Exhibit 5(e)
MERCURY GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND
OF
THE ASSET PROGRAM, INC.
CLASS I SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the ____ day of _____, 2000, between THE ASSET
PROGRAM, INC., a Maryland corporation (the "Program"), on behalf of its series,
MERCURY GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND (the "Fund"), and PRINCETON FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H :
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, the Directors of the Program (the "Directors") are authorized to
establish separate series relating to separate portfolios of securities, each of
which may offer separate classes of shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per
share; and
WHEREAS, the Directors have established and designated the Fund as a series
of the Program, offering separate classes of shares of common stock, as
described above; and
WHEREAS, the Program is registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), as an open-end investment
company, and it is affirmatively in the interest of the Fund to offer its shares
for sale continuously; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is a securities firm engaged in the business of
selling shares of investment companies either directly to purchasers or through
other securities dealers; and
WHEREAS, the Program and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement
with each other with respect to the continuous offering of the Class I shares of
common stock of the Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment of the Distributor. The Program hereby appoints the
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Distributor as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Program to sell
Class I shares of common stock of the Fund (sometimes herein referred to as
"Class I shares") to eligible investors (as defined below) and hereby agrees
during the term of this Agreement to sell Class I shares of the Fund to the
Distributor upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
Section 2. Exclusive Nature of Duties. The Distributor shall be the
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exclusive representative of the Program to act as principal underwriter and
distributor of Class I shares of the Fund, except that:
(a) The Program may, upon written notice to the Distributor, from time to
time designate other principal underwriters and distributors of Class I shares
with respect to areas other than the United States as to which the Distributor
may have expressly waived in writing its right to act as such. If such
designation is deemed exclusive, the right of the Distributor under
this Agreement to sell Class I shares in the areas so designated shall
terminate, but this Agreement shall remain otherwise in full effect until
terminated in accordance with the other provisions hereof.
(b) The exclusive right granted to the Distributor to purchase Class I
shares from the Program shall not apply to Class I shares of the Fund issued in
connection with the merger or consolidation of any other investment company or
personal holding company with the Program or the acquisition by purchase or
otherwise of all (or substantially all) the assets or the outstanding Class I
shares of any such company by the Program.
(c) Such exclusive right also shall not apply to Class I shares issued by
the Fund pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
(d) Such exclusive right also shall not apply to Class I shares issued by
the Fund pursuant to any conversion, exchange or reinstatement privilege
afforded redeeming shareholders or to any other Class I shares as shall be
agreed between the Program and the Distributor from time to time.
Section 3. Purchase of Class I Shares from the Program.
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(a) During the continuous offering of Class I shares of the Fund, the
Distributor shall have the right to buy from the Program the Class I shares
needed, but not more than the Class I shares needed (except for clerical errors
in transmission) to fill unconditional orders for Class I shares of the Fund
placed with the Distributor by eligible investors or securities dealers.
Investors eligible to purchase Class I shares shall be those persons so
identified in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional
information relating to the Fund (the "prospectus" and "statement of additional
information," respectively) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), relating to such Class I shares ("eligible investors"). The
price which the Distributor shall pay for the Class I shares so purchased from
the Program shall be the net asset value, determined as set forth in Section
3(d) hereof, used in determining the public offering price on which such orders
were based.
(b) The Class I shares are to be resold by the Distributor to eligible
investors at the public offering price, as set forth in Section 3(c) hereof, or
to securities dealers having agreements with the Distributor upon the terms and
conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.
(c) The public offering price(s) of the Class I shares, i.e., the price per
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share at which the Distributor or selected dealers may sell Class I shares to
eligible investors, shall be the public offering price as set forth in the
prospectus and statement of additional information relating to such Class I
shares, but not to exceed the net asset value at which the Distributor is to
purchase the Class I shares, plus a sales charge not to exceed 5.25% of the
public offering price (5.54% of the net amount invested), subject to reductions
for volume purchases. Class I shares may be sold to certain Directors, officers
and employees of the Program, directors and employees of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.,
Inc. and its subsidiaries, and to certain other persons described in the
prospectus and statement of additional information, without a sales charge or at
a reduced sales charge, upon terms and conditions set forth in the prospectus
and statement of additional information. If the public offering price does not
equal an even cent, the public offering price may be adjusted to the
2
nearest cent. All payments to the Program hereunder shall be made in the manner
set forth in Section 3(f).
(d) The net asset value of Class I shares of the Fund shall be determined
by the Program or any agent of the Program in accordance with the method set
forth in the prospectus and statement of additional information of the Program
and guidelines established by the Board of Directors.
(e) The Program shall have the right to suspend the sale of the Class I
shares at times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions set
forth in Section 4(b) hereof. The Program shall also have the right to suspend
the sale of the Class I shares if trading on the New York Stock Exchange shall
have been suspended, if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal
or New York authorities, or if there shall have been some other event, which, in
the judgment of the Program, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to sell the
Class I shares.
(f) The Program, or any agent of the Program designated in writing by the
Program, shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for Class I shares
received by the Distributor. Any order may be rejected by the Program; provided,
however, that the Program will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause
refuse to accept or confirm orders for the purchase of Class I shares from
eligible investors. The Program (or its agent) will confirm orders upon their
receipt, will make appropriate book entries and, upon receipt by the Program (or
its agent) of payment therefor, will deliver deposit receipts or certificates
for such Class I shares pursuant to the instructions of the Distributor. Payment
shall be made to the Program by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
The Distributor agrees to cause such payment and such instructions to be
delivered promptly to the Program (or its agent).
Section 4. Repurchase or Redemption of Class I shares by the Program.
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(a) Any of the outstanding Class I shares may be tendered for redemption at
any time, and the Program agrees to repurchase or redeem the Class I shares so
tendered in accordance with its obligations as set forth in Article VI of its
Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, and in accordance with
the applicable provisions set forth in the prospectus and statement of
additional information. The price to be paid to redeem or repurchase the Class I
shares shall be equal to the net asset value calculated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3(d) hereof, less any contingent deferred sales charge
("CDSC"), redemption fee or other charge(s), if any, set forth in the prospectus
and statement of additional information relating to the Fund. All payments by
the Program hereunder shall be made in the manner set forth below. The
redemption or repurchase by the Program of any of the Class I shares purchased
by or through the Distributor will not affect the sales charge secured by the
Distributor or any selected dealer in the course of the original sale, except
that if any Class I shares are tendered for redemption or repurchase within
seven business days after the date of the confirmation of the original purchase,
the right to the sales charge shall be forfeited by the Distributor and the
selected dealer which sold such Class I shares.
The Program shall pay the total amount of the redemption price as defined
in the above paragraph pursuant to the instructions of the Distributor on or
before the seventh business day
3
subsequent to its having received the notice of redemption in proper form. The
proceeds of any redemption of shares shall be paid by the Program as follows:
(i) any applicable CDSC shall be paid to the Distributor, and (ii) the balance
shall be paid to or for the account of the shareholder, in each case in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the prospectus and statement of
additional information.
(b) Redemption of Class I shares or payment may be suspended at times when
the New York Stock Exchange is closed, when trading on said Exchange is
suspended, when trading on said Exchange is restricted, when an emergency exists
as a result of which disposal by the Program of securities owned by it is not
reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Program
fairly to determine the value of the net assets of the Fund, or during any other
period when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order, so permits.
Section 5. Duties of the Program.
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(a) The Program 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 Class I shares of the
Fund, and this shall include, upon request by the Distributor, one certified
copy of all financial statements prepared for the Program by independent public
accountants. The Program shall make available to the Distributor such number of
copies of the prospectus and statement of additional information relating to the
Fund as the Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) The Program shall take, from time to time, but subject to the necessary
approval of the Class I shareholders, all necessary action to fix the number of
authorized Class I shares and such steps as may be necessary to register the
same under the Securities Act, to the end that there will be available for sale
such number of Class I shares as the Distributor may reasonably be expected to
sell.
(c) The Program shall use its best efforts to qualify and maintain the
qualification of an appropriate number of Class I shares for sale under the
securities laws of such states as the Distributor and the Program may approve.
Any such qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Program
at any time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, the expense
of qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by the Program.
The Distributor shall furnish such information and other material relating to
its affairs and activities as may be required by the Program in connection with
such qualification.
(d) The Program will furnish, in reasonable quantities upon request by the
Distributor, copies of annual and interim reports relating to the Fund.
Section 6. Duties of the Distributor.
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(a) The Distributor shall devote reasonable time and effort to effect sales
of Class I shares of the Fund but shall not be obligated to sell any specific
number of Class I shares. The services of the Distributor to the Program
hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive and nothing herein contained shall
prevent the Distributor from entering into like arrangements with other
investment companies so long as the performance of its obligations hereunder is
not impaired thereby.
4
(b) In selling the Class I shares of the Fund, 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 nor any selected dealer, as defined in Section 7 hereof, nor any
other person is authorized by the Program to give any information or to make any
representations, other than those contained in the registration statement or
related prospectus and statement of additional information and any sales
literature specifically approved by the Program.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by the
officers of the Program, for the confirmation of sales to eligible investors and
selected dealers, the collection of amounts payable by eligible 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.
Section 7. Selected Dealers Agreements.
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(a) The Distributor shall have the right to enter into selected dealers
agreements with securities dealers of its choice ("selected dealers") for the
sale of Class I shares and fix therein the portion of the sales charge which may
be allocated to the selected dealers; provided that the Program shall approve
the forms of agreements with dealers and the dealer compensation set forth
therein. Class I shares sold to selected dealers shall be for resale by such
dealers only at the public offering price(s) set forth in the prospectus and
statement of additional information. The initial form of agreement with selected
dealers to be used in the continuous offering of the Class I shares is attached
hereto as Exhibit A.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell Class I
shares only to such selected dealers as are members in good standing of the
NASD.
Section 8. Payment of Expenses.
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(a) The Program shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including
fees and disbursements of counsel and auditors, in connection with the
preparation and filing of any required registration statements and/or
prospectuses and statements of additional information under the Investment
Company Act, the Securities Act, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and
preparing and mailing annual and interim reports and proxy materials to Class I
shareholders (including but not limited to the expense of setting in type any
such registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, annual or interim reports or proxy materials).
(b) The Distributor shall be responsible for any payments made to selected
dealers as reimbursement for their expenses associated with payments of sales
commissions to financial consultants. In addition, after the prospectuses,
statements of additional information and annual and interim reports have been
prepared and set in type, the Distributor shall bear the costs and expenses of
printing and distributing any copies thereof which are to be used in connection
with the offering of Class I shares to selected dealers or eligible investors
pursuant to this Agreement. The Distributor shall bear the costs and expenses of
preparing, printing and distributing any other
5
literature used by the Distributor or furnished by it for use by selected
dealers in connection with the offering of the Class I shares for sale to
eligible investors and any expenses of advertising incurred by the Distributor
in connection with such offering.
(c) The Program shall bear the cost and expenses of qualification of the
Class I shares for sale pursuant to this Agreement and, if necessary or
advisable in connection therewith, of qualifying the Program as a broker or
dealer in such states of the United States or other jurisdictions as shall be
selected by the Program and the Distributor pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof and
the cost and expenses payable to each such state for continuing qualification
therein until the Program decides to discontinue such qualification pursuant to
Section 5(c) hereof.
Section 9. Indemnification.
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(a) The Program shall indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor and each
person, if any, who controls the Distributor 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), as incurred, arising by reason of any
person acquiring any Class I shares, which may be based upon the Securities Act,
or on any other statute or at common law, on the ground that the registration
statement or related prospectus and statement of additional information relating
to the Fund, as from time to time amended and supplemented, or an annual or
interim report to shareholders relating to the Fund, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Program in connection therewith by
or on behalf of the Distributor; provided, however, that in no case (i) is the
indemnity of the Program in favor of the Distributor and any such controlling
persons to be deemed to protect such Distributor or any such controlling persons
thereof against any liability to the Program or its security holders to which
the Distributor 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 Program 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 persons, as the case may be, shall have notified the Program
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 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 Program of any such claim shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to the person against whom such
action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained
in this paragraph. The Program 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 Program 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 Program 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 Program
does not elect to assume the
6
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 Program shall promptly notify
the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it
or any of its officers or Directors in connection with the issuance or sale of
any of the Class I shares.
(b) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Program and each
of its Directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Program
against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense described in the foregoing
indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but only with respect to
statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
information furnished to the Program in writing by or on behalf of the
Distributor for use in connection with the registration statement or related
prospectus and statement of additional information, as from time to time
amended, or the annual or interim reports to Class I shareholders. In case any
action shall be brought against the Program or any person so indemnified, in
respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Distributor, the
Distributor shall have the rights and duties given to the Program, and the
Program and each person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to
the Distributor by the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 9.
Section 10. Fee-Based Programs Offered by the Program's Investment Adviser or
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Its Affiliates. In connection with certain fee-based programs offered by the
--------------
Program's investment adviser or its affiliates, the Distributor and its
affiliates are authorized to offer and sell shares of the Fund, as agent for the
Program, to participants in such programs. The terms of this Agreement shall
apply to such sales, including terms as to the offering price of shares, the
proceeds to be paid to the Program, the duties of the Distributor, the payment
of expenses and indemnification obligations of the Program and the Distributor.
Section 11. Duration and Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement shall
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become effective as of the date first above written and shall remain in force
until _____ ___, 2002, and thereafter, but only for so long as such continuance
is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Directors or by the vote
of a majority of the outstanding Class I voting securities of the Fund and (ii)
by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such party cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by the Directors or by vote of a majority of the outstanding Class I
voting securities of the Fund, or by the Distributor, on sixty days' written
notice to the other party. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the
event of its assignment.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities",
"assignment", "affiliated person" and "interested person", when used in this
Agreement, shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment
Company Act.
Section 12. Amendments of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by
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the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the Directors
or by the vote of a majority of outstanding Class I voting securities of the
Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of
7
those Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of
any such party cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval.
Section 13. Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
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construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
as at the time in effect and the applicable provisions of the Investment Company
Act. To the extent that the applicable law of the State of New York, or any of
the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the Investment
Company Act, the latter shall control.
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
THE ASSET PROGRAM, INC., on behalf of its series, Mercury
Growth Opportunity Fund
By
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
PRINCETON FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
9
EXHIBIT A
MERCURY GROWTH OPPORTUNITY FUND
OF
THE ASSET PROGRAM, INC.
CLASS I SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENT
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor"), has an agreement
with The Asset Program, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Program"), on behalf
of its series, Mercury Growth Opportunity Fund (the "Fund") pursuant to which it
acts as the distributor for the sale of Class I shares of common stock, par
value $0.10 per share (herein referred to as "Class I shares"), of the Fund and
as such has the right to distribute Class I shares of the Fund for resale. The
Program is an open-end investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and its Class I shares are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). You have received a
copy of the Class I Shares Distribution Agreement (the "Distribution Agreement")
between ourselves and the Program, on behalf of the Fund and reference is made
herein to certain provisions of such Distribution Agreement. The terms
"prospectus" and "statement of additional information" used herein refer to the
prospectus and statement of additional information, respectively, on file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") which is part of the
most recent effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act. We
offer to sell to you, as a member of the Selected Dealers Group, Class I shares
of the Fund for resale to investors identified in the prospectus and statement
of additional information as eligible to purchase Class I shares ("eligible
investors") upon the following terms and conditions:
1. In all sales of these Class I shares to eligible investors, you shall
act as dealer for your own account and in no transaction shall you have any
authority to act as agent for the Program or the Fund, for us or for any other
member of the Selected Dealers Group, except in connection with such special
programs as we from time to time agree, in which case you shall have authority
to offer and sell shares, as agent for the Program or the Fund, to participants
in such programs.
2. Orders received from you will be accepted through us only at the public
offering price applicable to each order, as set forth in the current prospectus
and statement of additional information relating to the Fund subject in each
case to the delivery prior to or at the time of such sales of the then current
prospectus. The procedure relating to the handling of orders shall be subject to
Section 5 hereof and instructions which we or the Program shall forward from
time to time to you. All orders are subject to acceptance or rejection by the
Distributor or the Program in the sole discretion of either and become effective
only upon confirmation by the Distributor. The
A-1
minimum initial and subsequent purchase requirements are as set forth in the
current prospectus and statement of additional information relating to the Fund
and no order for less than such amounts will be accepted unless such purchase
shall be expressly approved by the Program in accordance with the then current
Prospectus relating to the Fund. No conditional order will be accepted on any
basis other than a definitive one.
3. The sales charges for sales to eligible investors, computed as
percentages of the public offering price and the amount invested, and the
related discount to Selected Dealers are as follows:
Discount to
Selected
Sales Charge Dealers as
Sales Charge as Percentage* Percentage
As Percentage of the Net of the
of the Amount Offering
Amount of Purchase Offering Price Invested Price
---------------------------- -------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------
Less than
$25,000..................... 5.25% 5.54% 5.00%
$25,000 but less than
$50,000..................... 4.75 4.99 4.50
$50,000 but less than
$100,000.................... 4.00 4.17 3.75
$100,000 but less than
$250,000.................... 3.00 3.09 2.75
$250,000 but less than
$1,000,000.................. 2.00 2.04 1.80
$1,000,000 and
over**...................... 0.00 0.00 0.00
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* Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent.
** Initial sales charges may be waived for certain classes of offerees as set
forth in the current prospectus and statement of additional information relating
to the Fund. Such purchases may be subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge as set forth in the current prospectus and statement of additional
information.
The term "purchase" refers to a single purchase by an individual, or to
concurrent purchases, which in the aggregate are at least equal to the
prescribed amounts, by an individual, his spouse and their children under the
age of 21 years purchasing Class I shares for his or their own account and to
single purchases by a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing Class I shares for
A-2
a single trust estate or single fiduciary account although more than one
beneficiary is involved. The term "purchase" also includes purchases by any
"company" as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act but does not
include purchases by any such company which has not been in existence for at
least six months or which has no purpose other than the purchase of Class I
shares of the Fund or Class I shares of other registered investment companies at
a discount; provided, however, that it shall not include purchases by any group
of individuals whose sole organizational nexus is that the participants therein
are credit cardholders of a company, policyholders of an insurance company,
customers of either a bank or broker-dealer or clients of an investment adviser.
The reduced sales charges are applicable through a right of accumulation
under which certain eligible investors are permitted to purchase Class I shares
of the Fund at the offering price applicable to the total of (a) the dollar
amount then being purchased plus (b) an amount equal to the then current net
asset value or cost, whichever is higher, of the purchaser's combined holdings
of Class I, Class A, Class B and Class C shares of the Fund and of any other
open-end investment company advised by Fund Asset Management, L.P. or an
affiliate thereof (together "FAM-advised mutual funds"). For any such right of
accumulation to be made available, the Distributor must be provided at the time
of purchase, by the purchaser or you, with sufficient information to permit
confirmation of qualification, and acceptance of the purchase order is subject
to such confirmation.
The reduced sales charges are applicable to purchases aggregating $25,000
or more of Class I shares or of Class A shares of any other FAM-advised mutual
fund made through you within a thirteen-month period starting with the first
purchase pursuant to a Letter of Intent in the form provided in the prospectus.
A purchase not originally made pursuant to a Letter of Intent may be included
under a subsequent letter executed within 90 days of such purchase if the
Distributor is informed in writing of this intent within such 90-day period. If
the intended amount of shares is not purchased within the thirteen-month period,
an appropriate price adjustment will be made pursuant to the terms of the Letter
of Intent.
You agree to advise us promptly at our request as to amounts of any sales
made by you to eligible investors qualifying for reduced sales charges. Further
information as to the reduced sales charges pursuant to the right of
accumulation or a Letter of Intent is set forth in the prospectus and statement
of additional information.
4. As an authorized agent to sell shares of the Fund, you agree to
purchase shares of the Fund only through us or from your customers. You shall
not place orders for any of the Class I shares except for your own investment
purposes or unless you have already received purchase orders for such Class I
shares at the applicable public offering prices, and subject to the terms hereof
and of the Distribution Agreement. We agree that we will not place orders for
the purchase of shares from the Fund except to cover purchase orders already
received by us. You agree that you will not offer or sell any of the Class I
shares except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the
applicable Federal and state securities laws and that in connection with sales
and offers to sell Class I shares you will furnish to each person to whom any
such sale or offer is made a copy of the prospectus and, if requested, the
statement of additional information (as then amended or supplemented) and will
not furnish to any person any information relating to the Class
A-3
I shares of the Fund which is inconsistent in any respect with the information
contained in the prospectus and statement of additional information (as then
amended or supplemented) or cause any advertisement to be published in any
newspaper or posted in any public place without our consent and the consent of
the Program.
5. As a selected dealer, you are hereby authorized (i) to place orders
directly with the Fund for Class I shares of the Fund to be resold by us to you
subject to the applicable terms and conditions governing the placement of orders
by us set forth in Section 3 of the Distribution Agreement and subject to the
compensation provisions of Section 3 hereof and (ii) to tender Class I shares
directly to the Program or its agent for redemption subject to the applicable
terms and conditions set forth in Section 4 of the Distribution Agreement.
6. You agree to place orders received from your customers as soon as
practicable after your receipt of such orders. You further agree that you shall
not withhold placing orders received from your customers so as to profit
yourself as a result of such withholding, e.g., by a change in the "net asset
- -
value" from that used in determining the offering price to your customers.
7. Settlement shall be made promptly, but in no case later than the time
customary for such payments after our acceptance of the order or, if so
specified by you, we will make delivery by draft on you, the amount of which
draft you agree to pay on presentation to you. If payment is not so received or
made, the right is reserved forthwith to cancel the sale or at our option to
resell the shares to the Program at the then prevailing net asset value in which
latter case you agree to be responsible for any loss resulting to the Program or
to us from your failure to make payment as aforesaid.
8. If any Class I shares sold to you under the terms of this Agreement are
repurchased by the Program or by us for the account of the Program or are
tendered for redemption within seven business days after the date of the
confirmation of the original purchase by you, it is agreed that you shall
forfeit your right to, and refund to us, any discount received by you on such
Class I shares.
9. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning Class I
shares of the Fund except those contained in the current prospectus and
statement of additional information relating to the Fund and in such printed
information subsequently issued by us or the Program as information supplemental
to such prospectus and statement of additional information. In purchasing Class
I shares through us you shall rely solely on the representations contained in
the prospectus and statement of additional information and supplemental
information above mentioned. Any printed information which we furnish you other
than the prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic reports and
proxy solicitation material relating to the Fund is our sole responsibility and
not the responsibility of the Program with respect to the Fund, and you agree
that the Program shall have no liability or responsibility to you in these
respects unless expressly assumed in connection therewith.
10. You agree to deliver to each of the purchasers making purchases from you
a copy of the then current prospectus and, if requested, the statement of
additional information at or prior to the time of offering or sale and you agree
thereafter to deliver to such purchasers copies of the
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annual and interim reports and proxy solicitation materials relating to the
Fund. You further agree to endeavor to obtain proxies from such purchasers.
Additional copies of the prospectus and statement of additional information,
annual or interim reports and proxy solicitation materials relating to the Fund
will be supplied to you in reasonable quantities upon request.
11. All sales will be subject to receipt of shares by us from the Program. We
reserve the right in our discretion, without notice, to suspend sales or
withdraw the offering of Class I shares entirely or to certain persons or
entities in a class or classes specified by us or to modify or cancel this
Agreement.
12. We, our affiliates, the Program (and its officers and directors), and the
Trust (and its officers and trustees) shall not be liable for any loss,
expenses, damages, costs or other claims arising out of any redemption or
exchange pursuant to telephone instructions from any person, or our refusal to
execute such instructions for any reason.
13. You and we understand and agree that you are solely responsible for the
recommendation by your sales personnel to you customers of the purchase or sale
of Class I Shares of the Fund and the suitability of such purchase or sale for
the customer involved.
14. We shall have full authority to take such action as we may deem advisable
in respect of all matters pertaining to the continuous offering. We shall be
under no liability to you except for lack of good faith and for obligations
expressly assumed by us herein. Nothing contained in this paragraph is intended
to operate as, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not in any way
whatsoever constitute, a waiver by you of compliance with any provision of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or of the rules and regulations of the
Commission issued thereunder.
15. By accepting this Agreement, you represent that you are registered as a
broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are qualified to act as
a broker or dealer in the states or other jurisdictions where you transact
business, and are a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., (the "NASD") and you agree that you will maintain such
registrations, qualifications, and membership in good standing and in full force
and effect throughout the term of this Agreement. You further agree to comply
with all applicable Federal laws, the laws of the states or other jurisdictions
concerned, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and with the
Constitution, By-Laws and Conduct Rules of the NASD, and that you will not offer
or sell shares of the Fund in any state or jurisdiction where they may not
lawfully be offered and/or sold.
If you are offering and selling shares of the Fund in jurisdictions outside
the several states, territories, and possessions of the United States and are
not otherwise required to be registered, qualified, or a member of the NASD, as
set forth above, you nevertheless agree to observe the applicable laws of the
jurisdiction in which such offer and/or sale is made, to comply with the full
disclosure requirements of the Securities Act and the regulations promulgated
thereunder, and to conduct your business in accordance with the spirit of the
Conduct Rules of the NASD. You agree to indemnify and hold the Program, its
investment adviser, and us harmless from loss or damage resulting from any
failure on your part to comply with applicable laws.
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16. Upon application to us, we will inform you as to the states in which we
believe the Class I shares have been qualified for sale under, or are exempt
from the requirements of, the respective securities laws of such states, but we
assume no responsibility or obligation as to your right to sell Class I shares
in any jurisdiction. We will file with the Department of State in New York a
Further State Notice with respect to the Class I shares, if necessary.
17. All communications to us should be sent to the address below. Any notice
to you shall be duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at the address
specified by you below.
18. You agree to maintain records of all sales of shares made through you and
to furnish us with copies of each record on request.
19. You and we understand and agree that, except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, in no transaction will you have any authority to take any action
or make any representation binding upon the Program, us or any other member of
the Selected Dealers Group.
20. This Agreement may be amended by us from time to time by the following
procedure. We will mail a copy of the amendment to you at your address as
specified below. If you do not object to the amendment within fifteen (15) days
after its receipt, the amendment will become a part of the Agreement. Your
objection must be in writing and be received by us within such fifteen days.
21. This Agreement may be terminated upon written notice by either party at
any time, and shall automatically terminate upon its attempted assignment by
you, whether by operation of law or otherwise, or by us otherwise than by
operation of law.
22. Your first order placed pursuant to this Agreement or any amendment
thereto for the purchase of Class I shares of the Fund will represent your
acceptance of this Agreement or any such amendment.
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PRINCETON FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By
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(Authorized Signature)
Please return one signed copy
of this agreement to:
PRINCETON FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
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Accepted:
Firm Name:
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By:
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Address:
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Date:
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