Exhibit 99.B(6)(a)
NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND, INC.
ISI NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of April, 1997, by and
between NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation (the
"Fund"), and INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY & INVESTMENT GROUP INC., a Delaware
corporation ("ISI").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end, diversified,
management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to appoint ISI as the exclusive
distributor of the class of shares of the Fund known as the ISI North American
Government Bond Fund Shares (the "Shares") and ISI wishes to become the
distributor of the Shares; and
WHEREAS, the compensation to ISI hereunder and the payments
contemplated by paragraph 9 constitute the financing of activities intended to
result in the sale of Shares, and this Agreement is entered into pursuant to a
"written plan" pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act (the "Plan") allowing the
Fund to make such payments.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein and of
other good and valuable consideration the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment. The Fund appoints ISI as the exclusive
distributor for the Shares for the period and on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. ISI accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services herein
set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. Delivery of Documents. The Fund has furnished ISI with
copies properly certified or authenticated, of each of the following:
(a) The Fund's Articles of Incorporation, filed with the
Secretary of State of Maryland on October 20, 1992 and all amendments thereto
(the "Articles of Incorporation");
(b) The Fund's By-Laws and all amendments thereto (such
By-Laws, as presently in effect and as they shall from time to time be amended,
are herein called the "By-Laws");
(c) Resolutions of the Fund's Board of Directors
authorizing the appointment of ISI as the distributor of the Shares and
approving this Agreement;
(d) The Fund's Notification of Registration filed pursuant
to Section 8(a) of the 1940 Act on Form N-8A under the 1940 Act, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on October 22, 1992;
(e) The Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") (File No. 33-53598) and
under the 1940 Act as filed with the SEC on October 22, 1992 relating to the
Shares of the Fund, and all amendments thereto; and
(f) The Fund's most recent prospectus (such prospectus and
all amendments and supplements thereto are herein called "Prospectus").
The Fund will furnish ISI from time to time with copies,
properly certified or authenticated, of all amendments or supplements to the
foregoing, if any, and all documents, notices and reports filed with the SEC.
3. Duties as Distributor. ISI agrees that all solicitations
for subscriptions for Shares shall be made in accordance with the Fund's
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, and its then current Registration
Statement, Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and shall not at
any time or in any manner violate any provisions of the laws of the United
States or of any state or other jurisdiction in which solicitations are then
being made. In carrying out its obligations hereunder, ISI shall undertake the
following actions and responsibilities:
(a) receive orders for purchase of Shares, accept or reject
such orders on behalf of the Fund in accordance with the currently effective
Prospectus for the Shares and the Fund's Statement of Additional Information and
transmit such orders as are so accepted to the Fund's transfer agent as promptly
as possible;
(b) receive requests for redemption from holders of Shares
and transmit such redemption requests to the Fund's transfer agent as promptly
as possible;
(c) respond to inquiries from the Fund's shareholders
concerning the status of their accounts with the Fund;
(d) provide to the Fund's Treasurer, at least quarterly, a
written report of the amounts expended in connection with all distribution
services rendered pursuant to this Agreement, including an explanation of the
purposes for which such expenditures were made; and
(e) take, on behalf of the Fund, all actions deemed
necessary to carry into effect the distribution of the Shares and perform such
other administrative duties with respect to the Shares as the Fund's Board of
Directors may require.
4. Distribution of Shares. ISI shall be the exclusive
distributor of the Shares. It is mutually understood and agreed that ISI does
not undertake to sell all or any specific portion of the Shares. The Fund shall
not sell any of the Shares except through ISI and securities dealers who have
valid Agency Distribution Agreements with ISI. Notwithstanding the provisions of
the foregoing sentence, the Fund may issue its Shares at their net asset value
to any shareholder of the Fund purchasing such Shares with dividends or other
cash distributions received from the Fund pursuant to an offer made to all
shareholders.
5. Control by Board of Directors. Any distribution activities
undertaken by ISI pursuant to this Agreement, as well as any other activities
undertaken by ISI on behalf of the Fund pursuant hereto, shall at all times be
subject to any directives of the Board of Directors of the Fund. The Board of
Directors may agree, on behalf of the Fund, to amendments to this Agreement,
provided that the Fund must obtain prior approval of the shareholders of the
Fund to any amendment which would result in a material increase in the amount
expended by the Fund.
-2-
6. Compliance with Applicable Requirements. In carrying out
its obligations under this Agreement, ISI shall at all times conform to:
(a) all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and any rules
and regulations adopted thereunder as amended;
(b) the provisions of the Registration Statement of the
Fund under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and any amendments and supplements
thereto;
(c) the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Fund;
(d) the provisions of the By-Laws of the Fund;
(e) the rules and regulations of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and all other self-regulatory organizations
applicable to the sale of investment company shares; and
(f) any other applicable provisions of federal and state
law.
7. Expenses. The expenses connected with the Fund shall be
allocable between the Fund and ISI as follows:
(a) ISI shall furnish, at its expense and without cost to
the Fund, the services of personnel to the extent that such services are
required to carry out their obligations under this Agreement;
(b) ISI shall bear the expenses of any promotional or sales
literature used by ISI or furnished by ISI to purchasers or dealers in
connection with the public offering of the Shares, the expenses of advertising
in connection with such public offering and all legal expenses in connection
with the foregoing; and
(c) the Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all
other expenses of the Fund, including, without limitation: the fees of the
Fund's investment advisor and administrator; the charges and expenses of any
registrar, custodian or depositary appointed by the Fund for the safekeeping of
its cash, portfolio securities and other property, and any stock transfer,
dividend or accounting agent or agents appointed by the Fund; brokers'
commissions chargeable to the Fund in connection with portfolio securities
transactions to which the Fund is a party; all taxes, including securities
issuance and transfer taxes, and corporate fees payable by the Fund to federal,
state or other governmental agencies; the cost and expense of engraving or
printing of stock certificates representing Shares; all costs and expenses in
connection with maintenance of registration of the Fund and the Shares with the
SEC and various states and other jurisdictions (including filing fees and legal
fees and disbursements of counsel) except as provided in subparagraph (a) above,
the expenses of printing, including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses
of the Fund and supplements thereto to the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of
shareholders' and Directors' meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing of
proxy statements and reports to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of
Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇) or members of any advisory board or committee; all expenses incident to the
payment of any dividend, distribution, withdrawal or redemption, whether in
Shares or in cash; charges and expenses of any outside service used for pricing
of the Shares; charges and expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the
Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940
Act), and of independent accountants, in connection with any matter relating to
the Fund; a portion of membership dues of industry associations; interest
payable on Fund borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel
(including officers and Directors) of the Fund which inure to its benefit;
extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto); and
all other charges and costs of the Fund's operation unless otherwise explicitly
provided herein.
-3-
8. Delegation of Responsibilities. ISI may, but shall be under
no duty to, perform services on behalf of the Fund which are not required by
this Agreement upon the request of the Fund's Board of Directors. Such services
will be performed on behalf of the Fund and ISI's charge in rendering such
services may be billed monthly to the Fund, subject to examination by the Fund's
independent accountants. Payment or assumption by ISI of any Fund expense that
ISI is not required to pay or assume under this Agreement shall not relieve ISI
of any of its obligations to the Fund or obligate ISI to pay or assume any
similar Fund expense on any subsequent occasions.
9. Compensation. For the services to be rendered and the
expenses assumed by ISI, the Fund shall pay to ISI, compensation at the annual
rate of .40% of the average daily net assets invested in the Shares. Except as
hereinafter set forth, continuing compensation under this Agreement shall be
calculated and accrued daily and the amounts of the daily accruals shall be paid
monthly. If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of a
month or shall terminate before the last day of a month compensation for that
part of the month this Agreement is in effect shall be prorated in a manner
consistent with the calculations of the fees as set forth above.
10. Compensation for Servicing Shareholder Accounts. The Fund
acknowledges that ISI may compensate its investment representatives for opening
accounts, processing investor letters of transmittal and applications and
withdrawal and redemption orders, responding to inquiries from Fund shareholders
concerning the status of their accounts and the operations of the Fund, and
communicating with the Fund and its transfer agent on behalf of the Fund
shareholders.
11. Agency Distribution Agreements. ISI may enter into agency
distribution agreements (the "Agency Distribution Agreements") with any
securities dealer who is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and a member in good standing of the NASD, who may wish to act as a transmitting
broker in connection with the proposed offering. All Agency Distribution
Agreements shall be in substantially the form of the agreement attached hereto
as Exhibit "A". For processing Fund shareholders' redemption orders, responding
to inquiries from Fund shareholders concerning the status of their accounts and
the operations of the Fund and communicating with the Fund, its transfer agent
and ISI, ISI may pay each such transmitting broker an amount not to exceed that
portion of the compensation paid to ISI hereunder that is attributable to
accounts of Fund shareholders who are customers of such transmitting broker.
12. Non-Exclusivity. The services of ISI to the Fund are not
to be deemed exclusive and ISI shall be free to render distribution or other
services to others (including other investment companies) and to engage in other
activities. It is understood and agreed that directors, officers or employees of
ISI may serve as directors or officers of the Fund, and that directors or
officers of the Fund may serve as directors, officers and employees of ISI to
the extent permitted by law; and that directors, officers and employees of ISI
are not prohibited from engaging in any other business activity or from
rendering services to any other person, or from serving as partners, directors
or officers of any other firm or corporation, including other investment
companies.
-4-
13. Term and Approval. This Agreement shall become effective
at the close of business on the date hereof and shall remain in force and effect
for an initial term of two years and from year to year thereafter, provided that
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually:
(a) (i) by the Fund's Board of Directors or (ii) by the
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940
Act), and
(b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors
who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) and do
not have a financial interest in the operation of this Agreement, by votes cast
in person at a meeting specifically called for such purpose.
14. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time,
on sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party without the payment of any
penalty, (i) by vote of the Fund's Board of Directors, (ii) by vote of a
majority of the directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as
defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) and do not have a financial interest in the operation
of this Agreement, (iii) by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) or (iv) by ISI. The notice provided for
herein may be waived by each party. This Agreement shall automatically terminate
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
15. Liability. In the performance of its duties hereunder, ISI
shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence and to act in good faith and
to use its best efforts within reasonable limits in performing all services
provided for under this Agreement, but shall not be liable for any act or
omission which does not constitute willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of ISI or reckless disregard by ISI of its duties under
this Agreement.
16. Notices. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in
writing, addressed and delivered or mailed postage paid to the other party at
such address as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notice.
Until further notice to the other parties, it is agreed that for this purpose
the address of ISI and the Fund shall be ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇.
17. Questions of Interpretation. 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
interpretations 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 issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a
requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is
revised by rule, regulation or order of the SEC, such provision shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order. Otherwise the
provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of
Maryland.
-5-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed in duplicate by their respective officers as of the day
and year first above written.
[SEAL] NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND, INC.
Attest: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ R. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------- ---------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Name: R. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
[SEAL] INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY & INVESTMENT GROUP INC.
Attest: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------- ---------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chairman
Exhibit A
ISI FAMILY OF FUNDS
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
AGENCY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
_______________________, 19___
Gentlemen:
International Strategy & Investment Group Inc. ("ISI"), a
Delaware corporation, serves as distributor (the "Distributor") of the ISI
Family of Mutual Funds (collectively, the "Funds", individually a "Fund"). The
Funds are open-end investment companies registered under the "Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Funds offer their
shares ("Shares") to the public in accordance with the terms and conditions
contained in the Prospectus of each Fund. The term "Prospectus" used herein
refers to the prospectus on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
which is part of the registration statement of each Fund under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). In connection with the foregoing you may
serve as a participating dealer (and, therefore, accept orders for the purchase
or redemption of Shares, respond to shareholder inquiries and perform other
related functions) on the following terms and conditions:
1. Transmitting Broker. You are hereby designated as a Broker
and as such are authorized (i) to accept orders for the purchase of Shares and
to transmit to the Funds such orders and payment made therefore, (ii) to accept
orders for the redemption of Shares and to transmit to the Funds such orders and
all additional material, including any certificates for Shares, as may be
required to complete the redemption and (iii) to assist shareholders with the
foregoing and other matters relating to their investments in each Fund, in each
case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus of each
Fund. You are to review each Share purchase or redemption order submitted
through you or with your assistance for completeness and accuracy. You further
agree to undertake from time to time certain shareholder servicing activities
for customers of yours who have purchased Shares and who use your facilities to
communicate with the Funds or to effect redemptions or additional purchases of
Shares.
2. Limitation of Authority. No person is authorized to make
any representations concerning the Funds or the Shares except those contained in
the Prospectus of each Fund and in such printed information as the Distributor
may subsequently prepare. No person is authorized to distribute any sales
material relating to any Fund without the prior written approval of the
Distributor.
3. Compensation. As compensation for such services, you will
look solely to the Distributor, and you acknowledge that the Funds shall have no
direct responsibility for any compensation. In addition to any sales charge
payable to you by your customer pursuant to a Prospectus, the Distributor will
pay you no less often than annually a shareholder processing and service fee (as
we may determine from time to time in writing) computed as a percentage of the
average daily net assets maintained with each Fund during the preceding period
by shareholders who purchase their shares through you or with your assistance,
provided that said assets are at least $250,000 for each Fund for which you are
to be compensated, and provided that in all cases your name is transmitted with
each shareholder's purchase order.
-1-
4. Prospectus and Reports. You agree to comply with the
provisions contained in the Securities Act governing the distribution of
prospectuses to persons to whom you offer Shares. You further agree to deliver,
upon our request, copies of any amended Prospectus of the relevant Fund to
purchasers whose Shares you are holding as record owner and to deliver to such
persons copies of the annual and interim reports and proxy solicitation
materials of the Funds. We agree to furnish to you as many copies of each
Prospectus, annual and interim reports and proxy solicitation materials as you
may reasonably request.
5. Qualification to Act. You represent that you are a member
in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD"). Your expulsion or suspension from the NASD will automatically terminate
this Agreement on the effective date of such expulsion or suspension. You agree
that you will not offer Shares to persons in any jurisdiction in which you may
not lawfully make such offer due to the fact that you have not registered under,
or are not exempt from, the applicable registration or licensing requirements of
such jurisdiction. You agree that in performing the services under this
Agreement, you at all times will comply with the Rules of Fair Practice of the
NASD including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 26 of such Rules.
You agree that you will not combine customer orders to reach breakpoints in
commissions for any purposes whatsoever unless authorized by the then current
Prospectus in respect of Shares of a particular class or by us in writing. You
also agree that you will place orders immediately upon their receipt and will
not withhold any order so as to profit therefrom. In determining the amount
payable to you hereunder, we reserve the right to exclude any sales which we
reasonably determine are not made in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus
and provisions of the Agreement.
6. Blue Sky. The Funds have registered an indefinite number of
Shares under the Securities Act. The Funds intend to comply with applicable
state laws. We will notify you of the states or other jurisdictions in which the
Shares may be sold. You agree that you will offer Shares to your customers only
in those states where there has been compliance with state laws applicable to
the sale of such Shares. We assume no responsibility or obligation as to your
right to sell Shares in any jurisdiction. We will file with the Department of
State in New York a State Notice and a Further State Notice with respect to the
Shares, if necessary.
7. Authority of Fund. Each of the Funds shall have full
authority to take such action as it deems advisable in respect of all matters
pertaining to the offering of its Shares, including the right not to accept any
order for the purchase of Shares.
8. Record Keeping. You will (i) maintain all records required
by law to be kept by you relating to transactions in Shares and, upon request by
any Fund, promptly make such of these records available to the Fund as the Fund
may reasonably request in connection with its operations and (ii) promptly
notify the Fund if you experience any difficulty in maintaining the records
described in the foregoing clauses in an accurate and complete manner.
9. Liability. The Distributor shall be under no liability to
you except for lack of good faith and for obligations expressly assumed by them
hereunder. In carrying out your obligations, you agree to act in good faith and
without negligence. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to operate
as a waiver by the Distributor or you of compliance with any provision of the
Investment Company Act, the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.
10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by either
party, without penalty, upon ten days' notice to the other party and shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the
Investment Company Act). This Agreement may also be terminated at any time for
any particular Fund without penalty by the vote of a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors or Trustees of such Fund who are not "interested persons"
(as defined in the Investment Company Act) and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement between such
Fund and the Distributor or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund.
-2-
11. Communications. All communications to us should be sent to
the above address. Any notice to you shall be duly given if mailed or
telegraphed to you at the address specified by you below.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please sign and return to us one copy of this agreement.
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY & INVESTMENT
GROUP INC.
--------------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
Confirmed and accepted:
Firm Name:_____________________________
By:____________________________________
Address:_______________________________
Date:__________________________________
-3-