Exhibit (e)
PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT
June 19, 2000
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc.
The Eaton Vance Building
255 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Gentlemen:
This is to confirm that, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter
contained, the undersigned, Floating Rate Portfolio (the "Trust"), an open-end
non-diversified management investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), organized as a New York trust,
has agreed that Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. ("EVD"), shall be the placement
agent (the "Placement Agent") of Interests in the Trust ("Trust Interests").
1. Services as Placement Agent.
1.1 EVD will act as Placement Agent of the Trust Interests covered by the
Trust's registration statement then in effect under the 1940 Act. In acting as
Placement Agent under this Placement Agent Agreement, neither EVD nor its
employees or any agents thereof shall make any offer or sale of Trust Interests
in a manner which would require the Trust Interests to be registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").
1.2 All activities by EVD and its agents and employees as Placement Agent
of Trust Interests shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations,
including, without limitation, all rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the
1940 Act by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
1.3 Nothing herein shall be construed to require the Trust to accept any
offer to purchase any Trust Interests, all of which shall be subject to approval
by the Board of Trustees.
1.4 The Trust shall furnish from time to time for use in connection with
the sale of Trust Interests such information with respect to the Trust and Trust
Interests as EVD may reasonably request. The Trust shall also furnish EVD upon
request with: (a) unaudited semiannual statements of the Trust's books and
accounts prepared by the Trust, and (b) from time to time such additional
information regarding the Trust's financial or regulatory condition as EVD may
reasonably request.
1.5 The Trust represents to EVD that all registration statements filed by
the Trust with the Commission under the 1940 Act with respect to Trust Interests
have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of such statute and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. As used in this Agreement
the term "registration statement" shall mean any registration statement filed
with the Commission as modified by any amendments thereto that at any time shall
have been filed with the Commission by or on behalf of the Trust. The Trust
represents and warrants to EVD that any registration statement will contain all
statements required to be stated therein in conformity with both such statute
and the rules and regulations of the Commission; that all statements of fact
contained in any registration statement will be true and correct in all material
respects at the time of filing of such registration statement or amendment
thereto; and that no registration statement will include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser of
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Trust Interests. The Trust may but shall not be obligated to propose from time
to time such amendment to any registration statement as in the light of future
developments may, in the opinion of the Trust's counsel, be necessary or
advisable. If the Trust shall not propose such amendment and/or supplement
within fifteen days after receipt by the Trust of a written request from EVD to
do so, EVD may, at its option, terminate this Agreement. The Trust shall not
file any amendment to any registration statement without giving EVD reasonable
notice thereof in advance; provided, however, that nothing contained in this
Agreement shall in any way limit the Trust's right to file at any time such
amendment to any registration statement as the Trust may deem advisable, such
right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
1.6 The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold EVD, its several
officers and directors, and any person who controls EVD within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934 (the "1934 Act") (for purposes of this paragraph 1.6, collectively,
"Covered Persons") free and harmless from and against any and all claims,
demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating or
defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in
connection therewith) which any Covered Person may incur under the 1933 Act, the
1934 Act, common law or otherwise, arising out of or based on any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, private
placement memorandum or other offering material ("Offering Material") or arising
out of or based on any omission to state a material fact required to be stated
in any Offering Material or necessary to make the statements in any Offering
Material not misleading; provided, however, that the Trust's agreement to
indemnify Covered Persons shall not be deemed to cover any claims, demands,
liabilities or expenses arising out of any financial and other statements as are
furnished in writing to the Trust by EVD in its capacity as Placement Agent for
use in the answers to any items of any registration statement or in any
statements made in any Offering Material, or arising out of or based on any
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with the
giving of such information required to be stated in such answers or necessary to
make the answers not misleading; and further provided that the Trust's agreement
to indemnify EVD and the Trust's representations and warranties hereinbefore set
forth in this paragraph 1.6 shall not be deemed to cover any liability to the
Trust or its investors to which a Covered Person would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance
of its duties, or by reason of a Covered Person's reckless disregard of its
obligations and duties under this Agreement. The Trust should be notified of any
action brought against a Covered Person, such notification to be given by a
writing addressed to the Trust, The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109, with a copy to Eaton Vance Management, at the same
address, promptly after the summons or other first legal process shall have been
duly and completely served upon such Covered Person. The failure to so notify
the Trust of any such action shall not relieve the Trust from any liability
except to the extent the Trust shall have been prejudiced by such failure, or
from any liability that the Trust may have to the Covered Person against whom
such action is brought by reason of any such untrue statement or omission,
otherwise than on account of the Trust's indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph. The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought
to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but in such case such defense
shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the Trust and approved
by EVD, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event the
Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good
standing approved by EVD, the defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear
the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them; but in
case the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit or in case
EVD reasonably does not approve of counsel chosen by the Trust, the Trust will
reimburse the Covered Person named as defendant in such suit, for the fees and
expenses of any counsel retained by EVD or it. The Trust's indemnification
agreement contained in this paragraph and the Trust's representations and
warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect
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regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Covered Persons, and
shall survive the delivery of any Trust Interests. This agreement of indemnity
will inure exclusively to Covered Persons and their successors. The Trust agrees
to notify EVD promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against the Trust or any of its officers or Trustees in connection with the
issue and sale of any Trust Interests.
1.7 EVD agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its several
officers and trustees, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act (for purposes of
this paragraph 1.7, collectively, "Covered Persons") free and harmless from and
against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the
costs of investigating or defending such claims, demands, liabilities and any
counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) that Covered Persons may incur
under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or common law or otherwise, but only to the
extent that such liability or expense incurred by a Covered Person resulting
from such claims or demands shall arise out of or be based on any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by
EVD in its capacity as Placement Agent to the Trust for use in the answers to
any of the items of any registration statement or in any statements in any other
Offering Material or shall arise out of or be based on any omission to state a
material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by EVD to
the Trust required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such
information not misleading. EVD shall be notified of any action brought against
a Covered Person, such notification to be given by a writing addressed to EVD at
The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109,
promptly after the summons or other first legal process shall have been duly and
completely served upon such Covered Person. EVD shall have the right of first
control of the defense of the action with counsel of its own choosing
satisfactory to the Trust if such action is based solely on such alleged
misstatement or omission on EVD's part, and in any other event each Covered
Person shall have the right to participate in the defense or preparation of the
defense of any such action. The failure to so notify EVD of any such action
shall not relieve EVD from any liability except to the extent the Trust shall
have been prejudiced by such failure, or from any liability that EVD may have to
Covered Persons by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement, or
omission or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of EVD's indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph.
1.8 No Trust Interests shall be offered by either EVD or the Trust under
any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale
of Trust Interests hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust if and so long as
the effectiveness of the registration statement or any necessary amendments
thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph shall in
any way restrict or have an application to or bearing on the Trust's obligation
to redeem Trust Interests from any investor in accordance with the provisions of
the Trust's registration statement or Declaration of Trust, as amended from time
to time.
1.9 The Trust agrees to advise EVD as soon as reasonably practical by a
notice in writing delivered to EVD or its counsel:
(a) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the registration
statement then in effect or for additional information;
(b) in the event of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or the
initiation by service of process on the Trust of any proceeding for that
purpose;
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(c) of the happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a
material fact made in the registration statement then in effect or that requires
the making of a change in such registration statement in order to make the
statements therein not misleading; and
(d) of all action of the Commission with respect to any amendment to any
registration statement that may from time to time be filed with the Commission.
For purposes of this paragraph 1.9, informal requests by or acts of the
Staff of the Commission shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the
Commission.
1.10 EVD agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat
confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other
information not otherwise publicly available relative to the Trust and its
prior, present or potential investors and not to use such records and
information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and
duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by
the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where EVD may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for
failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
2. Duration and Termination of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall become effective upon the date of its execution, and,
unless terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect
through and including March 31, 2002 and shall continue in full force and effect
indefinitely thereafter, but only so long as such continuance after March 31,
2002 is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are
not interested persons of EVD or the Trust cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Either party hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days' prior written
notice to the other, terminate this agreement without the payment of any
penalty, by action of Trustees of the Trust or the Directors of EVD, as the case
may be, and the Trust may, at any time upon such written notice to EVD,
terminate this Agreement by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Trust. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the
event of its assignment.
3. Representations and Warranties.
EVD and the Trust each hereby represents and warrants to the other that it
has all requisite authority to enter into, execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement and that, with respect to it, this Agreement is
legal, valid and binding, and enforceable in accordance with its terms.
4. Limitation of Liability.
EVD expressly acknowledges the provision in the Declaration of Trust of the
Trust (Sections 5.2 and 5.6) limiting the personal liability of the Trustees and
officers of the Trust, and EVD hereby agrees that it shall have recourse to the
Trust for payment of claims or obligations as between the Trust and EVD arising
out of this Agreement and shall not seek satisfaction from any Trustee or
officer of the Trust.
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5. Certain Definitions.
The terms "assignment" and "interested persons" when used herein shall have
the respective meanings specified in the Investment Company Act of 1940 as now
in effect or as hereafter amended subject, however, to such exemptions as may be
granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or
order. The term "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall
mean the vote, at a meeting of Holders, of the lesser of (a) 67 per centum or
more of the Interests in the Trust present or represented by proxy at the
meeting if the Holders of more than 50 per centum of the outstanding Interests
in the Trust are present or represented by proxy at the meeting, or (b) more
than 50 per centum of the outstanding Interests in the Trust. The terms
"Holders" and "Interests" when used herein shall have the respective meanings
specified in the Declaration of Trust of the Trust.
6. Concerning Applicable Provisions of Law, etc.
This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable provisions of law,
including the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and to the extent that any
provisions herein contained conflict with any such applicable provisions of law,
the latter shall control.
The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall, except to the extent
that any applicable provisions of federal law shall be controlling, govern the
construction, validity and effect of this Agreement, without reference to
principles of conflicts of law.
If the contract set forth herein is acceptable to you, please so indicate
by executing the enclosed copy of this Agreement and returning the same to the
undersigned, whereupon this Agreement shall constitute a binding contract
between the parties hereto effective at the closing of business on the date
hereof.
Yours very truly,
Floating Rate Portfolio
By: /s/ James B. Hawkes
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President
Accepted:
EATON VANCE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/ William M. Steul
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Vice President
