to the Shares.
(e) The Distributor may retain any contingent deferred sales charge
("CDSCs") payable with respect to the redemption of any Shares, provided
however, that any CDSCs received by the Distributor shall first be applied by
the Distributor or its assignee to any outstanding amounts payable or which may
in the future be payable by the Distributor or its assignee under financing
arrangements entered into in connection with the payment of commissions on the
sale of Shares.
(f) The Distributor may sell, assign, pledge or hypothecate its rights
to receive compensation hereunder. The Trust acknowledges that, in connection
with the financing of commission payments made by the Distributor in connection
with the sale of Shares, the Distributor may sell and assign, and/or has sold
and assigned, to Mutual Fund Funding 1994-1 the Distributor's interest in
certain items of compensation payable to the Distributor hereunder, and that
Mutual Fund Funding 1994-1 in turn may pledge or assign, and/or has assigned,
such interest to First Union Corporation as lender to secure such financing. It
is understood that an assignee may not further sell, assign, pledge, or
hypothecate its right to receive such reimbursement unless such sale,
assignment, pledge or hypothecation has been approved by the vote of the Board
of the Trust, including a majority of the Disinterested Trustees, cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(g) In addition to the foregoing, and in respect of its services
hereunder and for similar services rendered to other investment companies for
which Evergreen Asset Management Corp. (the "Investment Adviser") serves as
investment adviser, the Investment Adviser may pay to the Distributor an
additional fee to be paid in such amount and manner as the Investment Adviser
and Distributor may agree from time to time.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-EXCLUSIVE AGENCY.
8.1. The Distributor agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat
confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other
information relative to the Funds and its prior, present or potential
shareholders, and not to use such records and information for any purpose other
than performance of its responsibilities and to obtain approval in writing by
the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where the Distributor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by
duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
8.2. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Distributor, or
any affiliated person of the Distributor, from performing services similar to
those to be performed hereunder for any other person, firm, or corporation or
for its or their own accounts or for the accounts of others.
9. TERM.
9.1. This Agreement shall continue until June 30, 1998 and thereafter for
successive annual periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by (i) a vote of the majority of the Trustees of the Trust and
(ii) a vote of the majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not
interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plan, in this Agreement or any agreement
related to the Plan (the "Independent Trustees") by vote cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. This Agreement is
terminable at any time, with respect to the Trust, without penalty, (a) on not
less than 60 days' written notice by vote of a majority of the Independent
Trustees, or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Trust, or (b) upon not less than 60 days' written notice by
the Distributor. This Agreement may remain in effect with respect to a Fund even
if it has been terminated in accordance with this paragraph with respect to one
or more other Funds of the Trust. This Agreement will also terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the
terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities", "interested persons", and
"assignment" shall have the same meaning as such terms have in the 1940 Act.)
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
10.1. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York.
10.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their constructions or effect.
10.3 The obligations of the Trust hereunder are not personally binding
upon, nor shall resort be had to the private property of, any of the Trustees,
shareholders, officers, employees or agents of the Trust and only the Trust's
property shall be bound.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their officers designated below.
EVERGREEN KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTOR, INC. EVERGREEN TRUST
By:_______________________________ By:______________________________
Title: , Vice President Title: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President
EXHIBIT A
To Distribution Agreement between Evergreen Keystone Distributor, Inc.
and EVERGREEN TRUST
FUNDS AND CLASSES COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT:
Evergreen Aggressive Growth Fund
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
CLASS Y SHARES
Evergreen Fund
CLASS A SHARES
CLASS B SHARES
CLASS C SHARES
CLASS Y SHARES
DISTRIBUTION FEES
1. During the term of this Agreement, the Trust will pay to the Distributor a
quarterly fee with respect to each of the Funds and Classes of Shares thereof
listed above. This fee will be computed at the annual rate of .25 of 1% of the
average net asset value on an annual basis of Class A Shares of each Fund; and
.75 of 1% of the average net asset value on an annual basis of Class B and Class
C Shares of each Fund.
2. For the quarterly period in which the Agreement becomes effective or
terminates, there shall be an appropriate proration of any fee payable on the
basis of the number of days that the Agreement is in effect during the quarter.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Exhibit A to the
Distribution Agreement between the parties dated as of January 1, 1997 to be
executed by their officers designated below.
EVERGREEN KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTOR, INC. EVERGREEN TRUST
By:_______________________________ By: /s/▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: , Vice President Title: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President