ICON FUNDS
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of the 19
day of December, 1996 by and among ICON Funds (the "Fund"), a Massachusetts
business trust, Meridian Investment Management Corporation (the "Adviser"), a
Colorado corporation, and AmeriPrime Financial Securities, Inc. (the
"Distributor"), a Texas corporation.
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")
and has registered its shares of common stock (the "Shares") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") in one or more distinct
series of Shares (the "Portfolio" or "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, the Adviser has been appointed investment adviser to the
Fund;
WHEREAS, the Distributor is a broker-dealer registered with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and a member in good standing of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD");
WHEREAS, the Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor desire to enter
into this Agreement pursuant to which the Distributor will provide distribution
services to the Portfolios of the Fund identified on Schedule A, as may be
amended from time to time, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained in this Agreement, the Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor,
intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR. The Fund hereby appoints the
Distributor as its exclusive agent for the distribution of the Shares, and the
Distributor hereby accepts such appointment under the terms of this Agreement.
The Fund shall not sell any Shares to any person except to fill orders for the
Shares received through the Distributor; provided, however, that the foregoing
exclusive right shall not apply: (i) to Shares issued or sold in connection with
the merger or consolidation of any other investment company with the Fund or the
acquisition by purchase or otherwise of all or substantially all of the assets
of any investment company or substantially all of the outstanding shares of any
such company by the Fund; (ii) to Shares which may be offered by the Fund to its
shareholders for reinvestment of cash distributed from capital gains or net
investment income of the Fund; or (iii) to Shares which may be issued to
shareholders of other funds who exercise any exchange privilege set forth in the
Fund's Prospectus. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Fund may
terminate, suspend, or withdraw the offering of the Shares whenever, in its sole
discretion, it deems such action to be desirable, and the Distributor shall
process no further orders for Shares after it receives notice of such
termination, suspension or withdrawal.
2. FUND DOCUMENTS. The Fund has provided the Administrator with
properly certified or authenticated copies of the following Fund related
documents in effect on the date hereof: the Fund's organizational documents,
including Master Trust Agreement and By-Laws; the Fund's Registration Statement
on Form N-1A, including all exhibits thereto; the Fund's most current Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information; and resolutions of the Fund's Board of
Trustees authorizing the appointment of the Distributor and approving this
Agreement. The Fund shall promptly provide to the Distributor copies, properly
certified or authenticated, of all amendments or supplements to the foregoing.
The Fund shall provide to the Distributor copies of all other information which
the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the
distribution of Shares, including, but not limited to, a certified copy of all
financial statements prepared for the Fund by its independent public
accountants. The Fund shall also supply the Distributor with such number of
copies of the
current Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information and shareholder reports
as the Distributor shall reasonably request.
3. DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. The Distributor shall sell and repurchase
Shares as set forth below, subject to the registration requirements of the 1933
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the laws governing the sale of
securities in the various states ("Blue Sky Laws"):
a. The Distributor, as agent for the Fund, shall sell Shares to
the public against orders therefor at the public offering price, which shall be
the net asset value of the Shares then in effect.
b. The net asset value of the Shares shall be determined in the
manner provided in the then current Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information. The net asset value of the Shares shall be calculated by the Fund
or by another entity on behalf of the Fund. The Distributor shall have no duty
to inquire into or liability for the accuracy of the net asset value per Share
as calculated.
c. Upon receipt of purchase instructions, the Distributor shall
transmit such instructions to the Fund or its transfer agent for registration of
the Shares purchased.
d. The Distributor, in light of Fund policies, procedures and
disclosure documents, shall also have the right to take, as agent for the Fund,
all actions which, in the Distributor's judgment, are necessary to effect the
distribution of Shares.
e. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Distributor or
any "affiliated person" from buying, selling or trading any securities for its
or their own account or for the accounts of others for whom it or they may be
acting; provided, however, that the Distributor expressly agrees that it shall
not for its own account purchase any Shares of the Fund except for investment
purposes and that it shall not for its own account sell any such Shares except
for redemption of such Shares by the Fund, and that it shall not undertake
activities which, in its judgment, would adversely affect the performance of its
obligations to the Fund under this Agreement.
f. The Distributor, as agent for the Fund, shall repurchase
Shares at such prices and upon such terms and conditions as shall be specified
in the Prospectus.
4. DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT SERVICES. In addition to the sale and
repurchase of Shares, the Distributor shall perform the distribution support
services set forth on Schedule B attached hereto, as may be amended from time to
time. Such distribution support services shall include: Review of sales and
marketing literature and submission to the NASD; NASD record keeping; and
quarterly reports to the Fund's Board of Directors. Such distribution support
services may also include: fulfillment services, including telemarketing,
printing, mailing and follow-up tracking of sales leads; and licensing Adviser
or Fund personnel as registered representatives of the Distributor and related
supervisory activities.
5. REASONABLE EFFORTS. The Distributor shall use all reasonable
efforts in connection with the distribution of Shares. The Distributor shall
have no obligation to sell any specific number of Shares and shall only sell
Shares against orders received therefor. The Fund shall retain the right to
refuse at any time to sell any of its Shares for any reason deemed adequate by
it.
6. COMPLIANCE. In furtherance of the distribution services being
provided hereunder, the Distributor and the Fund agree as follows:
a. The Distributor shall comply with the Rules of Fair Practice
of the NASD and the securities laws of any jurisdiction in which it sells,
directly or indirectly, Shares.
b. The Distributor shall require each dealer with whom the
Distributor has a selling agreement to conform to the applicable provisions of
the Fund's most current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, with
respect to the public offering price of the Shares.
c. The Fund agrees to furnish to the Distributor sufficient
copies of any agreements, plans, communications with the public or other
materials it intends to use in connection with any sales of Shares in a timely
manner in order to allow the Distributor to review, approve and file such
materials with the appropriate regulatory authorities and obtain clearance for
use. The Fund agrees not to use any such materials until so filed and cleared
for use by appropriate authorities and the Distributor.
d. The Distributor, at its own expense, shall qualify as a broker
or dealer, or otherwise, under all applicable Federal or state laws required to
permit the sale of Shares in such states as shall be mutually agreed upon by the
parties; provided, however that the Distributor shall have no obligation to
register as a broker or dealer under the Blue Sky Laws of any jurisdiction if it
determines that registering or maintaining registration in such jurisdiction
would be uneconomical.
e. The Distributor shall not, in connection with any sale or
solicitation of a sale of the Shares, or make or authorize any representative,
service organization, broker or dealer to make, any representations concerning
the Shares except those contained in the Fund's most current Prospectus covering
the Shares and in communications with the public or sales materials approved by
the Distributor as information supplemental to such Prospectus.
7. EXPENSES. Expenses shall be allocated as follows:
a. The Fund shall bear the following expenses: preparation,
setting in type, and printing of sufficient copies of the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information for distribution to existing shareholders;
preparation and printing of reports and other communications to existing
shareholders; distribution of copies of the Prospectus, Statement of Additional
Information and all other communications to existing shareholders; registration
of the Shares under the Federal securities laws; qualification of the Shares for
sale in the jurisdictions mutually agreed upon by the Fund and the Distributor;
transfer agent/shareholder servicing agent services; supplying information,
prices and other data to be furnished by the Fund under this Agreement; any
original issue taxes or transfer taxes applicable to the sale or delivery of the
Shares or certificates therefor; and items covered by the Distribution Plan.
b. The Adviser shall pay all other expenses incident to the sale
and distribution of the Shares sold hereunder, including, without limitation:
printing and distributing copies of the Prospectus, Statement of Additional
Information and reports prepared for use in connection with the offering of
Shares for sale to the public; advertising in connection with such offering,
including public relations services, sales presentations, media charges,
preparation, printing and mailing of advertising and sales literature; data
processing necessary to support a distribution effort; distribution and
shareholder servicing activities of broker-dealers and other financial
institutions; filing fees required by regulatory authorities for sales
literature and advertising materials;
any additional out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing
and any other costs of distribution.
8. COMPENSATION. For the distribution and distribution support
services provided by the Distributor pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the
Fund shall reimburse the Distributor for its out-of-pocket expenses related to
the performance of its duties hereunder, including, without limitation,
telecommunications charges, postage and delivery charges, record retention
costs, reproduction charges and traveling and lodging expenses incurred by
officers and employees of the Distributor. If this Agreement becomes effective
subsequent to the first day of the month or terminates before the last day of
the month, the Fund shall pay to the Distributor a distribution fee that is
prorated for that part of the month in which this Agreement is in effect. All
rights of compensation and reimbursement under this Agreement for services
performed by the Distributor as of the termination date shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
9. USE OF DISTRIBUTOR'S NAME. The Fund shall not use the name of the
Distributor or any of its affiliates in the Prospectus, Statement of Additional
Information, sales literature or other material relating to the Fund in a manner
not approved prior thereto in writing by the Distributor; provided, however,
that the Distributor shall approve all uses of its and its affiliates' names
that merely refer in accurate terms to their appointments or that are required
by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or any state securities
commission; and further provided, that in no event shall such approval be
unreasonably withheld.
10. USE OF FUND'S NAME. Neither the Distributor nor any of its
affiliates shall use the name of the Fund or material relating to the Fund on
any forms (including any checks, bank drafts or bank statements) for other than
internal use in a manner not approved prior thereto in writing by the Fund;
provided, however, that the Fund shall approve all uses of its name that merely
refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Distributor hereunder or that
are required by the SEC or any state securities commission; and further
provided, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.
11. LIABILITY OF DISTRIBUTOR. The duties of the Distributor shall be
limited to those expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed
by or may be asserted against the Distributor hereunder. The Distributor may, in
connection with this Agreement employ agents or attorneys in fact, and shall not
be liable for any loss arising out of or in connection with its actions under
this Agreement, so long as it acts in good faith and with due diligence, and is
not negligent or guilty of any willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. As used in this Section 11 and in Section 12 (except the second
paragraph of Section 12), the term "Distributor" shall include directors,
officers, employees and other agents of the Distributor.
12. INDEMNIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTOR. Any director, officer, employee,
shareholder or agent of the Distributor who may be or become an officer,
Trustee, employee or agent of the Fund, shall be deemed, when rendering services
to the Fund or acting on any business of the Fund (other than services or
business in connection with the Distributor's duties hereunder), to be rendering
such services to or acting solely for the Fund and not as a director, officer,
employee, shareholder or agent, or one under the control or direction of the
Distributor, even though receiving a salary from the Distributor.
The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor, and
each person, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act, or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
("1934 Act"), against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims and
expenses, joint or several (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys'
fees and disbursements and investigation expenses incident thereto) to which
they, or any of them, may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the
1940 Act or other Federal or state laws or regulations, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such liabilities, losses, damages, claims and expenses (or
actions, suits or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or relate to any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, supplement thereto, sales
literature or other written information prepared by the Fund and provided by the
Fund to the Distributor for the Distributor's use hereunder, or arise out of or
relate to any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The
Distributor (or any person controlling the Distributor) shall not be entitled to
indemnity hereunder for any liabilities, losses, damages, claims or expenses (or
actions, suits or proceedings in respect thereof) resulting from (i) an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the
Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, or supplement, sales or other
literature, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Fund by the Distributor specifically for use therein or (ii) the
Distributor's own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of its duties and obligations in the performance of this Agreement.
The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, and
each person who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act, or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all liabilities, losses,
damages, claims and expenses, joint or several (including, without limitation
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements and investigation expenses incident
thereto) to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the 1933 Act,
the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act or other Federal or state laws, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such liabilities, losses, damages, claims or expenses
arise out of or relate to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information
or any supplement thereto, sales literature or other written material, or arise
out of or relate to actions or oral representations of Distributor's associated
persons and to any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, if based upon information furnished in writing to the Fund by the
Distributor specifically for use therein.
A party seeking indemnification hereunder (the "Indemnitee") shall
give prompt written notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought
("Indemnitor") of a written assertion or claim of any threatened or pending
legal proceeding which may be subject to indemnity under this Section; provided,
however, that failure to notify the Indemnitor of such written assertion or
claim shall not relieve the Indemnitor of any liability arising from this
Section. The Indemnitor shall be entitled, if it so elects, to assume the
defense of any suit brought to enforce a claim subject to this Agreement and
such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Indemnitor and
satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided, however, that if the defendants
include both the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor, and the Indemnitee shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to
it which are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnitor
("conflict of interest"), the Indemnitor shall not have the right to elect to
defend such claim on behalf of the Indemnitee, and the Indemnitee shall have the
right to select separate counsel to defend such claim on behalf of the
Indemnitee. In the event that the Indemnitor elects to assume the defense of any
suit pursuant to the preceding sentence and retains counsel satisfactory to the
Indemnitee, the Indemnitee shall bear the fees and expenses of additional
counsel retained by it except for reasonable investigation costs which shall be
borne by the Indemnitor. If the Indemnitor (i) does not elect to assume the
defense of a claim, (ii) elects to assume the defense of a claim but chooses
counsel that is not satisfactory to the Indemnitee or (iii) has no right to
assume the defense of a claim because of a conflict of interest, the Indemnitor
shall advance or reimburse the Indemnitee, at the election of the Indemnitee,
reasonable fees and disbursements of any counsel retained by Indemnitee,
including reasonable investigation costs.
13. ADVISER PERSONNEL. The Adviser agrees that only its employees who
are registered representatives of the Distributor ("dual employees") or
registered representatives of another NASD member firm shall offer or sell
Shares of the Portfolios. The Adviser further agrees that the activities of any
such employees as registered representatives of the Distributor shall be limited
to offering and selling Shares. If there are dual employees, one employee of the
Adviser shall register as a principal of the Distributor and assist the
Distributor in monitoring the marketing and sales activities of the dual
employees. The Adviser shall maintain errors and omissions and fidelity bond
insurance policies providing reasonable coverage for its employees activities
and shall provide copies of such policies to the Distributor. The Adviser shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor against any and all liabilities,
losses, damages, claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys'
fees and disbursements and investigation costs incident thereto) arising from or
related to the Adviser's employees' activities as registered representatives,
including, without limitation, any and all such liabilities, losses, damages,
claims and expenses arising from or related to the breach by such employees of
any rules or regulations of the NASD or SEC.
14. FORCE MAJEURE. The Distributor shall not be liable for any delays
or errors occurring by reason of circumstances not reasonably foreseeable and
beyond its control, including, but not limited, to acts of civil or military
authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts
of God, insurrection, war, riot or failure of communication or power supply. In
the event of equipment breakdowns which are beyond the reasonable control of the
Distributor and not primarily attributable to the failure of the Distributor to
reasonably maintain or provide for the maintenance of such equipment, the
Distributor shall, at no additional expense to the Fund, take reasonable steps
in good faith to minimize service interruptions, but shall have no liability
with respect thereto.
15. SCOPE OF DUTIES. The Distributor and the Fund shall regularly
consult with each other regarding the Distributor's performance of its
obligations and its compensation under the foregoing provisions. In connection
therewith, the Fund shall submit to the Distributor at a reasonable time in
advance of filing with the SEC copies of any amended or supplemented
Registration Statement of the Fund (including exhibits) under the 1940 Act and
the 1933 Act, and at a reasonable time in advance of their proposed use, copies
of any amended or supplemented forms relating to any plan, program or service
offered by the Fund. Any change in such materials that would require any change
in the Distributor's obligations under the foregoing provisions shall be subject
to the Distributor's approval. In the event that a change in such documents or
in the procedures contained therein increases the cost or burden to the
Distributor of performing its obligations hereunder, the Distributor shall be
entitled to receive reasonable compensation therefore.
16. DURATION. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date
first above written, and shall continue in force for two years from that date
and thereafter from year to year, provided continuance is approved at least
annually by (i) either the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Fund, or by
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Portfolio,
and (ii) the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Fund who are not
interested persons of the Fund, and 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 the approval.
17. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate as follows:
a. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment.
b. This Agreement shall terminate upon the failure to approve the
continuance of the Agreement after the initial two year term as set forth in
Section 16 above.
c. This Agreement shall terminate at any time upon a vote of the
majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund or by a vote
of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Portfolio, upon not
less than 60 days prior written notice to the Distributor.
d. The Distributor may terminate this Agreement upon not less
than 60 days prior written notice to the Fund.
Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Fund shall pay to the
Distributor such compensation and out-of-pocket expenses as may be payable for
the period prior to the effective date of such termination. In the event that
the Fund designates a successor to any of the Distributor's obligations
hereunder, the
Distributor shall, at the expense and direction of the Fund, transfer to such
successor all relevant books, records and other data established or maintained
by the Distributor pursuant to the foregoing provisions.
Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
25, 26 and 27 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
18. AMENDMENT. The terms of this Agreement shall not be waived,
altered, modified, amended or supplemented in any manner whatsoever except by a
written instrument signed by the Distributor and the Fund and shall not become
effective unless its terms have been approved by the majority of the Trustees of
the Fund or by a "vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities" of each
Portfolio and by a majority of those Trustees who are not "interested persons"
of the Fund or any party to this Agreement.
19. NON-EXCLUSIVE SERVICES. The services of the Distributor rendered
to the Fund are not exclusive. The Distributor may render such services to any
other investment company.
20. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the terms "vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities," "assignment," "interested
person" and "affiliated person" shall have the respective meanings specified in
the 1940 Act and the rules enacted thereunder as now in effect or hereafter
amended.
21. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Distributor shall treat confidentially and
as proprietary information of the Fund all records and other information
relating to the Fund and prior, present or potential shareholders and shall not
use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its
responsibilities and duties hereunder, except as may be required by
administrative or judicial tribunals or as requested by the Fund.
22. NOTICE. Any notices and other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be effective upon delivery by
hand or upon receipt if sent by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid
and return receipt requested) or by a nationally recognized overnight courier
service (appropriately marked for overnight delivery) or upon transmission if
sent by telex or facsimile (with request for immediate confirmation of receipt
in a manner customary for communications of such respective type and with
physical delivery of the communication being made by one or the other means
specified in this Section 22 as promptly as practicable thereafter). Notices
shall be addressed as follows:
(a) if to the Fund: if to the Fund:
ICON Funds ICON Funds
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Tower II ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, President Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
(b) if to the Adviser:
Meridian Investment Management
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, President
(c) if to the Distributor:
AmeriPrime Financial Securities, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President
or to such other respective addresses as the parties shall designate by like
notice, provided that notice of a change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt thereof.
23. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or
made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of
this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
24. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be administered, construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Colorado to the
extent that such laws are not preempted by the provisions of any law of the
United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from
time to time.
25. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the Exhibits attached
hereto) contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior written or oral
agreements and understandings with respect thereto.
26. MISCELLANEOUS. Each party agrees to perform such further acts and
execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes
hereof. 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. This Agreement may be executed in three counterparts,
each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
27. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The term "ICON Funds" means and refers
to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Master Trust Agreement of
the Fund dated September 19, 1996, as the same may subsequently thereto have
been, or subsequently hereto be, amended. It is expressly agreed that
obligations of the Fund hereunder shall not be binding upon any Trustee,
Shareholder, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Fund, personally,
but bind only the assets and property of the Fund, as provided in the Master
Trust Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the Trustees and signed by an authorized officer of the Fund,
acting as such, and neither such authorization nor such execution and delivery
shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any
liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets and property
of the Fund as provided in the Master Trust Agreement. The Master Trust
Agreement is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
ICON FUNDS
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
-------------------
President & Trustee
AMERIPRIME FINANCIAL SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------
President
MERIDIAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
-------------------
President
SCHEDULE A
ICON FUNDS
Portfolios covered by Distribution Agreement:
ICON Basic Materials Fund ICON Asia Region Fund
ICON Capital Goods Fund ICON South Pacific Region Fund
ICON Consumer Cyclicals Fund ICON North Europe Region Fund
ICON Consumer Staples Fund ICON South Europe Region Fund
ICON Energy Fund ICON Western Hemisphere Fund
ICON Financial Services Fund
ICON Healthcare Fund
ICON Leisure Fund
ICON Technology Fund
ICON Telecommunication & Utilities Fund
ICON Transportation Fund
ICON Short-Term Fixed Income Fund
SCHEDULE B
ICON FUNDS
Distribution Support Services
1. Review and submit for approval all advertising and promotional materials.
2. Maintain all books and records required by the NASD.
3. Monitor Distribution Plan(s) and report to Board of Trustees.
4. Prepare quarterly reports to Board of Trustees relating to distribution
activities.
5. Subject to approval of Distributor, license personnel as registered
representatives of the Distributor.
6. Telemarketing services (additional fees to be negotiated).
7. Fund fulfillment services, including sampling prospective shareholders
inquiries and related mailings (additional fees to be negotiated).