AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of August 11, 2001, between Firsthand Funds (the
"Fund"), an open-end, management investment company organized as a trust under
the laws of the State of Delaware and ALPS Distributors, Inc., a Colorado
corporation and a registered broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, having its principal place of business in Denver, Colorado (the
"Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to employ the services of the Distributor in
connection with the promotion and distribution of the shares of each series of
the Fund (the "Shares"); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings
herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. Documents -- The Fund has furnished or will furnish, upon request, the
Distributor with copies of the Fund's Declaration of Trust, advisory agreement,
custodian agreement, transfer agency agreement, administration agreement,
current prospectuses and statement of additional information, and all forms
relating to any plan, program or service offered by the Fund. The Fund shall
furnish, within a reasonable time period, to the Distributor a copy of any
amendment or supplement to any of the above-mentioned documents. Upon request,
the Fund shall furnish promptly to the Distributor any additional documents
necessary or advisable to perform its functions hereunder. As used in this
Agreement the terms "registration statement", "prospectus" and "statement of
additional information" shall mean any registration statement, prospectus and
statement of additional information filed by the Fund with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") and any amendments and supplements thereto that are
filed with the SEC.
2. Sale of Shares -- The Fund grants to the Distributor the right to sell the
Shares as agent on behalf of the Fund, during the term of this Agreement,
subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"), the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act") and of the laws governing the sale of securities in the various
states ("Blue Sky Laws"), under the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. The Distributor shall have the right to sell, as agent on behalf of
the Fund, the Shares covered by the registration statement, prospectus and
statement of additional information for the Fund then in effect under the 1933
Act and 1940 Act.
3. Sales of Shares by the Fund -- The rights granted to the Distributor shall
be nonexclusive in that the Fund reserves the right to sell Shares to investors
on applications received and accepted by the Fund.
4. Public Offering Price -- Except as otherwise noted in the Fund's current
prospectuses and/or statements of additional information, all Shares sold to
investors by the Distributor or the Fund 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 Fund's
current prospectuses and/or statements of additional information, plus a sales
charge (if any) as described in the Fund's current prospectuses and/or
statements of additional information. The Fund 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
SEC as may then be in effect pursuant to Section 22 of the 1940 Act to pay a
portion of the sales charge to dealers who have sold Shares of the Fund. If a
fee in connection with shareholder redemptions is in effect, the Fund shall
collect the fee on behalf of the Distributor and, unless otherwise agreed upon
by the Fund and the Distributor, the Distributor shall be entitled to receive
all of such fees.
5. Suspension of Sales -- The Fund reserves the right to suspend sales and
the Distributor's authority to process orders for Shares on behalf of the
Fund if, in the judgment of the Fund, it is in the best interest of the Fund
to do so. Suspension will continued for such period as may be determined by
the fund.
6. Solicitation of Sales -- In consideration of these rights granted to the
Distributor, the Distributor agrees to use its best efforts to solicit
orders for the sale of the Shares at the public offering price and will
undertake such advertising and promotion as it believes is reasonable in
connection with such solicitation. The Distributor shall review and file such
materials with the SEC and the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD") to the extent required by the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and by the rules of the NASD. This shall not prevent
the Distributor from entering into like arrangements (including arrangements
involving the payment of underwriting commissions) with other issuers. The
Distributor will act only on its own behalf as principal should it choose to
enter into selling agreements with selected dealers or others.
7. Authorized Representations -- The Distributor is not authorized by the
Fund to give any information or to make any representations other than those
contained in the registration statement or prospectuses and statements of
additional information, or contained in shareholder reports or other material
that may be prepared by or on behalf of the fund for the Distributor's use.
Consistent with the foregoing, the Distributor may prepare and distribute
sales literature or other material as it may deem appropriate in consultation
with the Fund, provided such sales literature complies with applicable law
and regulations.
8. Registration of Shares -- The Fund agrees that it will take all action
necessary to register the Shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act (subject
to the necessary approval of its shareholders). The Fund shall make available
to the Distributor, at the Distributor's expense, such number of copies of
its prospectuses and statements of additional information as the Distributor
may reasonably request. The 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 Shares
of the Fund.
9. Distribution Fees and Expenses -- The Distributor shall furnish, at its
expense and without cost to the Fund, the services or personnel to the extent
that such services are required to carry out its obligations under this
Agreement. Such personnel shall consist of one or more persons, during normal
business hours (7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time), to respond to
telephone questions with respect to the Distributor's responsibilities to the
Fund.
10. Fund Expenses -- Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto in
writing or by the Fund and the Fund's other agents, the Distributor shall not
be responsible for fees and expenses in connection with (a) filing of any
registration statement, printing and the distribution of any prospectus and
statement of additional information under the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act
and amendments prepared for use in connection with the offering of Shares for
sale to the public, preparing, setting in type, printing and mailing the
prospectus, statement of additional information and any supplements thereto
sent to existing shareholders, (b) preparing, setting in type, printing and
mailing any report (including annual and semi-annual reports) or other
communication to shareholders of the Fund, and (c) the Blue Sky registration
and qualification of Shares for sale in the various states in which the
officers of the Fund shall determine it advisable to qualify such Shares for
sale (including registering the Fund as a broker or dealer or any officer of
the Fund as agent or salesman in any state).
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11. Use of the Distributor's Name -- The Fund shall not use the name of the
Distributor, or any of its affiliates, in any prospectus or statement of
additional information, sales literature, and other material relating to the
Fund in any manner without the prior written consent of the Distributor
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that the
Distributor hereby approves all lawful uses of the names of the Distributor
and its affiliates in all the prospectuses and statements of additional
information of the Fund and in all other materials which merely refer to
accurate terms to their appointment hereunder or which are required by the
SEC, NASD, OCC or any state securities authority.
12. Use of the Fund's Name -- Neither the Distributor nor any of its
affiliates shall use the name of the Fund in any publicly disseminated
materials, including sales literature in any manner without the prior consent
of the fund (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however,
that the Fund hereby approves all lawful uses of its name in any required
regulatory filings of the Distributor which merely refer in accurate terms to
the appointment of the Distributor hereunder, or which are required by the
SEC, NASD, OCC or any state securities authority.
13. Insurance -- The Distributor agrees to maintain fidelity bond and
liability insurance coverages which are, in scope and amount, consistent with
coverages customary for distribution activities relating to the Fund. The
Distributor shall notify the Fund upon receipt of any notice of material,
adverse change in the terms or provisions of its insurance coverage. Such
notification shall include the date of change and the reason or reasons
therefor. The Distributor shall notify the Fund of any material claims
against it, whether or not covered by insurance, and shall notify the Fund
from time to time as may be appropriate of the total outstanding claims made
by it under its insurance coverage.
14. Indemnification -- The Fund 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 expenses (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 Fund (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, the 1940 Act or any other statute or the common law. However,
the Fund 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 Fund by or on behalf of the
Distributor. In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Fund in favor of the
Distributor or any person indemnified to be deemed to protect the Distributor
or any person against any liability to the Fund or its security holders to
which the Distributor or such person would otherwise be subject by reason of
its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or
(ii) is the Fund to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in the
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 Fund in writing of the claim promptly after the
summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature
of the claims shall have been served upon the Distributor 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 Fund of any claim shall
not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to any person
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its
indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. The Fund 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, and if the Fund
elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel
chosen by the Fund. In the event the Fund elects to assume the defense of any
suit and retain counsel, the Distributor, officers or directors or
controlling person(s), defendant(s) in the suit,
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shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them,
If the Fund does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will
reimburse the Distributor, officers or directors or controlling person(s) or
defendant(s) in the suit for the reasonable fees and expenses or any counsel
retained by them the Fund agrees to notify the Distributor promptly of the
commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of its
officers in connection with issuance or sale of any of the Shares.
The Distributor also covenants and agrees that it will indemnify and hold
harmless the Fund and each of its officers and person, if any, who controls
the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, against any loss,
liability, damages, claims 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, the
1940 Act or any other statute or common law, alleging (a) any wrongful act of
the Distributor or any of its employees or (b) that any sales literature,
advertisements, information, statements or representations used or made by
the Distributor or any of its affiliates or employees or that the
registration statement, prospectus, statements of additional information, (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 Fund by or behalf of the Distributor. In no case (i) is the indemnity of
the Distributor in favor of the fund or any person indemnified to be deemed
to protect the Fund or any person against an liability to with the Fund or
such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of it
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under his 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 Fund or any person
indemnified unless the Fund or person, as the case may be, shall have
notified the Distributor in writing of the claim promptly after the summons
or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the
claim shall have been served upon the Fund or any such person (or after the
Fund or such person shall have been received notice or service on any
designated age). However, failure to notify the Distributor of any claim
shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability with it may have to the
Fund or any person against whom the action it 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 elect, to assume the defense of any
suit brought to enforce the claim, and if the Distributor elects to assume
the defense, the defense shall be consulted by counsel chosen by it and
satisfactory to the Fund, to its officers and to any controlling person(s) or
defendant(s) in the suit. In the event that the Distributor elects to assume
the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the Fund or controlling person(s)
defendant(s) 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 reimbuse the Fund, officers or controlling
person(s) defendant(s) in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of
any counsel retained by them. The Distributor agrees to notify the Fund
promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it in
conneciton with the fund and sale of any of the Shares.
15. Supplemental Information - The Distributor and the Fund shall regularly
consult with each other regarding the Distributor's performance of its
obligation under this Agreement. In Connection therewith, the Fund shall
submit the Distributor at the reasonable time in advance of filing with the
SEC reasonably final copies of any amended or supplemented registration
statement (including exhibits) under the 1933 Act and 1940 Act; provided,
however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the
Fund's rights to file at any time such amendments to any registration
statement and/or supplements to any prospectus or statement of additional
information, or whatever character, as the fund may deem advisable, such
right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
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The Distributor acknowledge that the only information provided to it by the
Fund is that contained in the registratin statement, the prospectuses, the
statements of additional informaion and reports and financial information
referred to herein. Neither the Distributor nor any other person is
authorized by the Fund to give any information or to make any representation,
other than those contained in such documents and any sales literature or
advertisements specifically approved by appropriate representative of the
Fund.
16. Term - This Agreement shall become effective as of August 11, 2001, and
shall continue until two years from such date and thereafter shall continued
automatically for successive annual periods, provided such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Fund's Board of Trustees or
(ii) by a vote of a majority tof the outstanding voting securites of the
relevant Series of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), provided that in
either event the continuance is also approved by the majority of the Trustees
of the Fund who are not interested person (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of any
party to this Agreement by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such approval. This Agreement is terminable without
penalty on sixty days' written notice by the Fund's Board of Trustees, by vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
relevant Series of the Fund or by Distributor. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the even of its assignment (as defined in the 1940
Act).
Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Distributor, at the Fund's
expenses and direction, shall transfer to such successor as the Fund shall
specify all relevant books, records and other data established or maintained
by the Distributor under this Agreement.
17. Notice - Any notice requried or permitted to be given by either party
to the other shall be deemed sufficient if sent by (i) telecopies (fax) or
(ii) 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 the Fund at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ with a copy to: ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Att: General Counsel;
and if to the Distributor, at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇, Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, or such other telecopies (fax) number or
address as may be furnished by one party to the other.
18. Confidential Information - The Distributor, its officers, directors,
employees an agents will treat confidentially and as proprietary information
of the Fund all records of other information relative to the Fund and to
prior or present shareholders or to those persons or entities who respond to
the Distributor's inquiries concerning investment in the Fund, and will not
use such records and information for any purposes other than performance of
it responsibilities and duties hereunder. If the Distributor is requested or
required by, but not limited to, depositions, interrogatories, requests for
information or document, subpoena, civil investigation, demand or other
action, proceeding or process or as otherwise required by law, statute
regulation, writ, decree or the like to disclose such information, the
Distributor will provide the Fund with prompt written notice of any such
request or requirement so that the Fund may see an appropriate protective
order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with this
provision. If such order of other remedy is not sought, or obtained, or
waiver not recieved with a reasonable period following such notice, then the
Distributor may without liabilty hereunder, disclose to the person, entity or
agency requesting or requiring the information, that portion of the
information that is legally required in the reasonable opinion of the
Distributor's counsel.
19. Limitation of liability - The Distributor is expressly put on notice of
limition of shareholder, officer and Trustee liablilty as set forth in
Declaration of Trust of the Fund and agrees that the obligation assumed by
the Fund under this contrat shall be limited in all cases to the Fund and its
assets. The distributor agrees that it shall not seek satisfaction of any such
obligation from the shareholders or any individual shareholders of the Fund.
Nor shall the Distributor seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the
Trustees, officers or any individual Trustee or officer of the Fund. The
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Distributor understands that the rights and obligations of each series of the
Fund under the Fund's Declaration of Trust are separate and distinct from
those of any and all other series.
Any obligations of the Fund entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by
any of the Trustees or officers, representatives or agents are made not
individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the
Trustees or officers, shareholders, or representatives of the Fund
personally, but bind only the Fund property, and all persons dealing with any
class of Shares of the Fund must look solely to the Fund property belonging
to such class for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund.
20. Miscellaneous - Each party agrees to perform such further acts and
execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes
hereof. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted, and enforced in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. 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 construction or effect. This Agreement may not be changed, waived,
discharged or amended except by written instrument that shall make specific
reference to this Agreement and which shall be signed by the party against
which enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or amendment is sought.
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts,
each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
All activities by the Distributor and its agents and employees as distributor
of the Shares shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations
including, without limitation, all rules and regulations made or adopted by
the SEC or any securities association registered under the Exchange Act.
The Distributor will promptly transmit any orders received by it for
purchase, redemption or exchange of the Shares to the Fund's transfer agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund has executed this instrument in its name and
behalf, and the Distributor has executed this instrument in its name and
behalf, as of the date and year first above written.
FIRSTHAND FUNDS ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/ Omar Billawalla By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Omar Billawalla ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Secretary Title: Chief Financial Officer