<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 29, 1998
FILE NO. 2-74549
811-03297
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
---------------------
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 25
AND/OR
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 /X/
AMENDMENT NO. 21
------------------------
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
(FORMERLY, G.T. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.)
50 CALIFORNIA STREET, 27TH FLOOR,
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94111
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:
(415) 392-6181
------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
MICHAEL A. SILVER, ESQ. SAMUEL D. SIRKO, ESQ. ARTHUR J. BROWN, ESQ.
INVESCO (NY), INC. A I M ADVISORS, INC. R. DARRELL MOUNTS, ESQ.
50 CALIFORNIA STREET, 11 GREENWAY PLAZA, KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP
27TH FLOOR SUITE 100 1800 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N.W.,
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77046 2ND FLOOR
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT 713-626-1919 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
FOR SERVICE) (202) 778-9000
</TABLE>
------------------------
IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE:
/ / IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (b) OF RULE 485.
/X/ ON JUNE 2, 1998 PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (b) OF RULE 485 OR SUCH OTHER DATE
AS IT MAY BE DECLARED EFFECTIVE BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
/ / 60 DAYS AFTER FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a)(1) OF RULE 485.
/ / ON PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a)(1) OF RULE 485.
/ / 75 DAYS AFTER FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a)(2) OF RULE 485.
/ / ON PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a)(2) OF RULE 485.
IF APPROPRIATE, CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX:
/ / THIS POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT DESIGNATES A NEW EFFECTIVE DATE FOR A
PREVIOUSLY FILED POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
CONTENTS OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT
This post-effective amendment to the registration statement of AIM
Investment Portfolios, Inc. contains the following documents:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Facing Sheet
Contents of Post-Effective Amendment
Cross-Reference Sheet
Part A -- Prospectus
-- AIM Dollar Fund -- Class A and Class B
-- AIM Dollar Fund -- Advisor Class
Part B -- Statement of Additional Information
-- AIM Dollar Fund -- Class A and Class B
-- AIM Dollar Fund -- Advisor Class
Part C -- Other Information
Signature Page
-- AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc.
Exhibits
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
BETWEEN ITEMS ENUMERATED IN FORM N-1A AND THIS AMENDMENT
PROSPECTUS -- CLASS A AND CLASS B
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM NO. OF
PART A OF FORM N-1A CAPTIONS IN PROSPECTUS
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
1. Cover Page...................... Cover Page
2. Synopsis........................ Prospectus Summary
3. Condensed Financial
Information..................... Financial Highlights
4. General Description of
Registrant...................... Investment Objective and Policies; Management; Other
Information
5. Management of the
Fund............................ Management
5A. Management's
Discussion of Fund
Performance..................... Not Applicable
6. Capital Stock and Other
Securities...................... Dividends and Federal Income Taxation; Other Information
7. Purchase of Securities
Being Offered................... How to Invest; How to Make Exchanges; Calculation of Net Asset
Value; Management
8. Redemption or
Repurchase...................... How to Redeem Shares; Calculation of Net Asset Value
9. Pending Legal
Proceedings..................... Not Applicable
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
BETWEEN ITEMS ENUMERATED IN FORM N-1A AND THIS AMENDMENT
PROSPECTUS -- ADVISOR CLASS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM NO. OF
PART A OF FORM N-1A CAPTIONS IN PROSPECTUS
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
1. Cover Page...................... Cover Page
2. Synopsis........................ Prospectus Summary
3. Condensed Financial
Information..................... Financial Highlights
4. General Description of
Registrant...................... Investment Objective and Policies; Management; Other
Information
5. Management of the
Fund............................ Management
5A. Management's
Discussion of Fund
Performance..................... Not Applicable
6. Capital Stock and Other
Securities...................... Dividends and Federal Income Taxation; Other Information
7. Purchase of Securities
Being Offered................... How to Invest; How to Make Exchanges; Calculation of Net Asset
Value; Management
8. Redemption or
Repurchase...................... How to Redeem Shares; Calculation of Net Asset Value
9. Pending Legal
Proceedings..................... Not Applicable
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
BETWEEN ITEMS ENUMERATED IN FORM N-1A AND THIS AMENDMENT
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -- CLASS A AND CLASS B
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM NO. OF
PART B OF FORM N-1A CAPTIONS IN STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
10. Cover Page................... Cover Page
11. Table of Contents............ Table of Contents
12. General Information and
History..................... Cover Page
13. Investment Objective
and Policies................ Investment Objective and Policies; Investment Limitations
14. Management of the
Fund........................ Directors and Executive Officers; Management
15. Control Persons and
Principal Holders of
Securities.................. Directors and Executive Officers; Management
16. Investment Advisory and
Other Services.............. Management; Additional Information
17. Brokerage Allocation and
Other Practices............. Execution of Portfolio Transactions
18. Capital Stock and Other
Securities.................. Not Applicable
19. Purchase, Redemption
and Pricing of Securities
Being Offered............... Valuation of Fund Shares; Information Relating to
Sales and Redemptions
20. Tax Status................... Dividends and Federal Income Taxation
21. Underwriters................. Management
22. Calculation of
Performance Data............ Investment Results
23. Financial Statements......... Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
BETWEEN ITEMS ENUMERATED IN FORM N-1A AND THIS AMENDMENT
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -- ADVISOR CLASS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM NO. OF
PART B OF FORM N-1A CAPTIONS IN STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
10. Cover Page................... Cover Page
11. Table of Contents............ Table of Contents
12. General Information and
History..................... Cover Page
13. Investment Objective
and Policies................ Investment Objective and Policies; Investment Limitations
14. Management of the
Fund........................ Directors and Executive Officers; Management
15. Control Persons and
Principal Holders of
Securities.................. Directors and Executive Officers; Management
16. Investment Advisory and
Other Services.............. Management; Additional Information
17. Brokerage Allocation and
Other Practices............. Execution of Portfolio Transactions
18. Capital Stock and Other
Securities.................. Not Applicable
19. Purchase, Redemption
and Pricing of Securities
Being Offered............... Valuation of Shares; Information Relating to
Sales and Redemptions
20. Tax Status................... Dividends and Federal Income Taxation
21. Underwriters................. Management
22. Calculation of
Performance Data............ Investment Results
23. Financial Statements......... Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
PROSPECTUS -- JUNE 1, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM DOLLAR FUND ("FUND") seeks maximum current income consistent with liquidity
and conservation of capital. The Fund may invest in a wide variety of high
quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments, including obligations
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and
instrumentalities; U.S. and non-U.S. corporate obligations; and instruments of
U.S. and foreign banks.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NEITHER INSURED NOR GUARANTEED BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE FUND WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A
STABLE NET ASSET VALUE OF $1.00 PER SHARE.
FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR ENDORSED OR GUARANTEED BY,
ANY BANK, NOR ARE THEY FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
The Fund is managed by A I M Advisors, Inc. ("AIM") and is sub-advised and
sub-administered by INVESCO (NY), Inc. (the "Sub-adviser"). AIM and the
Sub-adviser and their worldwide asset management affiliates provide investment
management and/or administrative services to institutional, corporate and
individual clients around the world. AIM and the Sub-adviser are both indirect
wholly owned subsidiaries of AMVESCAP PLC. AMVESCAP PLC and its subsidiaries are
an independent investment management group that has a significant presence in
the institutional and retail segment of the investment management industry in
North America and Europe, and a growing presence in Asia.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information an investor should know
before investing and should be read carefully and retained for future reference.
A Statement of Additional Information, dated June 1, 1998, has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and, as amended or supplemented
from time to time, is incorporated herein by reference. The Statement of
Additional Information is available without charge by writing to the Fund at 50
California Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, or calling (800) 347-4246. It is
also available, along with other related materials, on the SEC's Internet web
site (http://www.sec.gov).
An investment in the Fund offers the following advantages:
/ / No Sales Charges on Purchases of Class A Shares
/ / Daily Dividends
/ / Automatic Dividend Reinvestment at No Sales Charge
/ / Checkwriting Privileges
/ / Low $500 Minimum Investment
/ / Automatic Investment Plan
/ / Systematic Withdrawal Plan
/ / Portfolio Rebalancing Program
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL (800) 824-1580 OR CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER.
[LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED
ON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Prospectus Page 1
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
---------
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary........................................................................ 3
Financial Highlights...................................................................... 6
Investment Objective and Policies......................................................... 8
How to Invest............................................................................. 11
How to Make Exchanges..................................................................... 14
How to Redeem Shares...................................................................... 16
Shareholder Account Manual................................................................ 20
Calculation of Net Asset Value............................................................ 21
Dividends and Federal Income Taxation..................................................... 21
Management................................................................................ 22
Other Information......................................................................... 26
</TABLE>
Prospectus Page 2
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- ------------------------------------------------------------
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information appearing in the body of this Prospectus. Cross-references in the
summary are to headings in the body of this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The Fund: The Fund is a diversified series of AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc. (the "Company").
Investment Objective: The Fund seeks maximum current income consistent with liquidity and conservation of capital.
Principal Investments: The Fund invests in a wide variety of high quality U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments
of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers.
Investment Managers: AIM and the Sub-adviser and their worldwide asset management affiliates provide investment management
and/or administrative services to institutional, corporate and individual clients around the world.
AIM and the Sub-adviser are both indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of AMVESCAP PLC. AMVESCAP PLC and
its subsidiaries are an independent investment management group that has a significant presence in
the institutional and retail segment of the investment management industry in North America and
Europe, and a growing presence in Asia. AIM was organized in 1976 and, together with its affiliates,
currently advises approximately 90 investment company portfolios. AIM advises the Fund and other
investment company portfolios which are sub-advised by the Sub-adviser ("AIM/GT Funds"). On May 29,
1998, AMVESCAP PLC acquired the Asset Management Division of Liechtenstein Global Trust AG, which
included the Sub-adviser and certain other affiliates. AIM also serves as the investment adviser to
other mutual funds, which are not sub-advised by the Sub-adviser, that are part of The AIM Family of
Funds-Registered Trademark- ("The AIM Family of Funds," and together with the AIM/GT Funds, the "AIM
Funds").
Alternative Purchase Plan: Class A or Class B shares are each subject to different expenses and different exchange privileges.
Each class has distinct advantages and disadvantages for different investors, and investors should
choose the class that best suits their circumstances and objectives. See "How to Invest."
Class A Shares: Offered at net asset value and subject to 12b-1 service and distribution fees at the annualized rate
of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares.
Class B Shares: Offered at net asset value (a maximum contingent deferred sales charge of 5% of the net asset value
at the time of purchase or sale, whichever is less, is imposed on certain redemptions made within six
years of date of purchase) and subject to 12b-1 service and distribution fees at the annualized rate
of 1.00% of the average daily net assets of Class B shares.
</TABLE>
THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS, THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS AND DESIGN (I.E., THE AIM
LOGO), AIM AND DESIGN, AIM, AIM LINK, AIM INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS, AIMFUNDS.COM, LA
FAMILIA AIM DE FONDOS AND LA FAMILIA AIM DE FONDOS AND DESIGN ARE REGISTERED
SERVICE MARKS AND INVEST WITH DISCIPLINE AND AIM BANK CONNECTION ARE SERVICE
MARKS OF A I M MANAGEMENT GROUP INC.
Prospectus Page 3
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
(Continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Shares Available Through: Class A shares are available through broker/dealers, banks and other financial service entities
("Financial Institutions") that have entered into agreements with the Fund's distributor, A I M
Distributors, Inc. ("AIM Distributors"). Shares also may be acquired by sending an application
directly to GT Global Investor Services, Inc. (the "Transfer Agent") or through exchanges of shares
as described below. Except for investors participating in the Portfolio Rebalancing program, Class B
shares may be acquired only through exchanges or shares as described below. See "How to Invest" and
"Shareholder Account Manual."
Exchange Privileges: Shares may be exchanged for shares of other AIM/GT Funds. See "How to Make Exchanges" and
"Shareholder Account Manual."
Redemptions: Shares may be redeemed through Financial Institutions that sell shares of the Fund or the Fund's
Transfer Agent. See "How to Redeem Shares" and "Shareholder Account Manual."
Dividends: Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly from available net investment income and any realized
net short-term capital gain.
Reinvestment: Dividends may be reinvested automatically in Fund shares of the distributing class without a sales
charge.
First Purchase: $500 minimum ($100 for individual retirement accounts ("IRAs") and reduced amounts for certain other
retirement plans).
Subsequent Purchases: $100 minimum ($25 for IRAs and reduced amounts for certain other retirement plans).
Yield: Quoted in the financial section of most newspapers.
Checkwriting: Available on Class A shares upon request
Unlimited number of free checks
$300 minimum amount per check
Other Features:
Class A Shares: Automatic Investment Plan
Systematic Withdrawal Plan
Portfolio Rebalancing Program
Class B Shares: Systematic Withdrawal Plan
Portfolio Rebalancing Program
</TABLE>
Prospectus Page 4
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
(Continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY OF INVESTOR COSTS. The expenses and maximum transaction costs associated
with investing in the Class A and Class B shares of the Fund are reflected in
the following tables (1):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A CLASS B
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION COSTS (2):
Sales charge on purchases of shares................................................................ None None
Sales charges on reinvested distributions to shareholders.......................................... None None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of net asset value at time of purchase or sale,
whichever is less)................................................................................ None 5.0%
Redemption charges................................................................................. None None
Exchange fees...................................................................................... None None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (3):
(AS A % OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Investment management and administration fees...................................................... 0.50% 0.50%
12b-1 distribution and service fees (after waivers)................................................ 0.00% 0.75%
Other expenses (after reimbursements and waivers).................................................. 0.50% 0.50%
----------- -----------
Total Fund Operating Expenses (after reimbursements and waivers)..................................... 1.00% 1.75%
----------- -----------
----------- -----------
</TABLE>
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE OF EFFECT OF EXPENSES (5):
An investor would directly or indirectly pay the following expenses at the end
of the periods shown on a $1,000 investment in the Fund, assuming a 5% annual
return:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ONE YEAR THREE YEARS FIVE YEARS TEN YEARS
----- ----------- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A shares........................................................... $ 10 $ 32 $ 55 $ 123
Class B shares
Assuming complete redemption at end of period (4)...................... 70 89 119 208
Assuming no redemption................................................. 18 56 96 208
<FN>
- ------------------
(1) THESE TABLES ARE INTENDED TO ASSIST INVESTORS IN UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS
COSTS AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTING IN THE FUND. Long-term
shareholders may pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum
front-end sales charges permitted by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. rules regarding investment companies.
(2) The maximum 5% contingent deferred sales charge on Class B shares applies
to redemptions during the first year after purchase. The charge generally
declines by 1% annually thereafter, reaching zero after six years.
(3) Expenses are based on the Fund's fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.
"Other expenses" include custody, transfer agent, legal, audit and other
expenses. AIM has undertaken to limit the Fund's expenses (exclusive of
brokerage commissions, taxes, interest and extraordinary expenses) to the
annual rate of 1.00% and 1.75% of the average daily net assets of the
Fund's Class A and Class B shares, respectively. See "Management" herein
and the Statement of Additional Information for more information. Without
reimbursements or waivers, "12b-1 distribution and service fees," "Other
expenses" and "Total Fund Operating Expenses" would have been 0.25%, 0.53%,
and 1.28%, respectively, for Class A shares and 1.00%, 0.53%, and 2.03%,
respectively, for Class B shares. The Fund also offers Advisor Class
shares, which are not subject to 12b-1 distribution and service fees, to
certain categories of investors. See "How to Invest."
(4) Assumes deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge.
(5) THE "HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE" SET FORTH ABOVE IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF PAST
OR FUTURE EXPENSES. THE FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES, AND AN INVESTOR'S DIRECT
AND INDIRECT EXPENSES, MAY BE MORE OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. The above
table and the assumption in the Hypothetical Example of a 5% annual return
are required by regulation of the SEC applicable to all mutual funds. The
5% annual return is not a prediction of and does not represent the Fund's
projected or actual performance.
</TABLE>
Prospectus Page 5
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below provides condensed financial information concerning income and
capital changes for one Class A and Class B share of the Fund. This information
is supplemented by the financial statements and notes thereto included in the
Statement of Additional Information. The financial statements and notes for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P., independent accountants, whose report thereon also appears in the
Statement of Additional Information. Information presented below for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1988 to 1991 was audited by other auditors that served
as the Fund's independent accountants for those periods.
AIM DOLLAR FUND
(FORMERLY GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A+
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.045 $ 0.044 $ 0.050 $ 0.032 $ 0.022 $ 0.028 $ 0.051
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.045) (0.044) (0.050) (0.032) (0.022) (0.028) (0.051)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total Investment Return (b)............. 4.62% 4.50% 5.08% 3.30% 2.2% 2.8% 5.1%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets at end of the period (in
000's)................................. $186,611 $392,623 $183,761 $320,858 $87,822 $81,674 $70,295
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 4.50% 4.39% 4.94% 3.40% 2.17% 2.78% 5.10%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 4.20% 4.08% 4.66% 3.15% 1.46% 2.47% 4.90%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 0.98% 0.99% 0.97% 0.92% 1.00% 1.25% 1.25%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.28% 1.30% 1.25% 1.17% 1.72% 1.56% 1.45%
<CAPTION>
1990
----------
<S> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.069
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.069)
----------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00
----------
----------
Total Investment Return (b)............. 6.9%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets at end of the period (in
000's)................................. $123,218
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 6.95%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 6.64%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.25%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.56%
<FN>
- ------------------
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized.
</TABLE>
Prospectus Page 6
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A+ CLASS B++
---------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
APRIL 1,
YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 1993
YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, TO
---------------------- ---------------------------------------------- DEC. 31,
1989 1988 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.075 $ 0.058 $ 0.038 $ 0.037 $ 0.040 $ 0.025 $ 0.010
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.075) (0.058) (0.038) (0.037) (0.040) (0.025) (0.010 )
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total Investment Return (b)............. 7.6% 5.9% 3.84% 3.73% 4.29% 2.53% 1.4%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets at end of the period (in
000's)................................. $13,143 $11,628 $83,498 $128,308 $99,151 $109,936 $3,478
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 7.60% 5.72% 3.75% 3.64% 4.19% 2.65% 1.42%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 7.17% --% 3.45% 3.33% 3.91% 2.40% 0.86%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.19% 1.03% 1.73% 1.74% 1.72% 1.67% 1.75%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.62% --% 2.03% 2.05% 2.00% 1.92% 2.31%
</TABLE>
- ------------------
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing April 1, 1993, the Fund began offering Class B shares.
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized.
Prospectus Page 7
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's investment objective is to seek maximum current income consistent
with liquidity and conservation of capital. The Fund seeks this objective by
investing in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments,
i.e., debt obligations with remaining maturities of 13 months or less.
The Fund seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share. To do so, the
Fund uses the amortized cost method of valuing its securities pursuant to Rule
2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
certain requirements of which are summarized below.
In accordance with Rule 2a-7, the Fund will (i) maintain a dollar-weighted
average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less and (ii) purchase only instruments
having remaining maturities of 13 months or less.
The Fund will invest only in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market
instruments determined by the Sub-adviser to present minimal credit risks in
accordance with procedures established by the Company's Board of Trustees (the
"Board"). To be considered high quality, a security must be rated in accordance
with applicable rules in one of the two highest rating categories for short-term
securities by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations ("NRSROs") (or one, if only one such NRSRO has rated the security)
or, if the issuer has no applicable short-term rating, determined by the
Sub-adviser to be of equivalent credit quality.
High quality securities are divided into "first tier" and "second tier"
securities. The Fund will invest only in first tier securities. First tier
securities have received the highest rating for short-term debt from at least
two NRSROs, i.e., rated not lower than A-1 by Standard & Poor's, a division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P"), or P-1 by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") (or one, if only one such NRSRO has rated the security) or, if
unrated, are determined to be of equivalent quality as described above. If a
security has been assigned different ratings by different NRSROs, at least two
NRSROs must have assigned the higher rating in order for the Sub-adviser to
determine the security's eligibility for purchase by the Fund.
The rating criteria of S&P and Moody's, two NRSROs currently rating instruments
of the type the Fund may purchase, are more fully described in "Description of
Debt Ratings" in the Statement of Additional Information.
PERMITTED INVESTMENTS. The Fund may invest in the following types of money
market instruments:
/ / OBLIGATIONS ISSUED OR GUARANTEED BY THE U.S. AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, THEIR
AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES. These include: direct obligations of the
U.S. Treasury, such as Treasury bills and notes; obligations backed by the
full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such as those issued by the
Government National Mortgage Association; obligations supported primarily or
solely by the creditworthiness of the issuer, such as securities of Fannie
Mae (also known as the Federal National Mortgage Association), Freddie Mac
(also known as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) and the Tennessee
Valley Authority; and similar U.S.-dollar denominated instruments of foreign
governments, their agencies, authorities and instrumentalities.
/ / OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. AND NON-U.S. BANKS, including certificates of deposit,
bankers' acceptances and similar instruments, when such banks have total
assets at the time of purchase equal to at least $1 billion.
/ / INTEREST-BEARING DEPOSITS IN U.S. COMMERCIAL AND SAVINGS BANKS having total
assets of $1 billion or less, in principal amounts at each such bank not
greater than are insured by an agency of the U.S. government, provided that
the aggregate amount of such deposits (including interest earned) does not
exceed 5% of the Fund's assets.
/ / COMMERCIAL PAPER AND OTHER SHORT-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. AND FOREIGN
COMPANIES, rated at least A-1 by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody's or, if not rated,
determined by the Sub-adviser to be of equivalent quality, provided that any
outstanding intermediate- or long-term debt of the issuer is rated at least
AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's. These instruments may include corporate bonds
and notes
Prospectus Page 8
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
(corporate obligations that mature, or that may be redeemed, in one year or
less). These corporate obligations include variable rate master notes, which
are redeemable upon notice and permit investment of fluctuating amounts at
varying rates of interest pursuant to direct arrangements with the issuer of
the instrument.
/ / REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS SECURED BY ANY OF THE FOREGOING. A repurchase
agreement is a transaction in which the Fund purchases a security from a
bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits to resell
that security to the bank or dealer at an agreed-upon price, date and market
rate of interest unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased
security. Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated
with direct investments in securities, including possible decline in the
market value of the underlying securities and delays and costs to the Fund
if the other party to the repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt, the Fund
will enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and dealers believed
by the Sub-adviser to present minimal credit risks in accordance with
guidelines approved by the Board. The Sub-adviser will review and monitor
the creditworthiness of such institutions under the Board's general
supervision. The Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements with
maturities of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the
value of its net assets would be invested in such repurchase agreements and
other illiquid securities.
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES. In managing the Fund, the Sub-adviser may employ a number
of professional money management techniques, including varying the composition
of the Fund's investments and the average weighted maturity of the Fund's
portfolio within the limitations described above. Determinations to use such
techniques will be based on the Sub-adviser's identification and assessment of
the relative values of various money market instruments and the future of
interest rate patterns, economic conditions and shifts in fiscal and monetary
policy. The Sub-adviser also may seek to improve the Fund's yield by purchasing
or selling securities in order to take advantage of yield disparities that
regularly occur in the market. For example, frequently there are yield
disparities between different types of money market instruments, and market
conditions from time to time result in similar securities trading at different
prices.
RISKS AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. Investors should recognize that in periods of
declining interest rates, the Fund's yield will tend to be somewhat higher than
prevailing market rates; conversely, in periods of rising interest rates, the
Fund's yield will tend to be somewhat lower than those rates. Also, when
interest rates are falling, the net new money flowing into the Fund from the net
sale of its shares likely will be invested in instruments producing lower yields
than the balance of the Fund's portfolio, thereby reducing its yield. The
opposite generally will be true in periods of rising interest rates. The Fund is
designed to provide maximum current income consistent with the liquidity and
safety of principal afforded by investment in a portfolio of high quality money
market instruments; the Fund's yield may be lower than that produced by funds
investing in lower quality and/or longer-term securities.
Although the Fund may invest in instruments of non-U.S. issuers, all such
instruments will be denominated in U.S. dollars and will be first tier
securities. Obligations of non-U.S. issuers are subject to the same risks that
pertain to domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk.
Nonetheless, these instruments present risks that are different from those
presented by investment in instruments of U.S. issuers. Obligations of foreign
entities may be subject to certain sovereign risks, including adverse political
and economic developments in a foreign country, the extent and quality of
government regulation of financial markets and institutions, interest
limitations, currency controls, foreign withholding taxes, and expropriation or
nationalization of foreign issuers and their assets. There may be less publicly
available information about foreign issuers than about domestic issuers, and
foreign issuers may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and
financial recordkeeping standards and requirements as are domestic issuers.
Accordingly, while the Fund's ability to invest in these instruments may provide
it with the potential to produce a higher yield than money market funds
investing solely in instruments of domestic issuers, the Fund presents greater
risk than such other funds.
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES. The Fund may purchase variable and
floating rate securities with remaining maturities in excess of 13 months. Such
securities must comply with conditions established by the SEC under which they
may be considered to have remaining maturities of 13 months or less. The yield
of these securities varies in relation to changes in specific money market rates
such as the prime rate. These changes are reflected in adjustments to the yields
of the
Prospectus Page 9
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
variable and floating rate securities, and different securities may have
different adjustment rates. To the extent that the Fund invests in such variable
and floating rate securities, it is the Sub-adviser's view that the Fund may be
able to take advantage of the higher yield that is usually paid on longer-term
securities. The Sub-adviser further believes that the variable and floating
rates paid on such securities may substantially reduce the wide fluctuations in
market value caused by interest rate changes and other factors which are typical
of longer-term debt securities.
OTHER INFORMATION. The Fund may acquire participation interests in securities in
which it is permitted to invest. Participation interests are pro rata interests
in securities held by others. Pending investment of proceeds from new sales of
Fund shares or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may hold any portion
of its assets in cash. The Fund may borrow money from banks as a temporary
measure (a) for extraordinary or emergency purposes in amounts up to 5% of its
net assets (taken at market value) or (b) in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its net
assets in order to meet redemption requests. The Fund will not purchase
securities while borrowings remain outstanding. The Fund may invest no more than
5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer (other than
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, or
instrumentalities).
The Fund's investment objective and policies with respect to borrowing as stated
above are fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of a majority
of its outstanding voting securities. A "majority of the Fund's outstanding
voting securities" means the lesser of (i) 67% of its shares represented at a
meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented, and
(ii) more than 50% of its outstanding shares. In addition, the Fund has adopted
certain investment limitations that also may not be changed without shareholder
approval. A description of these limitations is included in the Statement of
Additional Information. The Fund's other investment policies described herein
are not fundamental and may be changed by vote of the Board without shareholder
approval.
If a percentage restriction on investment or utilization of assets in an
investment policy or restriction is adhered to at the time an investment is
made, a later change in percentage ownership of a security or kind of securities
resulting from changing market values or a similar type of event will not be
considered a violation of the Fund's investment policies or restrictions.
Prospectus Page 10
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
HOW TO INVEST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL. The Fund is authorized to issue three classes of shares. Class A shares
are sold to investors with no sales charge, while Class B shares may be obtained
only through an exchange of Class B shares of other AIM/GT Funds, except with
respect to investors participating in the Portfolio Rebalancing Program
described below. The third class of shares of the Fund, the Advisor Class, may
be offered through a separate prospectus only to certain investors.
Class A shares of the Fund may be purchased through Financial Institutions, some
of which may charge the investor a transaction fee. Some of these Financial
Institutions (or their designees) may be authorized to accept purchase orders on
behalf of the Fund. All purchase orders will be executed at the public offering
price next determined after the purchase order is received. Orders received by
the Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange ("NYSE") (currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless weather, equipment
failure or other factors contribute to an earlier closing time) on any Business
Day will be executed at the Fund's net asset value per share determined that day
provided Federal Funds, as defined below, become available to the Fund that day.
Orders received by authorized institutions (or their designees) before the close
of regular trading on the NYSE on a Business Day will be deemed to have been
received by the Fund on such day and will be effected that day, provided that
such orders are transmitted to the Transfer Agent prior to the time set for
receipt of such orders. A "Business Day" is any day Monday through Friday on
which the NYSE is open for business. Financial Institutions are responsible for
forwarding the investor's order to the Transfer Agent so that it will be
received prior to the required time.
The minimum initial investment is $500 ($100 for IRAs and $25 for custodial
accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and other tax-qualified employer-sponsored retirement
accounts, if made under a systematic investment plan providing for monthly
payments of at least that amount). The minimum for additional purchases is $100
($25 for IRAs, Code Section 403(b)(7) custodial accounts and other tax-qualified
employer-sponsored retirement accounts, as mentioned above). Prior to receipt of
Federal Funds, an investor's money will not be invested. "Federal Funds" are
monies held on deposit at a Federal Reserve Bank that are available for the
Fund's immediate use. Purchases by check or negotiable bank draft normally take
two business days to be converted into Federal Funds. Shares begin accruing
income dividends on the day following the date of purchase. THE FUND AND AIM
DISTRIBUTORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY PURCHASE ORDER AND TO SUSPEND THE
OFFERING OF SHARES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. In particular, the Fund and AIM
Distributors may reject purchase orders or exchanges by investors who appear to
follow, in the Sub-adviser's judgment, a market-timing strategy or otherwise
engage in excessive trading. See "How to Make Exchanges -- Limitations on
Purchase Orders and Exchanges."
FOR ANY FUND NAMED ON THE COVER PAGE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, AIM DISTRIBUTORS AND
ITS AGENTS RESERVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME (1) TO WITHDRAW ALL OR ANY PART OF THE
OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS; (2) TO REJECT ANY PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE ORDER
OR TO CANCEL ANY PURCHASE DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE; (3) TO
INCREASE, WAIVE OR LOWER THE MINIMUM INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS; OR (4) TO MODIFY
ANY OF THE TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE OF SHARES OF SUCH FUND. For any Fund
named on the cover page, AIM Distributors and its agents will use their best
efforts to provide notice of any such actions through correspondence with
broker-dealers and existing shareholders, supplements to the AIM/GT Funds'
prospectuses, or other appropriate means, and will provide sixty (60) days'
notice in the case of termination or material modification to the exchange
privilege discussed under the caption "How to Make Exchanges."
PURCHASES THROUGH THE TRANSFER AGENT. After an initial investment is made and a
shareholder
Prospectus Page 11
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
account is established through a Financial Institution, at the investor's
option, subsequent purchases may be made directly through the Transfer Agent.
See "Shareholder Account Manual." Investors may also make an initial investment
in the Fund and establish a shareholder account directly through AIM
Distributors by completing and signing an Account Application accompanying this
Prospectus. Investors should mail to the Transfer Agent the completed
Application together with a check to cover the purchase in accordance with the
instructions provided in the Shareholder Account Manual. Purchases will be
executed at the net asset value next determined after the Transfer Agent has
received the Account Application and check and Federal Funds become available to
the Fund. Subsequent investments do not need to be accompanied by an
application.
Investors also may purchase shares of the Fund by bank wire. Bank wire purchases
will be effected at the net asset value next determined after the bank wire is
received. A wire investment is considered received when the Transfer Agent is
notified that the bank wire has been credited to the Fund. The investor is
responsible for providing prior telephonic or facsimile notice to the Transfer
Agent that a bank wire is being sent. An investor's bank may charge a service
fee for wiring money to the Fund. The Transfer Agent currently does not charge a
service fee for facilitating wire purchases, but reserves the right to do so in
the future. Investors desiring to open an account by bank wire should call the
Transfer Agent at the appropriate toll-free number provided in the Shareholder
Account Manual to obtain an account number and detailed instructions.
CERTIFICATES. In the interest of economy and convenience, the Fund does not
issue physical certificates representing its shares. Shares of the Fund are
recorded on a register by the Transfer Agent, and shareholders have the same
rights of ownership as if certificates had been issued to them.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CLASSES. The primary differences between the classes of
the Fund's shares offered through this Prospectus lie in their ongoing expenses
and role as exchange vehicles for the corresponding classes of shares of the
AIM/GT Funds, as summarized below. Class A and Class B shares of the Fund
represent interests in the same Fund and have the same rights, except that each
class bears the separate expenses of its 12b-1 distribution plan and normally
has exclusive voting rights with respect to such plan, each class can experience
other minor expense differences and, in addition to different sales charges,
each class has a separate exchange privilege. Class A shares are available for
purchase directly by investors. Except for investors participating in the
Portfolio Rebalancing Program, Class B shares may be purchased only through an
exchange of Class B shares of other AIM/GT Funds.
Dividends paid by the Fund with respect to Class A and Class B shares are
calculated in the same manner and at the same time. The per share dividends on
Class B shares will be lower than the per share dividends on Class A shares as a
result of the higher 12b-1 service and distribution fees applicable to Class B
shares.
The decision as to which class of shares is more beneficial to an investor
depends on the amount invested, the intended length of time the investment is
held and the investor's personal situation. Consult your financial adviser.
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES. Advisor Class shares are offered through a separate
prospectus to (a) trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for employee
benefit plans that are sponsored by organizations that have at least 1,000
employees; (b) any account with assets of at least $10,000 if (i) a financial
planner, trust company, bank trust department or registered investment adviser
has investment discretion over the account and (ii) the account holder pays such
person as compensation for its advice and other services an annual fee of at
least .50% of the assets in the account; (c) any account with assets of at least
$10,000 if (i) the account is established under a "wrap fee" program and (ii)
the account holder pays the sponsor of the program an annual fee of at least
.50% of the assets in the account; (d) accounts advised by INVESCO (NY), Inc. or
one of the companies formerly affiliated with Liechtenstein Global Trust AG,
provided such accounts were invested in Advisor Class shares of any of the
AIM/GT Funds on June 1, 1998; and (e) any of the companies composing or
affiliated with AMVESCAP PLC.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN. Investors may purchase Class A shares of the Fund
through the Automatic Investment Plan. Under this Plan, an amount specified by
the shareholder of $100 or more (or $25 or more for IRAs, Code Section 403(b)(7)
custodial accounts and other tax-qualified employer-sponsored retirement
accounts) on a monthly or quarterly basis will be sent to the Transfer Agent
from the investor's bank for investment in the Fund. To participate in the
Automatic Investment Plan, investors should
Prospectus Page 12
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
complete the appropriate portion of the Supplemental Application provided at the
end of this Prospectus. Investors should contact their Financial Institution or
AIM Distributors for more information.
PORTFOLIO REBALANCING PROGRAM. The Portfolio Rebalancing Program ("Program")
permits eligible shareholders to establish and maintain an allocation across a
range of AIM/GT Funds. The Program automatically rebalances holdings of AIM/ GT
Funds to the established allocation on a periodic basis. Under the Program, a
shareholder may predesignate, on a percentage basis, how the total value of his
or her holdings in a minimum of two, and a maximum of ten, AIM/GT Funds
("Personal Portfolio") is to be rebalanced on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual,
or annual basis.
Rebalancing under the Program will be effected through the exchange of shares of
one or more AIM/ GT Funds in the shareholder's Personal Portfolio for shares of
the same class(es) of one or more other AIM/GT Funds in the shareholder's
Personal Portfolio. See "How to Make Exchanges." If shares of the AIM/GT Fund(s)
in a shareholder's Personal Portfolio have appreciated during a rebalancing
period, the Program will result in shares of AIM/GT Fund(s) that have
appreciated most during the period being exchanged for shares of AIM/GT Fund(s)
that have appreciated least. SUCH EXCHANGES ARE NOT TAX-FREE AND MAY RESULT IN A
SHAREHOLDER'S REALIZING A GAIN OR LOSS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR FEDERAL INCOME
TAX PURPOSES. See "Dividends and Federal Income Taxation." Participation in the
Program does not assure that a shareholder will profit from purchases under the
Program nor does it prevent or lessen losses in a declining market.
The Program will automatically rebalance the shareholder's Personal Portfolio on
the 28th day of the last month of the period chosen (or the immediately
preceding business day if the 28th is not a business day), subject to any
limitations below. The Program will not execute an exchange if the variance in a
shareholder's Personal Portfolio for a particular AIM/GT Fund would be 2% or
less. In predesignating percentages, shareholders must use whole percentages and
totals must equal 100%. Shareholders participating in the Program may not
request issuance of physical certificates representing a Fund's shares. The
AIM/GT Funds and AIM Distributors reserve the right to modify, suspend, or
terminate the Program at any time on 60 days' prior written notice to
shareholders. A request to participate in the Program must be received in good
order at least five business days prior to the next rebalancing date. Once a
shareholder establishes the Program for his or her Personal Portfolio, a
shareholder cannot cancel or change which rebalancing frequency, which AIM/ GT
Funds or what allocation percentages are assigned to the Program, unless
canceled or changed in writing and received by the Transfer Agent in good order
at least five business days prior to the rebalancing date. Certain Financial
Institutions may charge a fee for establishing accounts relating to the Program.
Investors should contact their Financial Adviser or AIM Distributors for more
information.
Prospectus Page 13
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
HOW TO MAKE EXCHANGES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for shares of the same class of any other
AIM/GT Fund, based on their respective net asset values without imposition of
any sales charges, provided that the registration remains identical. Exchange
requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent before the close of
regular trading on the NYSE on any Business Day will be processed at the net
asset value calculated on that day.
EXCHANGES ARE NOT TAX-FREE AND MAY RESULT IN A SHAREHOLDER REALIZING A GAIN OR
LOSS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. See "Dividends, Other
Distributions and Federal Income Taxation." In addition to the Fund, the AIM/GT
Funds include the following:
- AIM AMERICA VALUE FUND
- AIM DEVELOPING MARKETS FUND
- AIM EMERGING MARKETS FUND
- AIM EUROPE GROWTH FUND
- AIM GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FUND
- AIM GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND
- AIM GLOBAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
- AIM GLOBAL GROWTH & INCOME FUND
- AIM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
- AIM GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND
- AIM GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
- AIM GLOBAL NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
- AIM GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
- AIM INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
- AIM JAPAN GROWTH FUND
- AIM LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
- AIM MID CAP GROWTH FUND
- AIM NEW DIMENSION FUND
- AIM NEW PACIFIC GROWTH FUND
- AIM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
- AIM STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
- AIM WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND
An investor interested in making an exchange should contact his or her Financial
Institution or the Transfer Agent to request the prospectus of the other mutual
fund(s) being considered. Certain Financial Institutions may charge a fee for
handling exchanges. The terms of the exchange offer may be modified at any time,
on 60 days' prior written notice.
EXCHANGES BY TELEPHONE. A shareholder may give exchange instructions to the
shareholder's Financial Institution or the Transfer Agent by telephone at the
appropriate toll-free number provided in the Shareholder Account Manual.
Exchange orders will be accepted by telephone provided that the exchange
involves only uncertificated shares on deposit in the shareholder's account or
for which certificates have previously been deposited. Shareholders
automatically have telephone privileges to authorize exchanges. The Fund, AIM
Distributors and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any loss or damage
for acting in good faith upon instructions received by telephone and reasonably
believed to be genuine. The Funds employ reasonable procedures to confirm that
instructions communicated by telephone are genuine prior to acting upon
instructions received by telephone, including requiring some form of personal
identification, providing written confirmation of such transactions, and/or tape
recording of telephone instructions.
EXCHANGES BY MAIL. Exchange orders should be sent by mail to the shareholder's
Financial Institution or to the Transfer Agent at the address set forth in the
Shareholder Account Manual.
EXCHANGES WITH THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS. Currently no exchanges are permitted
between the Fund and funds of The AIM Family of Funds. However, it is
anticipated that such exchanges will be offered prior to October 1, 1998. In
addition, as of the date of this prospectus Class A shares of the Fund may be
redeemed and the proceeds invested without the imposition of a front-end sales
charge in Class A shares of funds of The AIM Family of Funds upon receipt of the
redemption proceeds by the transfer agent of The AIM Family of Funds.
Prospectus Page 14
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The AIM Family of Funds includes the following funds:
- AIM ADVISOR FLEX FUND
- AIM ADVISOR INTERNATIONAL VALUE FUND
- AIM ADVISOR LARGE CAP VALUE FUND
- AIM ADVISOR MULTIFLEX FUND
- AIM ADVISOR REAL ESTATE FUND
- AIM ASIAN GROWTH FUND
- AIM BALANCED FUND
- AIM BLUE CHIP FUND
- AIM CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
- AIM CHARTER FUND
- AIM CONSTELLATION FUND
- AIM EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND
- AIM GLOBAL AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND
- AIM GLOBAL GROWTH FUND
- AIM GLOBAL INCOME FUND
- AIM GLOBAL UTILITIES FUND
- AIM HIGH INCOME MUNICIPAL FUND
- AIM HIGH YIELD FUND
- AIM INCOME FUND
- AIM INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FUND
- AIM INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
- AIM LIMITED MATURITY TREASURY FUND
- AIM MONEY MARKET FUND
- AIM MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
- AIM SELECT GROWTH FUND
- AIM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF CONNECTICUT
- AIM TAX-EXEMPT CASH FUND
- AIM TAX-FREE INTERMEDIATE FUND
- AIM VALUE FUND
- AIM WEINGARTEN FUND
An investor interested in making a net asset value purchase of The AIM Family of
Funds should contact his or her Financial Institution or the Transfer Agent to
request the prospectus of the other mutual fund(s) being considered. Certain
Financial Institutions may charge a fee for handling net asset value purchases.
LIMITATIONS ON PURCHASE ORDERS AND EXCHANGES. The AIM/GT Funds are not intended
to serve as vehicles for frequent trading in response to short-term fluctuations
in the market. Due to the disruptive effect that market-timing investment
strategies and excessive trading can have on efficient portfolio management,
each AIM/GT Fund and AIM Distributors reserve the right to refuse purchase
orders and exchanges by any person or group, if, in the Sub-adviser's judgment,
such person or group was following a market-timing strategy or was otherwise
engaging in excessive trading.
In addition, each AIM/GT Fund and AIM Distributors reserve the right to refuse
purchase orders and exchanges by any person or group if, in the Sub-adviser's
judgment, the Fund would not be able to invest the money effectively in
accordance with that Fund's investment objective and policies or would otherwise
potentially be adversely affected. Although a AIM/GT Fund will attempt to give
investors prior notice whenever it is reasonably able to do so, it may impose
the above restrictions at any time.
Finally, as described above, each AIM/GT Fund and AIM Distributors reserve the
right to reject any purchase order.
Prospectus Page 15
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As described below, Class A shares may be redeemed without charge at net asset
value. Class B shares may be redeemed at their net asset value (subject to any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC")). A shareholder's holding
period of Class B shares of the Fund, as well as his or her holding period of
Class B shares of any other AIM/ GT Fund exchanged to purchase Class B shares of
the Fund, will be credited for purposes of measuring the CDSC. Except for
investors participating in the Program, Class B shares may be obtained only
through an exchange of Class B shares of other AIM/GT Funds. Shareholders with
accounts at broker/dealers that sell shares of the Fund may redeem shares
through such broker/ dealers. If the shares are held in the broker/dealer's
"street name," the redemption must be made through the broker/dealer. Other
shareholders may redeem shares through the Transfer Agent. If a redeeming
shareholder owns both Class A and Class B shares, Class A shares will be
redeemed first unless the shareholder specifically requests otherwise.
Shareholders also may redeem Class A shares by writing checks against their Fund
accounts. Redemption requests recorded in good order before the close of trading
on the NYSE on any Business Day will be effected at the net asset value
calculated on that day.
Class B shares may be redeemed on any business day at the net asset value per
share next determined following receipt of the redemption order, less the
applicable contingent deferred sales charge shown in the table below. No
deferred sales charge will be imposed (i) on redemptions of Class B shares
following six years from the date such shares were purchased, (ii) on Class B
shares acquired through reinvestments of dividends and distributions
attributable to Class B shares or (iii) on amounts that represent capital
appreciation in the shareholder's account above the purchase price of the Class
B shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES
CHARGE AS % OF DOLLAR
YEARS SINCE PURCHASE MADE AMOUNT SUBJECT TO CHARGE
- --------------------------- --------------------------
<S> <C>
First...................... 5%
Second..................... 4%
Third...................... 3%
Fourth..................... 3%
Fifth...................... 2%
Sixth...................... 1%
Seventh and Following...... None
</TABLE>
In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is applicable, it will
be assumed that a redemption is made first, of any shares held in the
shareholder's account that are not subject to such charge; second, of shares
derived from reinvestment of dividends and distributions; third, of shares held
for more than six years from the date such shares were purchased; and fourth, of
shares held less than six years from the date such shares were purchased. The
applicable sales charge will be applied against the lesser of the current market
value of shares redeemed or their original cost.
For example, assume an investor purchased 100 Class B shares of another AIM/GT
Fund at $10 per share for a cost of $1,000. Subsequently, the shareholder
acquired 15 additional shares of that Fund through dividend reinvestment. The
investor then decides to exchange his or her shares of the other AIM/GT Fund for
Class B shares of the Fund. At the time of exchange, the original Fund's shares
had a net asset value of $11 per share, for a total value of $1,265.
Accordingly, the investor acquires 1,265 shares of the Fund. The shareholder
then acquires 50 additional shares of the Fund through dividend reinvestment.
Subsequently, in the third year after the original purchase, the investor
decides to redeem $500 of his or her investment. The CDSC would not be applied
to the value of any of the reinvested shares. Therefore, $185 of the $500
redemption proceeds ($500 minus $315) would be charged at a rate of 3% (the
applicable rate in the third year after purchase) for a total contingent
deferred sales charge of $5.55.
Class B shares that are acquired pursuant to the exchange privilege during a
tender offer by AIM Global Floating Rate Fund ("Floating Rate Fund")
Prospectus Page 16
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
will be subject, in lieu of the CDSC described above, to a CDSC equivalent to
the early withdrawal charge on the common stock of the Floating Rate Fund. The
purchase of Class B shares of the Fund will be deemed to have occurred at the
time of the initial purchase of the Floating Rate Fund's common stock.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE WAIVERS. Contingent deferred sales charges on
Class B shares will be waived on redemptions (1) following the death or
post-purchase disability, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of the Code, of a
shareholder or a settlor of a living trust (provided AIM Distributors is
notified of such death or post-purchase disability at the time of the redemption
request and is provided with satisfactory evidence of such death or
post-purchase disability), (2) in connection with certain distributions from
individual retirement accounts, custodial accounts maintained pursuant to Code
Section 403(b), deferred compensation plans qualified under Code Section 457 and
plans qualified under Code Section 401 (collectively, "Retirement Plans"), (3)
pursuant to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan, provided that amounts withdrawn under
such plan do not exceed on an annual basis 12% of the value of the shareholder's
investment in Class B shares at the time the shareholder elects to participate
in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan, (4) effected pursuant to the right of a the
Fund to liquidate a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset value of
shares held in the account is less than the designated minimum account size
described in this Prospectus, and (5) effected by AIM of its investment in Class
B shares.
Waiver category (1) above applies only to redemptions of Class B shares held at
the time of death or initial determination of post-purchase disability. Waiver
category (2) above applies only to redemptions resulting from:
(i) required minimum distributions to plan participants or beneficiaries who
are age 70 1/2 or older, and only with respect to that portion of such
distributions which does not exceed 12% annually of the participant's or
beneficiary's account value in a particular AIM/GT Fund;
(ii) in-kind transfers of assets where the participant or beneficiary notifies
AIM Distributors of such transfer no later than the time such transfer
occurs;
(iii) tax-free rollovers or transfers of assets to another Retirement Plan
invested in Class B shares of one or more AIM Funds;
(iv) tax-free returns of excess contributions or returns of excess deferral
amounts; and
(v) distributions upon the death or disability (as defined in the Code) of the
participant or beneficiary.
Shareholders who purchased Class B shares prior to June 1, 1998 are entitled to
certain waivers of the contingent deferred sales charge on those shares as
described in the Statement of Additional Information under "Information Relating
to Sales and Redemptions -- Sales Charge Waivers for Shares Purchased Prior to
June 1, 1998."
REDEMPTIONS THROUGH THE TRANSFER AGENT. Redemption requests may be transmitted
to the Transfer Agent by telephone or by mail, in accordance with the
instructions provided in the Shareholder Account Manual. Redemptions will be
effected at the net asset value (less any applicable contingent deferred sales
charge for Class B shares) next determined after the Transfer Agent has received
the request or after an Authorized Institution has received the request,
provided that the request is transmitted to the Transfer Agent prior to the time
set for receipt of such redemption requests. Redemptions will only be effected
if the request is received in good order and accompanied by any required
supporting documentation. Redemption requests will not require a signature
guarantee if the redemption proceeds are to be sent either: (i) to the redeeming
shareholder at the shareholder's address of record as maintained by the Transfer
Agent, provided the shareholder's address of record has not been changed in the
preceding fifteen days; or (ii) directly to a pre-designated bank, savings and
loan or credit union account ("Pre-Designated Account"). ALL OTHER REDEMPTION
REQUESTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE OF THE REDEEMING
SHAREHOLDER'S SIGNATURE. A signature guarantee can be obtained from any bank,
U.S. trust company, a member firm of a U.S. stock exchange or a foreign branch
of any of the foregoing or other eligible guarantor institution. A notary public
is not an acceptable guarantor. A shareholder with questions concerning the
Fund's signature guarantee requirement should contact the Transfer Agent.
Shareholders may qualify to have redemption proceeds sent to a Pre-Designated
Account by completing the appropriate section of the Account Application at the
end of this Prospectus. Shareholders with Pre-Designated Accounts should request
that redemption proceeds be sent either by bank wire or by check. The minimum
redemption
Prospectus Page 17
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
amount for a bank wire is $500. Shareholders requesting a bank wire should allow
two business days from the time the redemption request is effected for the
proceeds to be deposited in the shareholder's Pre-Designated Account. See "How
to Redeem Shares -- Other Important Redemption Information." Shareholders may
change their Pre-Designated Accounts only by a letter of instruction to the
Transfer Agent containing all account signatures, each of which must be
guaranteed. The Transfer Agent currently does not charge a bank wire service fee
for each wire redemption sent but reserves the right to do so in the future. The
shareholder's bank may charge a bank wire service fee.
REDEMPTIONS BY TELEPHONE. Redemption requests may be made by telephone by
calling the Transfer Agent at the appropriate toll-free number provided in the
Shareholder Account Manual. REDEMPTION REQUESTS MAY NOT BE MADE BY TELEPHONE FOR
FIFTEEN DAYS FOLLOWING ANY CHANGE OF THE SHAREHOLDER'S ADDRESS OF RECORD.
Shareholders automatically have telephone privileges to authorize redemptions.
The Fund, AIM Distributors and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any
loss or damage for acting in good faith upon instructions received by telephone
and reasonably believed to be genuine. The Fund employs reasonable procedures to
confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine prior to acting
upon instructions received by telephone, including requiring some form of
personal identification, providing written confirmation of such transactions,
and/or tape recording of telephone instructions.
REDEMPTIONS BY MAIL. Redemption requests should be mailed directly to the
Transfer Agent at the appropriate address provided in the Shareholder Account
Manual. As discussed above, requests for payment of redemption proceeds to a
party other than the shareholder of record and/or requests that redemption
proceeds be mailed to an address other than the shareholder's address of record
require a signature guarantee. In addition, if the shareholder's address of
record has been changed within the preceding fifteen days, a signature guarantee
is required.
CHECKWRITING. Shareholders may redeem Class A shares by writing checks, a supply
of which may be obtained through the Transfer Agent, against their Fund
accounts. The minimum check amount is $300. When the check is presented to the
Transfer Agent for payment, it will cause the Fund to redeem a sufficient number
of Class A shares to cover the amount of the check. This procedure enables the
shareholder to continue receiving dividends on those shares until the check is
presented to the Transfer Agent for payment. Cancelled checks are not returned;
however, shareholders may obtain photocopies of their cancelled checks upon
request. If a Class A shareholder does not own sufficient Class A shares to
cover a check, the check will be returned to the payee marked "not sufficient
funds." Checks written in amounts less than $300 also will be returned. The Fund
and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to terminate or modify the checkwriting
service at any time or to impose a service charge in connection therewith.
Because the aggregate amount of Class A shares owned by a shareholder is likely
to change each day, shareholders should not attempt to redeem all Class A shares
held in their accounts by using the check redemption procedure. Charges may be
imposed for specially imprinted checks, business checks, copies of cancelled
checks, stop payment orders, checks returned because of "not sufficient funds"
and checks returned because they are written for less than $300; these charges
will be paid by redeeming automatically an appropriate number of Class A shares.
Class A shareholders who are interested in checkwriting should obtain the
necessary forms by calling the Transfer Agent at the number provided in the
Shareholder Account Manual. Checkwriting generally is not available to persons
who hold Class A shares in tax-deferred retirement plan accounts.
Checkwriting is not available to redeem Class B shares.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. Shareholders owning shares with a value of $10,000
or more may participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A participating
shareholder will receive monthly, quarterly or annual redemptions of Fund shares
with respect to either Class A or Class B shares. No CDSC will be imposed on
redemptions made under the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. The minimum withdrawal
amount is $100. The amount or percentage a participating shareholder specifies
to be redeemed may not, on an annualized basis, exceed 12% of the value of the
account, as of the time the shareholder elects to participate in the Systematic
Withdrawal Plan. To participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan, investors
should
Prospectus Page 18
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
complete the appropriate portion of the Supplemental Application provided at the
end of this Prospectus. Investors should contact their Financial Institution or
the Transfer Agent for more information. Systematic withdrawal plans offered by
Financial Institutions may have different features. Accordingly, shareholders
should contact their Financial Institution for more details.
OTHER IMPORTANT REDEMPTION INFORMATION. A request for redemption will not be
processed until all of the necessary documentation has been received in good
order. A shareholder in doubt about what documents are required should contact
his or her Financial Institution or the Transfer Agent.
Except in extraordinary circumstances and as permitted under the 1940 Act,
payment for shares redeemed by telephone or by mail will be made promptly after
receipt of a redemption request, if in good order, but not later than seven days
after the date the request is executed. Requests for redemption which are
subject to any special conditions or which specify a future or past effective
date cannot be accepted.
If the Transfer Agent is requested to redeem shares for which the Fund has not
yet received good payment, the Fund may delay payment of redemption proceeds
until the Transfer Agent has assured itself that good payment has been collected
for the purchase of the shares. In the case of purchases by check, it can take
up to 10 business days to confirm that the check has cleared and good payment
has been received. Redemption proceeds will not be delayed when shares have been
paid for by wire or when the investor's account holds a sufficient number of
shares for which funds already have been collected.
The Fund may redeem the shares of any shareholder whose account is reduced to
less than $500 in net asset value through redemptions or other action by the
shareholder. Written notice will be given to the shareholder at least 60 days
prior to the date fixed for such redemption, during which time the shareholder
may increase his or her holdings to an aggregate amount of $500 or more (with a
minimum purchase of $100 or more).
Prospectus Page 19
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT MANUAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders are encouraged to place purchase, exchange and redemption orders
through their Financial Institutions. Shareholders also may place such orders
directly in accordance with this Manual. See "How to Invest," "How to Make
Exchanges" and "How to Redeem Shares" for more information.
The Fund's Transfer Agent is GT GLOBAL INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
INVESTMENTS BY MAIL
Send completed Account Application (if initial purchase) or letter stating Fund
name, class of shares, shareholder's registered name and account number (if
subsequent purchase) with a check to:
AIM/GT Funds
P.O. Box 7345
San Francisco, CA 94120-7345
INVESTMENTS BY BANK WIRE
An investor opening a new account should call 1-800-223-2138 to obtain an
account number. WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF PURCHASE A COMPLETED ACCOUNT APPLICATION
CONTAINING THE INVESTOR'S CERTIFIED TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER MUST BE SENT
TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED ABOVE UNDER "INVESTMENTS BY MAIL." Wire instructions
must state Fund name, class of shares, shareholder's registered name and account
number. Bank wires should be sent through the Federal Reserve Bank Wire System
to:
WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.
ABA 121000248
Attn: GT GLOBAL
Account No. 4023-050701
EXCHANGES BY TELEPHONE
Call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-223-2138.
EXCHANGES BY MAIL
Send complete instructions, including name of Fund exchanging from, class of
shares, amount of exchange, name of the AIM/GT Fund exchanging into,
shareholder's registered name and account number, to:
AIM/GT Funds
P.O. Box 7893
San Francisco, CA 94120-7893
REDEMPTIONS BY TELEPHONE
Call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-223-2138.
REDEMPTIONS BY MAIL
Send complete instructions, including name of Fund, class of shares, amount of
redemption, shareholder's registered name and account number, to:
AIM/GT Funds
P.O. Box 7893
San Francisco, CA 94120-7893
OVERNIGHT MAIL
Overnight mail services do not deliver to post office boxes. To send purchase,
exchange or redemption orders by overnight mail, follow the above instructions
but send to the following address:
GT Global Investor Services, Inc.
California Plaza
2121 N. California Boulevard
Suite 450
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Shareholders with additional questions regarding purchase, exchange and
redemption procedures should call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-223-2138.
Prospectus Page 20
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund intends to use its best efforts to maintain its net asset value at
$1.00 per share. There can be no assurance, however, that it will be able to do
so. The value of each share of the Fund is computed by dividing its net assets
by the number of its outstanding shares. "Net assets" equal the value of the
Fund's investments and other assets less its liabilities. The Fund calculates
its net asset value as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (currently
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless weather, equipment failure or other factors
contribute to an earlier closing time) each Business Day. Net asset value is
determined separately for each class of the Fund's shares.
The Fund values its portfolio securities using the amortized cost method of
valuation, pursuant to which the market value of an instrument is approximated
by amortizing the difference between the acquisition cost and value at maturity
of the instrument on a straight-line basis over its remaining life. All cash,
receivables and current payables are carried at their face value. Other assets,
if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
direction of the Company's Board of Directors.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS. Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly from the Fund's net
investment income and any realized net short-term capital gain (the excess of
short-term capital gains over short-term capital losses). The Fund's net
investment income includes accrued interest and earned discount (including both
original issue and market discounts), less amortization of premium and
applicable expenses. Fund shares begin to earn dividends on the day following
the day on which Federal Funds become available. Dividends paid by the Fund with
respect to all classes of its shares are calculated in the same manner and at
the same time. The per share dividends on Class B shares will be lower than the
per share dividends on Class A shares as a result of the higher 12b-1 service
and distribution fees applicable to the Class B shares; the per share dividends
on both such classes of shares will be lower than the per share dividends on the
Advisor Class shares as a result of the absence of any 12b-1 service and
distribution fees applicable to Advisor Class shares.
Dividends are automatically reinvested in Fund shares of the distributing class
unless the investor has elected to receive them in cash. Cash payments may be
elected on the Account Application located at the end of this Prospectus or
through the investor's broker/dealer. Reinvestments in the corresponding class
of shares of another AIM/GT Fund may only be directed to an account with the
identical shareholder registration and account number. An election to receive
dividends in additional shares or in cash may be changed at any time, but, to be
effective for a particular dividend, the investor or the investor's
broker/dealer must notify the Transfer Agent at least fifteen Business Days
prior to the payment date. Shares earn dividends on the day of redemption. THE
FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS OF DIVIDENDS IS THE SAME WHETHER THEY ARE RECEIVED IN
CASH OR REINVESTED IN ADDITIONAL SHARES.
The Fund does not expect to realize long-term capital gain and thus does not
anticipate payment of any capital gain distributions.
TAXES. The Fund intends to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company under the Code. In each taxable year that the Fund so
qualifies, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of federal
income tax on that part of its investment company taxable income (consisting of
net investment income and any net short-term
Prospectus Page 21
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
capital gain) that is distributed to its shareholders. Those distributions are
taxable to the Fund's shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of its
earnings and profits, whether they are received in cash or reinvested in
additional shares.
The Fund provides federal income tax information to its shareholders annually,
including information about dividends paid during the preceding year.
The Fund must withhold 31% of all dividends payable to any individuals and
certain other noncorporate shareholders who (1) have not furnished to the Fund a
correct taxpayer identification number or a properly completed claim for
exemption on Form W-8 or W-9 or (2) otherwise are subject to backup withholding.
Taxpayer identification numbers may be furnished on the Account Application
provided at the end of this Prospectus. Fund accounts opened via a bank wire
purchase (see "How to Invest -- Purchases Through the Transfer Agent") are
considered to have uncertified taxpayer identification numbers unless a
completed Form W-8 or W-9 or Account Application is received by the Transfer
Agent within seven days after the purchase. A shareholder should contact the
Transfer Agent if the shareholder is uncertain whether a proper taxpayer
identification number is on file with the Fund.
The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal income tax
considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders. See "Dividends
and Taxes" in the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion.
There may be other federal, state, local or foreign tax considerations
applicable to a particular investor. Prospective investors are therefore urged
to consult their tax advisers.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company's Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the operation of
the Fund. The Company's Board of Directors has approved all significant
agreements between the Company on the one side and persons or companies
furnishing services to the Fund on the other, including the investment advisory
and administrative services agreement with AIM, the investment sub-advisory and
sub-administration agreement with the Sub-adviser, the agreements with AIM
Distributors regarding distribution of the Fund's shares, the custody agreement
with State Street Bank and Trust Company and the transfer agency agreement with
GT Global Investor Services, Inc. The day-to-day operations of the Fund are
delegated to the officers of the Company, subject always to the objective and
policies of the Fund and to the general supervision of the Company's Board of
Directors. See "Directors and Executive Officers" in the Statement of Additional
Information for information on the Directors.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. Services provided by AIM and the
Sub-adviser as the Fund's investment managers and administrators include
determining the composition of the Fund's portfolio and placing orders to buy,
sell or hold particular securities; furnishing corporate officers and clerical
staff; providing office space, services and equipment; and supervising all
matters relating to the Fund's operation. For these services, the Fund pays AIM
management and administration fees, computed daily and paid monthly, at the
annualized rate of 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Out of the
aggregate fees payable by the Fund, AIM pays the Sub-adviser sub-advisory and
sub-administration fees equal to 40% of the aggregate fees AIM receives from the
Fund. AIM has undertaken to limit the Fund's expenses (exclusive of brokerage
commissions, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to the annual rate of
1.00% and 1.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's Class A and Class
B shares, respectively.
The Sub-adviser also serves as the Fund's pricing and accounting agent. For
these services, the Sub-adviser receives a fee at an annual rate derived by
applying 0.03% to the first $5 billion of assets of the AIM/GT Funds and 0.02%
to the assets in excess of $5 billion and allocating the result according to the
Fund's average daily net assets.
AIM, 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77046, serves as the
investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to a master investment advisory
agreement, dated as of May 29, 1998 (the "Advisory Agreement"). AIM was
organized in 1976 and,
Prospectus Page 22
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
together with its subsidiaries, manages or advises approximately 90 investment
company portfolios encompassing a broad range of investment objectives. The
Sub-adviser, INVESCO (NY), Inc., 50 California Street, 27th Floor, San
Francisco, California 94111, and 1166 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York
10036, serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment sub-
advisory agreement dated as of May 29, 1998. Prior to May 29, 1998, the
Sub-adviser was known as Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc. On May 29, 1998,
Liechtenstein Global Trust AG ("LGT"), the former indirect parent organization
of the Sub-adviser, consummated a purchase agreement with AMVESCAP PLC pursuant
to which AMVESCAP PLC acquired LGT's Asset Management Division, which included
the Sub-adviser and certain other affiliates. As a result of this transaction,
the Sub-adviser is now an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AMVESCAP PLC.
Prior to the sale, the Sub-adviser and its worldwide asset management affiliates
provided investment management and/or administrative services to institutional,
corporate and individual clients around the world since 1969.
AIM and the Sub-adviser and their worldwide asset management affiliates provide
investment management and/or administrative services to institutional, corporate
and individual clients around the world. AIM and the Sub-adviser are both
indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of AMVESCAP PLC. AMVESCAP PLC and its
subsidiaries are an independent investment management group that has a
significant presence in the institutional and retail segment of the investment
management industry in North America and Europe, and a growing presence in Asia.
In addition to the investment resources of their Houston, San Francisco and New
York offices, AIM and the Sub-adviser draw upon the expertise, personnel, data
and systems of other offices, including investment offices in Atlanta, Boston,
Dallas, Denver, Louisville, Miami, Portland (Oregon), Frankfurt, Hong Kong,
London, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto. In managing the Fund, the
Sub-adviser employs a team approach, taking advantage of its investment
resources around the world.
The investment professionals primarily responsible for the portfolio management
of the Fund are as follows:
AIM DOLLAR FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
NAME/OFFICE THE FUND LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------ ------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cheng-Hock Lau Portfolio Manager since Chief Investment Officer for Global Fixed Income for the
New York 1998 Sub-adviser since October 1996. Senior Portfolio Manager
for Global/International Fixed Income for the Sub-adviser
from July 1995 to October 1996. Employed by Chancellor
Capital Management, Inc. ("Chancellor Capital"), a
predecessor of the Sub-adviser from 1995 to October 1996.
Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager for
Fiduciary Trust Company International from 1993 to 1995.
Vice President at Bankers Trust Company from 1991 to 1993.
Heide Koch Portfolio Manager since Portfolio Manager for the Sub-adviser since October 1996.
New York 1997 Employed by Chancellor Capital from 1991 to October 1996.
</TABLE>
------------------------
In placing orders for the Fund's portfolio transactions, the Sub-adviser seeks
to obtain the best net results. Consistent with its obligation to obtain the
best net results, the Sub-adviser may consider a dealer's sale of shares of the
AIM Funds as a factor in considering through whom portfolio transactions will be
effected.
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES. The Company has entered into master distribution
agreements relating to the Fund (the "Distribution Agreements"), dated May 29,
1998, with AIM Distributors, a registered broker/dealer and a wholly owned
subsidiary of AIM. The address of AIM Distributors is P.O. Box 4739, Houston,
Texas 77210-4739. The Distribution Agreements provide AIM Distributors
Prospectus Page 23
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
with the exclusive rights to distribute shares of the Fund directly and through
Financial Institutions with whom AIM Distributors has entered into agreements.
Under the Distribution Agreements, AIM Distributors acts as the distributor of
Class A, Class B and Advisor Class shares of the Fund.
AIM Distributors may, from time to time, at its expense or as an expense for
which it may be compensated under a distribution plan, if applicable, pay a
bonus or other consideration or incentive to dealers who sell a minimum dollar
amount of the shares of the AIM Funds during a specified period of time. In some
instances, these incentives may be offered only to certain dealers who have sold
or may sell significant amounts of shares. At the option of the dealer, such
incentives may take the form of payment for travel expenses, including lodging,
incurred in connection with trips taken by qualifying registered representatives
and their families to places within or outside the United States. The total
amount of such additional bonus payments or other consideration shall not exceed
0.25% of the public offering price of the shares sold. Any such bonus or
incentive programs will not change the price paid by investors for the purchase
of the applicable AIM fund's shares or the amount that any particular fund will
receive as proceeds from such sales. Dealers may not use sales of the AIM Funds'
shares to qualify for any incentives to the extent that such incentives may be
prohibited by the laws of any state.
AIM Distributors may make payments to dealers and institutions who are dealers
of record for purchases of $1 million or more of Class A shares (or shares which
normally involve payment of initial sales charges), which are sold at net asset
value and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge as follows: 1% of
the first $2 million of such purchases, plus 0.80% of the next $1 million of
such purchases, plus 0.50% of the next $l7 million of such purchases, plus 0.25%
of amounts in excess of $20 million of such purchases.
The Company has adopted a Master Distribution Plan applicable to Class A shares
of the Fund (the "Class A Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, to
compensate AIM Distributors for the purpose of financing any activity that is
intended to result in the sale of Class A shares of the Fund. Under the Class A
Plan, the Fund pays compensation to AIM Distributors at an annual rate of 0.25%
of the average daily net assets of Class A shares of the Fund.
The Company also has adopted a Master Distribution Plan applicable to Class B
shares of the Fund (the "Class B Plan"). Under the Class B Plan, the Fund pays
compensation to AIM Distributors at an annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily
net assets of Class B shares of the Fund.
The Class A Plan and the Class B Plan (together, the "Plans") are designed to
compensate AIM Distributors for certain promotional and other sales-related
costs, and to implement a dealer incentive program that provides for periodic
payments to selected dealers who furnish continuing personal shareholder
services to their customers who purchase and own Class A and Class B shares of
the Fund. Payments also can be directed by AIM Distributors to Financial
Institutions who have entered into service agreements with respect to Class A
and Class B shares of the Fund and who provide continuing personal services to
their customers who own Class A and Class B shares of the Fund. The service fees
payable to selected Financial Institutions are calculated at the annual rate of
0.25% of the average daily net asset value of those Fund shares that are held in
such Institution's customers' accounts that were purchased on or after a
prescribed date set forth in the Plans. Of the aggregate amount payable under
the Plans, payments to Financial Institutions that provide continuing personal
shareholder services to their customers who purchase and own shares of a Fund,
in amounts of up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Fund attributable to
the customers of such Financial Institutions are characterized as a service fee,
and payments to Financial Institutions in excess of such amount and payments to
AIM Distributors would be characterized as an asset-based sales charge. Payments
under the Plans are subject to any applicable limitations imposed by the rules
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
The Plans do not obligate the Fund to reimburse AIM Distributors for the actual
expenses AIM Distributors may incur in fulfilling its obligations under the
Plans. Thus, even if AIM Distributors' actual expenses exceed the fee payable to
AIM Distributors thereunder at any time, the Fund will not be obligated to pay
more than that fee. If AIM Distributors' expenses are less than the fee it
receives, AIM Distributors will retain the full amount of the fee.
Under the Plans, AIM Distributors may in its discretion from time to time agree
to waive voluntarily all or any portion of its fee that has not been assigned or
transferred, while retaining its ability to
Prospectus Page 24
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
be reimbursed for such fee prior to the end of each fiscal year.
Under the Plans, certain Financial Institutions which have entered into service
agreements and which sell shares of the Fund on an agency basis, may receive
payments from the Fund pursuant to the respective Plans. AIM Distributors does
not act as principal, but rather as agent for the Fund, in making such payments.
For additional information concerning the operation of the Plans see
"Distribution Services Relating to the Fund" in the Management section of the
Statement of Additional Information.
The Glass-Steagall Act and other applicable laws, among other things, generally
prohibit federally chartered or supervised banks from engaging in the business
of underwriting or distributing securities. Accordingly, AIM Distributors
intends to engage banks (if at all) only to perform administrative and
shareholder servicing functions. Banks and broker/dealer affiliates of banks
also may execute dealer agreements with AIM Distributors for the purpose of
selling shares of the Fund. If a bank were prohibited from so acting, its
shareholder clients would be permitted to remain shareholders, and alternative
means for continuing the servicing of such shareholders would be sought. It is
not expected that shareholders would suffer any adverse financial consequences
as a result of any of these occurrences.
Prospectus Page 25
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS. Shareholders receive monthly statements
from the Transfer Agent detailing account transactions, such as an additional
investment, redemption or the payment of a dividend. Shortly after the end of
the Fund's fiscal year on December 31 and fiscal half-year on June 30 of each
year, shareholders receive an annual and semiannual report, respectively. These
reports list the securities held by the Fund and contain its financial
statements. In addition, the federal income status of dividends paid by the Fund
to its shareholders is reported after the end of each calendar year on Form
1099-DIV. Under certain circumstances, duplicate mailings of the foregoing
reports to the same household may be consolidated.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY. The Company was organized as a Maryland corporation
in 1981. Prior to May 29, 1998, the Company operated under the name G.T.
Investment Portfolios, Inc. From time to time, the Board may, at its discretion,
establish additional funds, each corresponding to a distinct investment
portfolio and a distinct series of the Company's shares.
Pursuant to the Company's Articles of Amendment and Restatement, the Company may
issue two billion shares. Of this number, one billion five hundred million
shares have been classified as shares of the Fund; five hundred million shares
have been classified as Class A shares, five hundred million have been
classified as Class B shares, and five hundred million shares have been
classified as Advisor Class shares. These amounts may be increased from time to
time at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Each share of the Fund
represents an interest in the Fund only, has a par value of $0.001 per share,
represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund with other shares of the
Fund and is entitled to such dividends and other distributions out of the income
earned and gain realized on the assets belonging to the Fund as may be declared
at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Each Class A, Class B and Advisor
Class share of the Fund is equal in earnings, assets and voting privileges
except as noted below, and each class bears the expenses, if any, related to the
distribution of its shares. Shares of the Fund, when issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable.
Shareholders have been asked to vote on the reorganization of the Company into a
Delaware business trust. If approved by shareholders, it is anticipated that the
reorganization would occur prior to October 1, 1998. If the Company is
reorganized as a Delaware business trust, it is anticipated that Class B shares
of the Fund will convert to Class A shares approximately eight years following
the initial date the Class B shares were issued.
Fund shares are entitled to one vote per share (with proportional voting for
fractional shares) and are freely transferable. Shareholders have no preemptive
or conversion rights. Shares may be voted on the election of Directors and on
other matters submitted to the vote of Fund shareholders. If one or more
additional funds were established, on any matter submitted to a vote of
shareholders, shares of each fund would be voted by that fund's shareholders
individually when the matter affected the specific interest of that fund only,
such as approval of that fund's investment advisory arrangements. In addition,
shares of the Fund may vote on matters affecting only that class. The shares of
all the Company's funds would be voted in the aggregate on other matters, such
as the election of Directors and ratification of the selection of the Company's
independent accountants.
Normally there will be no annual meeting of shareholders in any year, except as
required under the 1940 Act. The Company would be required to hold a
shareholders' meeting in the event that at any time less than a majority of the
Directors holding office had been elected by shareholders. Directors shall
continue to hold office until their successors are elected and have qualified.
Shares of the Company's funds do not have cumulative voting rights, which means
that the holders of a majority of the shares voting for the election of
Directors can elect all the Directors. A Director may be removed upon a majority
vote of the shareholders qualified to vote in the election. Shareholders holding
10% of the Company's outstanding voting securities may call a meeting of
Prospectus Page 26
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
Director or for any other purpose. The 1940 Act requires the Company to assist
shareholders in calling such a meeting.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. Shareholder inquiries may be made by calling the Fund at
(800) 223-2138 or by writing to the Fund at 50 California Street, 27th Floor,
San Francisco, CA 94111.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. From time to time the Fund may advertise its "yield"
and "effective yield" in advertisements or promotional materials ("Performance
Advertisements"). Both yield and effective yield are calculated separately for
Class A, Class B and Advisor Class shares of the Fund. Both yield figures are
based on historical earnings and are not intended to indicate future
performance. It can be expected that these yields will fluctuate substantially.
The "yield" of the Fund refers to the income generated by an investment in the
Fund over a seven-day period (which period will be stated in the advertisement).
This income is then "annualized." That is, the amount of income generated by the
investment during that week is assumed to be generated each week over a 52-week
period and is shown as a percentage of the investment. The "effective yield" is
calculated similarly but, when annualized, the income earned by an investment in
the Fund is assumed to be reinvested. The "effective yield" will be slightly
higher than the "yield" because of the compounding effect of this assumed
reinvestment. The Fund's "yield" and "effective yield" may reflect expenses
after reimbursement pursuant to an undertaking that may be in effect. See
"Management." The Statement of Additional Information describes the methods used
to calculate the Fund's yield and effective yield.
In Performance Advertisements, the Fund may quote its average annual total
return ("Standardized Return"). Standardized Return is calculated separately for
each class of shares of the Fund. Standardized Return shows percentage rates
reflecting the average annual change in the value of an assumed investment in
the Fund at the end of one-, five-, and ten-year periods, reduced by the maximum
applicable sales charge imposed on sales of Fund shares. If a one-, five- and/or
ten-year period has not yet elapsed, data will be provided as to the end of a
shorter period corresponding to the life of the Fund. Standardized Return
assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions.
In addition, in order to more completely represent the Fund's performance or
more accurately compare such performance to other measures of investment return,
the Fund also may include in advertisements, sales literature and shareholder
reports other total return performance data ("Non-Standardized Return").
Non-Standardized Return reflects percentage rates of return encompassing all
elements of return; it assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain
distributions. Non-Standardized Return may be quoted for the same or different
periods as those for which Standardized Return is quoted; it may consist of an
aggregate or average annual percentage rate of return, actual year-by-year rates
or any combination thereof. Non-Standardized Return may or may not take sales
charges into account; performance data calculated without taking the effect of
sales charges into account will be higher than data including the effect of such
charges.
The Fund's performance data reflects past performance and is not necessarily
indicative of future results. The Fund's investment results will vary from time
to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolio and
its operating expenses. These factors and possible differences in calculation
methods should be considered when comparing the Fund's investment results with
those published for other investment companies, other investment vehicles and
unmanaged indices. The Fund's results also should be considered relative to the
risks associated with its investment objective and policies. See "Investment
Results" in the Statement of Additional Information.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE PROJECT. In providing services to the Fund, AIM, AIM
Distributors, the Transfer Agent and the Sub-adviser rely on internal computer
systems as well as external computer systems provided by third parties. Some of
these systems were not originally designed to distinguish between the year 1900
and the year 2000. This inability, if not corrected, could adversely affect the
services AIM, AIM Distributors, the Transfer Agent and the Sub-adviser and
others provide the Fund and its shareholders.
To address this important issue, AIM, AIM Distributors, the Transfer Agent and
the Sub-adviser have undertaken a comprehensive Year 2000 Compliance Project
(the "Project"). The Project consists of four phases: (i) inventorying every
software and hardware system in use at AIM, AIM Distributors, the Transfer Agent
and the Sub-adviser, as well as remote, third-party systems on which AIM, AIM
Prospectus Page 27
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
Distributors, the Transfer Agent and the Sub-adviser rely; (ii) identifying
those systems that may not function properly after December 31, 1999; (iii)
correcting or replacing those systems that have been so identified; and (iv)
testing the processing of Fund data in all systems. Phase (i) has been
completed; phase (ii) is substantially completed; phase (iii) has commenced; and
phase (iv) is expected to commence during the third quarter of 1998. The Project
is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 1998. Following completion of the
Project, AIM, AIM Distributors and the Sub-adviser will review any systems
subsequently acquired to confirm that they are year 2000 compliant.
TRANSFER AGENT. Shareholder servicing, reporting and general transfer agent
functions for the Fund are performed by GT Global Investor Services, Inc. The
Transfer Agent is an affiliate of the Sub-adviser and AIM and maintains offices
at California Plaza, 2121 North California Boulevard, Suite 450, Walnut Creek,
CA 94596.
CUSTODIAN. State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA
02110 is custodian of the Fund's assets.
COUNSEL. The law firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, 1800 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C., 20036-1800, acts as counsel to the Company. Kirkpatrick
& Lockhart LLP also acts as counsel to the Sub-adviser and the Transfer Agent in
connection with other matters.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. The Company's and the Fund's independent accountants
are Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109. Coopers
& Lybrand L.L.P. conducts an annual audit of the Fund, assists in the
preparation of the Fund's federal and state income tax returns and consults with
the Company and the Fund as to matters of accounting, regulatory filings, and
federal and state income taxation.
MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS. This Prospectus may be translated into
other languages. In the event of any inconsistency or ambiguity as to the
meaning of any word or phrase contained in a translation, the English text shall
prevail.
Prospectus Page 28
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
AIM/GT FUNDS
AIM DISTRIBUTORS OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF FUNDS TO COMPLEMENT MANY INVESTORS'
PORTFOLIOS. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A PROSPECTUS ON ANY OF THE FUNDS LISTED
BELOW, INCLUDING FEES, EXPENSES AND THE RISKS OF GLOBAL AND EMERGING MARKET
INVESTING AND THE RISKS OF INVESTING IN RELATED INDUSTRIES, PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER OR CALL 1-800-824-1580.
GROWTH FUNDS
/ / GLOBALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW DIMENSION FUND
Captures global growth opportunities by investing directly in the six global
theme funds
AIM WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND
Invests around the world, including the U.S.
AIM INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
Provides portfolio diversity by investing outside
the U.S.
AIM EMERGING MARKETS FUND
Gives access to the growth potential of developing economies
AIM DEVELOPING MARKETS FUND
Invests in debt and equity securities of developing market issuers
/ / GLOBAL THEME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES FUND
Invests in companies that manufacture, market, retail, or distribute consumer
products or services
AIM GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND
Focuses on the worldwide opportunities from the demand for financial services
and products
AIM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
Invests in growing health care industries worldwide
AIM GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Seeks companies that build, improve or maintain a country's infrastructure
AIM GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
Concentrates on companies that own, explore or develop natural resources
AIM GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
Invests in companies worldwide that develop, manufacture or sell
telecommunications services or equipment
/ / REGIONALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW PACIFIC GROWTH FUND
Offers access to the emerging and established markets of the Pacific Rim,
excluding Japan
AIM EUROPE GROWTH FUND
Focuses on investment opportunities in Europe
AIM LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
Invests in the emerging markets of Latin America
/ / SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
AIM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
Invests in equity securities of small U.S. companies
AIM MID CAP GROWTH FUND
Concentrates on medium-sized companies in the U.S.
AIM AMERICA VALUE FUND
Concentrates on equity securities of large cap U.S. companies believed to be
undervalued
AIM JAPAN GROWTH FUND
Provides U.S. investors with direct access to the Japanese market
GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
AIM GLOBAL GROWTH & INCOME FUND
Invests in blue-chip stocks and government bonds from around the world
INCOME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
Earns monthly income from global government securities
AIM STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
Allocates its assets among debt securities from the U.S., developed foreign
countries and emerging markets
AIM GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND
Invests in debt securities in emerging markets
AIM FLOATING RATE FUND
Invests primarily in senior secured floating rate loans that have the potential
to achieve a high level of current income
MONEY MARKET FUND
AIM DOLLAR FUND
Invests in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities
worldwide for stability and preservation of capital
[LOGO]
NO DEALER, SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY AIM DOLLAR FUND, A I M
ADVISORS, INC., INVESCO (NY), INC., AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC. OR A I M
DISTRIBUTORS, INC. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY
JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH
JURISDICTION.
DOL-PRO-1
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
50 California Street, 27th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111-4624
(415) 392-6181
Toll Free: (800) 824-1580
Statement of Additional Information
June 1, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM Dollar Fund (the "Fund") is a diversified series of AIM Investment
Portfolios, Inc. (the "Company"), a registered open-end management investment
company. This Statement of Additional Information relating to the Class A and
Class B shares of the Fund, which is not a prospectus, supplements and should be
read in conjunction with the Fund's current Class A and Class B Prospectus dated
June 1, 1998, a copy of which is available without charge by writing to the
above address or calling the Fund at the toll-free telephone number printed
above.
A I M Advisors, Inc. ("AIM") serves as the investment manager of and
administrator for, and INVESCO (NY), Inc. (the "Sub-adviser") serves as the
investment sub-adviser and sub-administrator for the Fund. The distributor of
the Fund's shares is A I M Distributors, Inc. ("AIM Distributors"). The Fund's
transfer agent is GT Global Investor Services, Inc. ("GT Services" or the
"Transfer Agent").
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page No.
--------
<S> <C>
Investment Objective and Policies........................................................................................ 2
Investment Limitations................................................................................................... 4
Directors and Executive Officers......................................................................................... 6
Management............................................................................................................... 9
Dividends and Taxes...................................................................................................... 11
Information Relating to Sales and Redemptions............................................................................ 12
Valuation of Fund Shares................................................................................................. 16
Execution of Portfolio Transactions...................................................................................... 17
Additional Information................................................................................................... 18
Investment Results....................................................................................................... 19
Description of Debt Ratings.............................................................................................. 23
Financial Statements..................................................................................................... 24
</TABLE>
[LOGO]
Statement of Additional Information Page 1
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the Fund is maximum current income consistent with
liquidity and conservation of capital. The Fund seeks its objective by investing
in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments.
CHANGES IN A SECURITY'S RATING
Subsequent to the purchase of a security by the Fund, the security may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for its
purchase, as described in the Prospectus. In such event the Fund, the Company's
Board of Directors (the "Board") and the Sub-adviser will review the situation
and take appropriate action in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board
pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act").
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE OBLIGATIONS
Floating and variable rate demand notes and bonds are obligations ordinarily
having stated maturities in excess of 13 months, but which permit the holder to
demand payment of principal at any time, or at specified intervals not exceeding
13 months, in each case upon not more than 30 days' notice. The issuer of such
obligations generally has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay
in its discretion the outstanding principal amount of the obligation plus
accrued interest upon a specified number of days' notice to the holders thereof.
The interest rates payable on certain securities in which the Fund may invest
are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. Variable and
floating rate obligations have interest rates that are adjusted at designated
intervals or whenever there are changes in the market rates of interest on which
the interest rates are based. Variable and floating rate obligations permit the
Fund to "lock in" the current interest rate for only the period until the next
rate adjustment, but the rate adjustment feature tends to limit the extent to
which the market value of the obligation will fluctuate.
BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES
Bankers' acceptances are negotiable obligations of a bank to pay a draft which
has been drawn on it by a customer. These obligations are backed by large banks
and usually are backed by goods in international trade.
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates representing a commercial
bank's obligations to repay funds deposited with it, earning specified rates of
interest over a given period of time.
COMMERCIAL PAPER
Commercial paper consists of short-term promissory notes issued by large
corporations with a high quality rating to finance short-term credit needs.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
U.S. government obligations are debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Treasury or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government. However, not
all U.S. government obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States. For example, securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage
Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Tennessee Valley
Authority are supported only by the credit of the issuer. There is no guarantee
that the U.S. government will provide support to such U.S. government sponsored
agencies, as it is not so obligated by law. Therefore, the purchase of such
securities involves more risk than investment in other U.S. government
obligations.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which the Fund purchases a security
from a bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits to resell
that security to the bank or dealer at an agreed-upon price, date and market
rate of interest unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased
security. Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with
direct investments in securities, including possible decline in the market value
of the underlying securities and delays and costs to the Fund if the other party
to the repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt, the Fund intends to enter into
repurchase agreements only with banks and dealers believed by the Sub-adviser to
present
Statement of Additional Information Page 2
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
minimal credit risks in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. The
Sub-adviser will review and monitor the creditworthiness of such institutions
under the Board's general supervision.
The Fund will invest only in repurchase agreements collateralized at all times
in an amount at least equal to the repurchase price plus accrued interest. To
the extent that the proceeds from any sale of such collateral upon a default in
the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund would
suffer a loss. If the financial institution which is party to the repurchase
agreement petitions for bankruptcy or otherwise becomes subject to bankruptcy or
other liquidation proceedings, there may be restrictions on the Fund's ability
to sell the collateral and the Fund could suffer a loss. However, with respect
to financial institutions whose bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings are
subject to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Fund intends to comply with provisions
under that code that would allow the immediate resale of such collateral. There
is no limitation on the amount of the Fund's assets that may be subject to
repurchase agreements at any given time. The Fund will not enter into a
repurchase agreement with a maturity of more than seven days if, as a result,
more than 10% of the value of its net assets would be invested in such
repurchase agreements and other illiquid investments.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS
The Fund may buy and sell securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis,
with payment and delivery taking place at a future date. The market value of
securities purchased in this way may change before the delivery date, which
could increase fluctuations in the Fund's yield. Ordinarily, the Fund will not
earn interest on securities purchased until they are delivered.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
The term "illiquid securities" for this purpose means securities that cannot be
disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at
approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities and
includes, among other things, repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven
days, and restricted securities other than those the Sub-adviser has determined
to be liquid pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. Commercial paper
issues in which the Fund may invest include securities issued by major
corporations without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act"), in reliance on the exemption from such registration afforded
by Section 3(a)(3) thereof and commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-
called "private placement" exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2)
of the 1933 Act ("Section 4(2) paper"). Section 4(2) paper is restricted as to
disposition under the federal securities laws in that any resale must similarly
be made in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper is normally resold to other
institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers who
make a market in Section 4(2) paper, thus providing liquidity.
Not all restricted securities are illiquid. In recent years a large
institutional market has developed for certain securities that are not
registered under the 1933 Act, including private placements, repurchase
agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities and corporate bonds and notes.
These instruments are often restricted securities because the securities are
sold in transactions not requiring registration. Institutional investors
generally will not seek to sell these instruments to the general public, but
instead will often depend either on an efficient institutional market in which
such unregistered securities can be readily resold on or an issuer's ability to
honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the fact that there are contractual or
legal restrictions on resale to the general public or certain institutions is
not dispositive of the liquidity of such investments.
Rule 144A under the 1933 Act establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration
requirements of the 1933 Act for resales of certain securities to qualified
institutional buyers. Institutional markets for restricted securities have
developed as a result of Rule 144A, providing both readily ascertainable values
for restricted securities and the ability to liquidate an investment to satisfy
share redemption orders. Such markets include automated systems for the trading,
clearance and settlement of unregistered securities, such as the PORTAL System
sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. An
insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing
Rule 144A-eligible restricted securities held by the Fund, however, could affect
adversely the marketability of such portfolio securities and the Fund might be
unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at favorable prices.
With respect to liquidity determinations generally, the Board has the ultimate
responsibility for determining whether specific securities, including restricted
securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, are liquid or illiquid. The
Board has delegated the function of making day-to-day determinations of
liquidity to the Sub-adviser, in accordance with procedures approved by the
Board. The Sub-adviser takes into account a number of factors in reaching
liquidity decisions, including (1) the frequency of trading in the security; (2)
the number of dealers that make quotes for the security; (3) the number of
dealers that have undertaken to make a market in the security; (4) the number of
other potential purchasers; and (5) the nature of the security and how trading
is effected (E.G., the time needed to sell the security, how offers are
Statement of Additional Information Page 3
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
solicited and the mechanics of transfer). The Sub-adviser monitors the liquidity
of securities held by the Fund and periodically reports such determinations to
the Board as applicable. If the liquidity percentage restriction of the Fund is
satisfied at the time of investment, a later increase in the percentage of
illiquid securities held by the Fund resulting from a change in market value or
assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction. If as a result of a
change in market value or assets, the percentage of illiquid securities held by
the Fund increases above the applicable limit, the Sub-adviser will take
appropriate steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid assets back within
the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable, taking into
account the effect of any disposition on the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund has adopted the following investment limitations as fundamental
policies that may not be changed without approval by the affirmative vote of the
lesser of (i) 67% of the Fund's shares represented at a meeting at which more
than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented, and (ii) more than 50% of
the Fund's outstanding shares. The Fund may not:
(1) Purchase securities of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5%
of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer or
the Fund would own or hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of that issuer, except that up to 25% of the Fund's total assets
may be invested without regard to this limitation, and except that this
limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities or to securities issued by
other investment companies;
(2) Issue senior securities or borrow money, except as permitted under
the 1940 Act and then not in excess of 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets
(including the amount borrowed but reduced by any liabilities not
constituting borrowings) at the time of the borrowing, except that the Fund
may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets (not including the
amount borrowed) for temporary or emergency purposes;
(3) Engage in the business of underwriting securities of other issuers,
except to the extent that the Fund might be considered an underwriter under
the federal securities laws in connection with its disposition of portfolio
securities;
(4) Purchase or sell real estate, except that investments in securities
of issuers that invest in real estate and investments in mortgage-backed
securities, mortgage participations or other instruments supported by
interests in real estate are not subject to this limitation, and except that
the Fund may exercise rights under agreements relating to such securities,
including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate
acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be
liquidated in an orderly manner;
(5) Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities or through
repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this limitation, the
acquisition of bonds, debentures, other debt securities or instruments, or
participations or other interests therein and investments in government
obligations, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances
or similar instruments will not be considered the making of a loan;
(6) Purchase or sell physical commodities, but the Fund may purchase,
sell or enter into financial options and futures, forward and spot currency
contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative
instruments; or
(7) Purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, 25% or more
of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of issuers having
their principal business activities in the same industry, except that this
limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
Notwithstanding any other investment policy of the Fund, the Fund may invest all
of its investable assets (cash, securities and receivables related to
securities) in an open-end management investment company having substantially
the same investment objective, policies and limitations as the Fund.
Statement of Additional Information Page 4
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
For purposes of the concentration policy contained in limitation (7), above, the
Fund intends to comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") staff
position that securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by
any single foreign government are considered to be securities of issuers in the
same industry.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets
will not constitute a violation of that restriction.
The following investment policies of the Fund are not fundamental policies and
may be changed by vote of the Company's Board of Directors without shareholder
approval. The Fund may not:
(1) Invest more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities;
(2) Purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain
short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and
sales of securities, and further provided that the Fund may make margin
deposits in connection with its use of financial options and futures,
forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial
contracts or derivative instruments; or
(3) Mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any of its assets, provided that
this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any
permissible borrowing or to collateral arrangements in connection with
permissible activities.
Statement of Additional Information Page 5
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company's Directors and Executive Officers are listed below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, POSITION(S) WITH THE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS AND BUSINESS
COMPANY AND ADDRESS EXPERIENCE FOR PAST 5 YEARS
- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
William J. Guilfoyle*, 39 Mr. Guilfoyle is President, GT Global, Inc. since 1995; Director, GT Global since 1991;
Director, Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing, GT Global from May 1992 to
President April 1995; Vice President and Director of Marketing, GT Global from 1987 to 1992;
50 California Street Director, Liechtenstein Global Trust AG (holding company of the various international LGT
San Francisco, CA 94111 companies) Advisory Board since January 1996; Director, G.T. Global Insurance Agency
("G.T. Insurance") since 1996; President and Chief Executive Officer, G.T. Insurance since
1995; Senior Vice President and Director, Sales and Marketing, G.T. Insurance from April
1995 to November 1995; Senior Vice President, Retail Marketing, G.T. Insurance from 1992
to 1993. Mr. Guilfoyle is also a trustee of each of the other investment companies
registered under the 1940 Act that is sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser.
C. Derek Anderson, 57 Mr. Anderson is President, Plantagenet Capital Management, LLC (an investment
Director partnership); Chief Executive Officer, Plantagenet Holdings, Ltd. (an investment banking
220 Sansome Street firm); Director, Anderson Capital Management, Inc. since 1988; Director, PremiumWear, Inc.
Suite 400 (formerly Munsingwear, Inc.)(a casual apparel company) and Director, "R" Homes, Inc. and
San Francisco, CA 94104 various other companies. Mr. Anderson is also a trustee of each of the other investment
companies registered under the 1940 Act that is sub-advised or sub-administered by the
Sub-adviser.
Frank S. Bayley, 58 Mr. Bayley is a partner of the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, and serves as a Director and
Director Chairman of C.D. Stimson Company (a private investment company). Mr. Bayley is also a
Two Embarcadero Center trustee of each of the other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act that is
Suite 2400 sub-advised or sub- administered by the Sub-adviser.
San Francisco, CA 94111
Arthur C. Patterson, 54 Mr. Patterson is Managing Partner of Accel Partners (a venture capital firm). He also
Director serves as a director of Viasoft and PageMart, Inc. (both public software companies), as
428 University Avenue well as several other privately held software and communications companies. Mr. Patterson
Palo Alto, CA 94301 is also a trustee of each of the other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act
that is sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser.
Ruth H. Quigley, 63 Miss Quigley is a private investor. From 1984 to 1986, she was President of Quigley
Director Friedlander & Co., Inc. (a financial advisory services firm). Miss Quigley is also a
1055 California Street trustee of each of the other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act that is
San Francisco, CA 94108 sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser.
</TABLE>
- ------------------
* Mr. Guilfoyle is an "interested person" of the Company as defined by the
1940 Act due to his affiliation with the Sub-adviser.
Statement of Additional Information Page 6
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, POSITION(S) WITH THE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS AND BUSINESS
COMPANY AND ADDRESS EXPERIENCE FOR PAST 5 YEARS
- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John J. Arthur+, 53 Director, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, A I M Advisors, Inc.; Vice President and
Vice President Treasurer, A I M Management Group Inc., A I M Capital Management, Inc., A I M
Distributors, Inc., A I M Fund Services, Inc. and Fund Management Company.
Kenneth W. Chancey, 52 Senior Vice President -- Mutual Fund Accounting, the Sub-adviser since 1997; Vice
Vice President and President -- Mutual Fund Accounting, the Sub-adviser from 1992 to 1997.
Principal Accounting Officer
50 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Melville B. Cox, 54 Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, A I M Advisors, Inc., A I M Capital
Vice President Management, Inc., A I M Distributors, Inc., A I M Fund Services, Inc. and Fund Management
Company.
Gary T. Crum, 50 Director and President, A I M Capital Management, Inc.; Director and Senior Vice
Vice President President, A I M Management Group Inc. and A I M Advisors, Inc.; and Director, A I M
Distributors, Inc. and AMVESCAP PLC.
Robert H Graham, 51 Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, A I M Management Group Inc.; Director and
Vice President President, A I M Advisors, Inc.; Director and Senior Vice President, A I M Capital
Management, Inc., A I M Distributors, Inc., A I M Fund Services, Inc. and Fund Management
Company; Director, AMVESCAP PLC; Chairman of the Board of Directors and President, INVESCO
Holdings Canada Inc.; and Director, AIM Funds Group Canada Inc. and INVESCO G.P. Canada
Inc.
Helge K. Lee, 52 Chief Legal and Compliance Officer -- North America, the Sub-adviser since October 1997;
Vice President and Secretary Executive Vice President of the Asset Management Division of Liechtenstein Global Trust
50 California Street since October 1996; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of LGT Asset
San Francisco, CA 94111 Management, Inc., INVESCO (NY), Inc., GT Global, GT Services and G.T. Insurance from May
1994 to October 1996; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
Strong/Corneliuson Management, Inc. and Secretary of each of the Strong Funds from October
1991 through May 1994.
Carol F. Relihan+, 43 Director, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, A I M Advisors, Inc.; Vice
Vice President President, General Counsel and Secretary, A I M Management Group Inc.; Director, Vice
President and General Counsel, Fund Management Company; Vice President and General
Counsel, A I M Fund Services, Inc.; and Vice President, A I M Capital Management, Inc. and
A I M Distributors, Inc.
Dana R. Sutton, 39 Vice President and Fund Controller, A I M Advisors, Inc.; and Assistant Vice President and
Vice President and Assistant Assistant Treasurer, Fund Management Company.
Treasurer
</TABLE>
- --------------
+ Mr. Arthur and Ms. Relihan are married to each other.
Statement of Additional Information Page 7
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Board of Directors has a Nominating and Audit Committee, comprised of Miss
Quigley and Messrs. Anderson, Bayley and Patterson, which is responsible for
nominating persons to serve as Directors, reviewing audits of the Company and
recommending firms to serve as independent auditors of the Company. Each of the
Directors and Officers of the Company is also a Director or Trustee and Officer
of AIM Investment Funds, AIM Floating Rate Fund, AIM Growth Series, AIM Series
Trust, AIM Eastern Europe Fund, GT Global Variable Investment Trust, GT Global
Variable Investment Series, Global High Income Portfolio, Growth Portfolio,
Floating Rate Portfolio and Global Investment Portfolio, which also are
registered investment companies advised by AIM and sub-advised by the
Sub-adviser. Each Director, Trustee and Officer serves in total as a Director,
Trustee and Officer, respectively, of 12 registered investment companies with 47
series managed or administered by AIM and sub-advised or sub-administered by the
Sub-adviser. Each Director who is not a director, officer or employee of the
Sub-adviser or any affiliated company is paid aggregate fees of $5,000 a year,
plus $300 per fund for each meeting of the Board attended, and reimbursed travel
and other expenses incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.
Other Directors and Officers receive no compensation or expense reimbursement
from the Company. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, Mr. Anderson, Mr.
Bayley, Mr. Patterson and Miss Quigley, who are not directors, officers or
employees of the Sub-adviser or any affiliated company, received total
compensation of $3,588, $3,716, $3,100 and $3,409, respectively, from the
Company for their services as Directors. For the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Bayley, Mr. Patterson and Miss Quigley, who are not
directors, officers or employees of the Sub-adviser or any other affiliated
company, received total compensation of $103,654, $106,556, $89,700 and $98,038,
respectively, from the investment companies managed or administered by AIM and
sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser, for which he or she serves
as Director or Trustee. Fees and expenses disbursed to the Directors contained
no accrued or payable pension or retirement benefits. As of May 7, 1998, the
Officers and Directors and their families as a group owned in the aggregate
beneficially or of record less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Statement of Additional Information Page 8
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
AIM serves as the Fund's investment manager and administrator under an
investment management and administration contract between the Company and AIM
("Management Contract"). The Sub-adviser serves as the sub-adviser and sub-
administrator to the Fund under a Sub-Advisory and Sub-Administration Contract
between AIM and the Sub-adviser ("Sub-Management Contract," and together with
the Management Contract, the "Management Contracts"). As investment managers and
administrators, AIM and the Sub-adviser make all investment decisions for the
Fund and administer the Fund's affairs. Among other things, AIM and the
Sub-adviser furnish the services and pay the compensation and travel expenses of
persons who perform the executive, administrative, clerical and bookkeeping
functions of the Company and the Fund, and provide suitable office space,
necessary small office equipment and utilities.
The Management Contracts may be renewed for one-year terms with respect to the
Fund, provided that any such renewal has been specifically approved at least
annually by: (i) the Board, or by the vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), and (ii) a majority
of Directors who are not parties to the Management Contracts or "interested
persons" of any such party (as defined in the 1940 Act), cast in person at a
meeting called for the specific purpose of voting on such approval. Either the
Company or each of AIM or the Sub-adviser may terminate the Management Contracts
without penalty upon sixty days' written notice to the other party. The
Management Contracts terminate automatically in the event of their assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act).
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Fund paid
investment management and administration fees to the Sub-adviser in the amounts
of $1,384,735, $1,808,976 and $1,665,299, respectively. During the fiscal years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Sub-adviser reimbursed the Fund for a
portion of its investment management and administration fees in the amounts of
$88,707 and $173,045, respectively. No such reimbursements were made during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
The Fund's Class A and Class B shares are offered continuously through the
Fund's principal underwriter and distributor, AIM Distributors, on a "best
efforts" basis pursuant to a distribution contract between the Company and AIM
Distributors.
As described in the Prospectus, on May 29, 1998, the Company adopted a Master
Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act relating to the
Class A shares of the Fund (the "Class A Plan"). At the same time, the Company
also adopted a Master Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940
Act relating to Class B shares of the Fund (the "Class B Plan," and together
with the Class A Plan, the "Plans"). The rate of payments by the Funds under the
Plans, as described in the Prospectus, may not be increased without the approval
of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the affected class. For
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund made payments to GT Global,
Inc., the Fund's former Distributor, under the Class A Plan and Class B Plan in
the amounts of $422,808 and $995,797, respectively. During the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, GT Global waived payments under the Class A Plan and Class B
Plan in the amounts of $422,808 and $248,949, respectively.
BOTH PLANS. Pursuant to an incentive program, AIM Distributors may enter into
agreements ("Shareholder Service Agreements") with investment dealers selected
from time to time by AIM Distributors for the provision of distribution
assistance in connection with the sale of the Fund's shares to such dealers'
customers, and for the provision of continuing personal shareholder services to
customers who may from time to time directly or beneficially own shares of the
Fund. The distribution assistance and continuing personal shareholder services
to be rendered by dealers under the Shareholder Service Agreements may include,
but shall not be limited to, the following: distributing sales literature;
answering routine customer inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting customers in
changing dividend options, account designations and addresses, and in enrolling
in any of several special investment plans offered in connection with the
purchase of the Fund's shares; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of
customer accounts and records and in the processing of purchase and redemption
transactions; investing dividends and any capital gains distributions
automatically in the Fund's shares; and providing such other information and
services as the Fund or the customer may reasonably request.
Statement of Additional Information Page 9
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
Under the Plans, in addition to the Shareholder Service Agreements authorizing
payments to selected dealers, banks may enter into Shareholder Service
Agreements authorizing payments under the Plans to be made to banks that provide
services to their customers who have purchased shares. Services provided
pursuant to Shareholder Service Agreements with banks may include some or all of
the following: answering shareholder inquiries regarding the Fund and the
Company; performing sub-accounting; establishing and maintaining shareholder
accounts and records; processing customer purchase and redemption transactions;
providing periodic statements showing a shareholder's account balance and the
integration of such statements with those of other transactions and balances in
the shareholder's other accounts serviced by the bank; forwarding applicable
prospectuses, proxy statements, reports and notices to bank clients who hold
Fund shares; and such other administrative services as the Fund reasonably may
request, to the extent permitted by applicable statute, rule or regulation.
Similar agreements may be permitted under the Plans for institutions that
provide recordkeeping for and administrative services to 401(k) plans.
Financial intermediaries and any other person entitled to receive compensation
for selling Fund shares may receive different compensation for selling shares of
one particular class over another.
Under a Shareholder Service Agreement, the Fund agrees to pay periodically fees
to selected dealers and other institutions who render the foregoing services to
their customers. The fees payable under a Shareholder Service Agreement will be
calculated at the end of each payment period for each business day of the Fund
during such period at the annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net asset
value of the Fund's shares purchased or acquired through exchange. Fees
calculated in this manner shall be paid only to those selected dealers or other
institutions who are dealers or institutions of record at the close of business
on the last business day of the applicable payment period for the account in
which the Fund's shares are held.
Payments pursuant to the Plans are subject to any applicable limitations imposed
by rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"). The
Plans conform to rules of the NASD by limiting payments made to dealers and
other financial institutions who provide continuing personal shareholder
services to their customers who purchase and own shares of the Fund to no more
than 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to
the customers of such dealers or financial institutions, and by imposing a cap
on the total sales charges, including asset-based sales charges, that may be
paid by the Fund and its respective classes.
AIM Distributors does not act as principal, but rather as agent for the Fund, in
making dealer incentive and shareholder servicing payments under the Plans.
These payments are an obligation of the Fund and not of AIM Distributors.
In approving the Plans, the Directors determined that the adoption of each Plan
was in the best interests of the shareholders of the Fund. Agreements related to
the Plans must also be approved by such vote of the Directors, including a
majority of Directors who are not interested persons of the Company (as defined
in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interests in the
operation of the Plans, or in any agreement related thereto.
Each Plan requires that, at least quarterly, the Directors review the amounts
expended thereunder and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. Each
Plan requires that as long as it is in effect the selection and nomination of
Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Company will be committed to
the discretion of the Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Company,
as defined in the 1940 Act.
As discussed in the Prospectus, AIM Distributors receives no compensation or
reimbursements relating to its distribution efforts with respect to Class A
shares other than as described above. AIM Distributors receives any contingent
deferred sales charges "CDSCs" payable with respect to redemption of Class B
shares. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, GT Global,
Inc., the Fund's former distributor, collected contingent deferred sales charges
in the amount of $1,241,407, $968,357 and $1,333,734, respectively.
TRANSFER AGENCY AND ACCOUNTING AGENCY SERVICES
The Transfer Agent has been retained by the Fund to perform shareholder
servicing, reporting and general transfer agent functions for the Fund. For
these services, the Transfer Agent receives an annual maintenance fee of $17.50
per account, a new account fee of $4.00 per account, a per transaction fee of
$1.75 for all transactions other than exchanges and a per exchange fee of $2.25.
The Transfer Agent also is reimbursed by the Fund for its out-of-pocket expenses
for such items as postage, forms, telephone charges, stationery and office
supplies. The Sub-adviser also serves as the Fund's pricing and accounting
agent. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the
accounting services fees for the Fund were $69,517, $90,682 and $86,710,
respectively.
Statement of Additional Information Page 10
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
EXPENSES OF THE FUND
The Fund pays all expenses not assumed by AIM, the Sub-adviser, AIM Distributors
and other agents. These expenses include, in addition to the advisory,
administration, distribution, transfer agency, pricing and accounting agency and
brokerage fees discussed above, legal and audit expenses, custodian fees,
directors' fees, organizational fees, fidelity bond and other insurance
premiums, taxes, extraordinary expenses and the expenses of reports and
prospectuses sent to existing investors. The allocation of general Company
expenses and expenses shared among the Fund and other funds organized as series
of the Company are allocated on a basis deemed fair and equitable, which may be
based on the relative net assets of the Fund or the nature of the service
performed and relative applicability to the Fund. Expenditures, including costs
incurred in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, which
are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applicable to investment companies, are accounted for as capital items and not
as expenses.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAILY INCOME DIVIDENDS
Net investment income and any realized net short-term capital gain are
determined and declared as a dividend each day. Each such dividend is payable to
shareholders as of the close of business on that day. Orders to purchase Fund
shares are executed on the business day on which Federal Funds, i.e., monies
held on deposit at a Federal Reserve Bank, become available. Shares begin
accruing dividends on the day following the date of purchase. Shares are
entitled to the dividend declared on the day a redemption request is received by
the Transfer Agent. Dividends are automatically reinvested in Fund shares of the
distributing class on the last Business Day of the month, at net asset value,
unless a shareholder otherwise instructs the Transfer Agent in writing. A
shareholder that does so will be mailed a check in the amount of each dividend.
For the purpose of calculating dividends, daily net investment income of the
Fund consists of (a) all interest income accrued on investments (including any
discount or premium ratably accrued or amortized, respectively, to the date of
maturity or determined in such other manner the Fund chooses in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles), (b) minus all accrued liabilities,
including interest, taxes and other expense items, and reserves for contingent
or undetermined liabilities, all determined in accordance with those principles,
(c) plus or minus all realized gains or losses on investments, if any.
TAXES -- GENERAL
To continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Fund must distribute
to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its investment company
taxable income (consisting of net investment income and any net short-term
capital gain) and must meet several additional requirements. These requirements
include the following: (1) the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income
each taxable year from dividends, interest and gains from the sale or other
disposition of securities, or other income derived with respect to its business
of investing in securities; and (2) the Fund must diversify its holdings so
that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the
value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government
securities and other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to an
amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and (ii)
not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities
of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities).
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent it fails
to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all of its ordinary
income for that year and capital gain net income, if any, for the one-year
period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.
Dividends from the Fund's investment company taxable income are taxable to its
shareholders as ordinary income. The Fund does not expect to receive any
dividend income from U.S. corporations, which means that no part of the
dividends from the Fund will not be eligible for the dividends-received
deduction allowed to corporations. Dividends will be taxed for federal income
tax purposes in the same manner whether they are received in cash or reinvested
in additional Fund shares.
Statement of Additional Information Page 11
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
NON-U.S. SHAREHOLDERS
Dividends paid by the Fund to a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a
nonresident alien individual, nonresident alien fiduciary of a trust or estate,
foreign corporation or foreign partnership (a "foreign shareholder") will be
subject to U.S. withholding tax (at a rate of 30% or lower treaty rate).
Withholding will not apply if a dividend paid by the Fund to a foreign
shareholder is "effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or
business," in which case the reporting and withholding requirements applicable
to U.S. citizens or other domestic taxpayers will apply.
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of certain federal tax
considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. Investors are urged to
consult their own tax advisers for more detailed information and for information
regarding any foreign, state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the
Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INFORMATION RELATING TO
SALES AND REDEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
When an investor makes an initial investment in the Fund, a shareholder account
is opened in accordance with the investor's registration instructions.
Shareholders receive monthly statements detailing account transactions. Shortly
after the end of the Fund's fiscal year on December 31 and fiscal half-year on
June 30, shareholders receive an annual and semiannual report, respectively.
These reports list the securities held by the Fund and contain the Fund's
financial statements. In addition, the federal income tax status of dividends
paid by the Fund to shareholders is reported after the end of each calendar year
on Form 1099-DIV.
PAYMENT AND TERMS OF OFFERING
Payment for Class A and Class B shares should accompany the purchase order, or
funds should be wired to the Transfer Agent as described in the Prospectus.
Payment, other than by wire transfer, must be made by check or money order drawn
on a U.S. bank. Checks or money orders must be payable in U.S. dollars.
As a condition of this offering, if an order to purchase either class of shares
is cancelled due to nonpayment (for example, because a check is returned for
insufficient funds), the person who made the order will be responsible for any
loss incurred by the Fund by reason of such cancellation, and if such purchaser
is a shareholder, the Fund shall have the authority as agent of the shareholder
to redeem shares in his or her account for their then-current net asset value
per share to reimburse the Company for the loss incurred. Investors whose
purchase orders have been cancelled due to nonpayment may be prohibited from
placing future orders.
The Fund reserves the right at any time to waive or increase the minimum
requirements applicable to initial or subsequent investments with respect to any
person or class of persons. An order to purchase shares is not binding on the
Fund until it has been confirmed in writing by the Transfer Agent (or other
arrangements made with the Fund, in the case of orders utilizing wire transfer
of funds, as described above) and payment has been received. To protect existing
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to reject any offer for a purchase of
shares by any individual.
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN
To establish participation in the Fund's Automatic Investment Plan ("AIP"),
investors or their broker/dealers should send the following documents to the
Transfer Agent: (1) an AIP Application; (2) a Bank Authorization Form; and (3) a
voided personal check from the pertinent bank account. The necessary forms are
provided at the back of the Prospectus. Provided that an investor's bank accepts
the Bank Authorization Form, investment amounts will be drawn on the designated
dates (monthly on the 25th day or beginning quarterly on the 25th day of the
month the investor first selects) in order to purchase full and fractional
shares of the Fund at the public offering price determined on that day. If the
25th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, shares will be purchased on the
next business day. If an investor's check is returned because of insufficient
funds or a stop payment order or if the account is closed, the AIP may be
discontinued, and any share purchase made upon deposit of such check may be
cancelled. Furthermore, the shareholder will be liable for any loss incurred by
the Fund by reason of such cancellation. Investors should allow one month for
the establishment of an AIP. An AIP may be terminated by the Transfer Agent or
the Fund upon thirty days' written notice or by the participant at any time
without penalty, upon written notice to the Fund or the Transfer Agent.
Statement of Additional Information Page 12
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
WHEN ORDERS ARE EFFECTIVE
In order to maximize earnings on its portfolio, the Fund intends at all times to
be as completely invested as reasonably possible. Transactions in the money
market instruments in which the Fund invests normally require immediate
settlement in Federal Funds, as defined above. Thus, an order to purchase Fund
shares will be executed on any day Monday through Friday on which the New York
Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business ("Business Day"), on which Federal
Funds become available to the Fund. Funds transmitted by bank wire to the
Transfer Agent and received by it prior to the close of regular trading on the
NYSE will normally be credited to a shareholder's account on the same day as
received. Funds transmitted by bank wire and received after the close of regular
trading on the NYSE normally will be credited on the next Business Day. If
remitted in other than the foregoing manner, such as by check, purchase orders
will be executed as of the close of business on the day on which the payment is
converted into Federal Funds, normally two days after receipt of the payment.
The investor becomes a shareholder on the day on which the order is effective.
Dividends begin to accrue on the next day. Information on how to transmit
Federal Funds by wire is available at any national bank or any state bank that
is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Any such bank may charge the
shareholder for this service.
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS ("IRAS") AND OTHER TAX-DEFERRED PLANS
Class A or Class B shares may be purchased as the underlying investment for an
IRA meeting the requirements of Sections 408(a), 408A or 530 of the Code, as
well as for qualified retirement plans described in Code Section 401 and
custodial accounts complying with Code Section 403(b)(7).
IRAS: If you have earned income from employment (including self-employment), you
can contribute each year to an IRA up to the lesser of (1) $2,000 for yourself
or $4,000 for you and your spouse, regardless of whether your spouse is
employed, or (2) 100% of compensation. Some individuals may be able to take an
income tax deduction for the contribution. Regular contributions may not be made
for the year you become 70 1/2 or thereafter. Unless your and your spouse's
earnings exceed a certain level, you also may establish an "education IRA"
and/or a "Roth IRA." Although contributions to these new types of IRAs are
nondeductible, withdrawals from them will be tax-free under certain
circumstances. Please consult your tax adviser for more information. IRA
applications are available from brokers or AIM Distributors.
ROLLOVER IRAS: Individuals who receive distributions from qualified retirement
plans (other than required distributions) and who wish to keep their savings
growing tax-deferred can roll over (or make a direct transfer of) their
distribution to a Rollover IRA. These accounts can also receive rollovers or
transfers from an existing IRA. If an "eligible rollover distribution" from a
qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan is not directly rolled over to an
IRA (or certain qualified plans), withholding at the rate of 20% will be
required for federal income tax purposes. A distribution from a qualified plan
that is not an "eligible rollover distribution," including a distribution that
is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments, generally is
subject to regular wage withholding or withholding at the rate of 10% (depending
on the type and amount of the distribution), unless you elect not to have any
withholding apply. Please consult your tax adviser for more information.
SEP-IRAS: Simplified employee pension plans ("SEPs" or "SEP-IRAs") provide
self-employed individuals (and any eligible employees) with benefits similar to
Keogh plans (I.E., self-employed individual retirement plans) or Code Section
401(k) plans, but with fewer administrative requirements and therefore
potentially lower annual administration expenses.
CODE SECTION 403(B)(7) CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS: Employees of public schools and most
other tax-exempt organizations can make pre-tax salary reduction contributions
to these accounts.
PROFIT-SHARING (INCLUDING SECTION 401(K)) AND MONEY PURCHASE PENSION
PLANS: Corporations and other employers can sponsor these qualified defined
contribution plans for their employees. A Section 401(k) plan, a type of
profit-sharing plan, additionally permits the eligible, participating employees
to make pre-tax salary reduction contributions to the plan (up to certain
limits).
SIMPLE PLANS: Employers with no more than 100 employees that do not maintain
another retirement plan may establish a Savings Incentive Match Plan for
Employees ("SIMPLE") either as separate IRAs or as part of a Section 401(k)
plan. SIMPLEs are not subject to the complicated nondiscrimination rules that
generally apply to qualified retirement plans.
EXCHANGES BETWEEN FUNDS
A shareholder may exchange shares of the Fund for shares of the corresponding
class of other AIM/GT Funds as described in the Prospectus. For Class A shares,
a sales load will apply to exchanges from the Fund into other AIM/GT Funds,
except that no sales load will be charged if the exchanged shares were acquired
as a result of a previous exchange from another
Statement of Additional Information Page 13
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
AIM/GT Fund. No sales load will be imposed on the exchange of Class B shares
from the Fund into other AIM/GT Funds. The exchange privilege is not an option
or right to purchase shares but is permitted under the current policies of the
respective AIM/GT Funds. The privilege may be discontinued or changed at any
time by any of those funds upon sixty days' written notice to the shareholders
of the fund and is available only in states where the exchange may be made
legally. Before purchasing shares through the exercise of the exchange
privilege, a shareholder should obtain and read a copy of the prospectus of the
fund to be purchased and should consider its investment objective(s).
SALES CHARGE WAIVERS FOR SHARES PURCHASED PRIOR TO JUNE 1, 1998
Class B shares purchased before June 1, 1998 are subject to the following
waivers from the contingent deferred sales charge otherwise due upon redemption,
in addition to the waivers provided for redemptions of currently issued Class B
shares as described in the Prospectus: (1) total or partial redemptions
resulting from a distribution following retirement in the case of a
tax-qualified employer-sponsored retirement; (2) minimum required distributions
made in connection with an IRA, Keogh Plan or custodial account under Section
403(b) of the Code or other retirement plan following attainment of age 70 1/2;
(3) a one-time reinvestment in Class B shares of the Fund within 180 days of a
prior redemption; (4) redemptions pursuant to distributions from a tax-qualified
employer-sponsored retirement plan, which is invested in AIM/GT Funds, which are
permitted to be made without penalty pursuant to the Code, other than tax-free
rollovers or transfers of assets, and the proceeds of which are reinvested in
AIM/GT Funds; (5) redemptions made in connection with participant-directed
exchanges between options in an employer-sponsored benefit plan; (6) redemptions
made for the purpose of providing cash to fund a loan to a participant in a
tax-qualified retirement plan; (7) redemptions made in connection with a
distribution from any retirement plan or account that is permitted in accordance
with the provisions of Section 72(t)(2) of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder; (8) redemptions made in connection with a distribution
from a qualified profit-sharing or stock bonus plan described in Section 401(k)
of the Code to a participant or beneficiary under Section 401(k)(2)(B)(IV) of
the Code upon hardship of the covered employee (determined pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.401(k)-1(d)(2)); and (9) redemptions made by or for the
benefit of certain states, counties or cities, or any instrumentalities,
departments or authorities thereof where such entities are prohibited or limited
by applicable law from paying a sales charge or commission.
TELEPHONE REDEMPTIONS
A corporation or partnership wishing to utilize the telephone redemption
services must submit a "Corporate Resolution" or "Certificate of Partnership"
indicating the names, titles and the required number of signatures of persons
authorized to act on its behalf. The certificate must be signed by a duly
authorized officer(s) and, in the case of a corporation, the corporate seal must
be affixed. All shareholders may request that redemption proceeds be transmitted
by bank wire upon request directly to the shareholder's predesignated account at
a domestic bank or savings institution if the proceeds are at least $500. Costs
in connection with the administration of this service, including wire charges,
currently are borne by the appropriate Fund. Proceeds of less than $500 will be
mailed to the shareholder's registered address of record. The Fund and the
Transfer Agent reserve the right to refuse any telephone instructions and may
discontinue the aforementioned redemption options upon fifteen days' written
notice.
SUSPENSION OF REDEMPTION PRIVILEGES
The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment for
more than seven days after a redemption order is received during any period: (1)
when the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or
trading on the NYSE is restricted as directed by the SEC, (2) when an emergency
exists, as defined by the SEC, that would prohibit the Fund from disposing of
portfolio securities owned by it or in fairly determining the value of its
assets, or (3) as the SEC may otherwise permit.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
Shareholders owning Class A or Class B shares of the Fund with a value of
$10,000 or more may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP"). Under a SWP,
a shareholder will receive monthly or quarterly payments, in amounts of not less
than $100 per payment, through the automatic redemption of the necessary number
of shares on the designated dates (monthly on the 25th day or quarterly on the
25th day of the month the investor first selects). In the event that the 25th
day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the redemption will take place on
the prior business day. Certificates, if any, for the shares being redeemed must
be held by the Transfer Agent. Checks will be made payable to the designated
recipient and mailed within seven days. If the recipient is other than the
registered shareholder, the signature of each shareholder must be guaranteed on
the SWP application (see "How to Redeem Shares" in the Prospectus). A
corporation (or partnership) must also submit a "Corporation Resolution" or
"Certificate of Partnership" indicating the names, titles, and signatures of the
individuals authorized to act on its behalf, and the SWP application must be
signed by a duly authorized officer(s) and the corporate seal affixed.
Statement of Additional Information Page 14
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
Shareholders should be aware that systematic withdrawals may deplete or use up
entirely the initial investment and result in realized long-term or short-term
capital gains or losses. The SWP may be terminated at any time by the Transfer
Agent or the Fund upon 30 days' written notice to shareholders or by a
shareholder upon written notice to the Transfer Agent. Applications and further
details regarding establishment of a SWP are provided at the back of the Fund's
Prospectus.
With respect to a SWP established in Class B shares, the maximum annual SWP
withdrawal is 12% of the initial account value. Withdrawals in excess of 12% of
the initial account value annually may result in assessment of a contingent
deferred sales charge.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND
It is possible that conditions may arise in the future which, in the opinion of
the Board, would make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for all redemptions in
cash. In such cases, the Board may authorize payment to be made in portfolio
securities or other property of the Fund, so called "redemptions in kind."
Payment of redemptions in kind will be made in readily marketable securities.
Such securities would be valued at the same value assigned to them in computing
the net asset value per share. Shareholders receiving such securities would
incur brokerage costs in selling any such securities so received.
Statement of Additional Information Page 15
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
VALUATION OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As described in the Prospectus, the Fund's net asset value per share for each
class of shares is determined each Business Day as of the close of regular
trading on the NYSE (currently, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless weather,
equipment failure or other factors contribute to an earlier closing time).
Currently, the NYSE is closed on weekends and on certain days relating to the
following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day.
The net asset value of the Fund's shares is determined by dividing its total
assets less its liabilities by the number of shares outstanding. The Fund may
declare a suspension of the determination of net asset value during the periods
when it may suspend redemption privileges, as provided in "Suspension of
Redemption Privileges," above.
The Fund has adopted a policy which requires that it use its best efforts, under
normal circumstances, to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share.
The Fund values its portfolio securities using the amortized cost method. This
policy does not establish a net asset value of $1.00 per share; it merely
permits a pricing method under which the Fund may seek to maintain a per share
net asset value of $1.00. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able
to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share for purchases and
redemptions. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost
and thereafter accruing any discount or premium at a constant rate to maturity.
By declaring these accruals to the Fund's shareholders in the daily dividend,
the value of the Fund's assets, and, thus, its net asset value per share,
generally will remain constant. Although this method provides certainty in
valuation, it may result in periods during which the value of the Fund's
securities, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price
the Fund would receive if it sold the securities. During periods of declining
interest rates, the daily yield on shares of the Fund computed as described
above may tend to be higher than a like computation made by a similar fund with
identical investments utilizing a method of valuation based upon market prices
and estimates of market prices for all of its portfolio securities. Thus, if the
Fund's use of amortized cost resulted in a lower aggregate portfolio value on a
particular day, a prospective investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a
somewhat higher yield than would result from investment in a similar fund
utilizing solely market values, and existing investors in the Fund would receive
less investment income. The converse would apply in a period of rising interest
rates.
In connection with the Fund's policy of valuing its securities using the
amortized cost method, the Fund maintains a dollar-weighted portfolio maturity
of 90 days or less and purchases only portfolio securities having remaining
maturities of 13 months or less. The Board also has established procedures in
accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act designed to stabilize, to the
extent reasonably possible, the Fund's net asset value per share, as computed
for the purpose of sales and redemptions, at $1.00. Such procedures include
review of portfolio holdings by the Board, at such intervals as it may deem
appropriate, to determine whether the Fund's net asset value calculated by using
available market quotations deviates from $1.00 per share and, if so, whether
such deviation may result in material dilution or may be otherwise unfair to
existing shareholders. In the event the Board determines that such a deviation
exists, the Board has agreed to take such corrective action as it deems
necessary and appropriate, which action might include selling portfolio
securities prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten
average portfolio maturity, withholding dividends, or paying distributions from
capital or capital gains, redeeming shares in kind, or establishing a net asset
value per share by using available market quotations or market equivalents.
Statement of Additional Information Page 16
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to policies established by the Board, the Sub-adviser is responsible for
the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions and the selection of
broker/dealers who execute such transactions on behalf of the Fund. Purchases
and sales of money market instruments by the Fund generally are made on a
principal basis, in which the dealer through whom the trade is executed retains
a "spread" as compensation. The spread is the difference in the price at which
the dealer buys or sells the instrument to the Fund and the price which the
dealer is able to resell or at which the dealer originally purchased,
respectively, the instrument. In executing transactions, the Sub-adviser seeks
the best net results for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price
(including the applicable dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of
execution and operational facilities of the firm involved. Although the
Sub-adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive spreads, payment of the
lowest spread is not necessarily consistent with the best net results. The Fund
has no obligation to deal with any broker/dealer or group of broker/dealers in
the execution of portfolio transactions.
Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by
the Sub-adviser are made independently of each other in light of differing
conditions. However, the same investment decision occasionally may be made for
two or more of such accounts, including the Fund. In such cases, simultaneous
transactions may occur. Purchases or sales are then allocated as to price or
amount in a manner deemed fair and equitable to all accounts involved. While in
some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value
of the security as far as the Fund is concerned, in other cases the Sub-adviser
believes that coordination and the ability to participate in volume transactions
will be beneficial to the Fund.
Under a policy adopted by the Board, and subject to the policy of obtaining the
best net results, the Sub-adviser may consider a broker/dealer's sale of the
shares of the Fund and the other funds for which AIM or the Sub-adviser serves
as investment manager and/or administrator in selecting broker/dealers for the
execution of portfolio transactions. This policy does not imply a commitment to
execute portfolio transactions through all broker/dealers that sell shares of
the Fund and such other funds.
Statement of Additional Information Page 17
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM was organized in 1976, and along with its subsidiaries, manages or advises
approximately 90 investment company portfolios encompassing a broad range of
investment objectives. AIM is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of A I M
Management Group Inc. ("AIM Management"), a holding company that has been
engaged in the financial services business since 1976. AIM is the sole
shareholder of the Fund's principal underwriter, AIM Distributors. AIM
Management is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AMVESCAP PLC, 11 Devonshire
Square, London, EC2M 4YR, England. AMVESCAP PLC and its subsidiaries are an
independent investment management group that has a significant presence in the
institutional and retail segment of the investment management industry in North
America and Europe, and a growing presence in Asia.
CUSTODIAN
State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), 225 Franklin Street,
Boston, MA 02110, acts as custodian of the Fund's assets. State Street is
authorized to establish and has established separate accounts in foreign
currencies and to cause securities of the Fund to be held in separate accounts
outside the United States in the custody of non-U.S. banks.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Fund's independent accountants are, Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., One Post
Office Square, Boston, MA 02109. Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. conducts annual audits
of the Fund's financial statements, assists in the preparation of the Fund's
federal and state income tax returns and consults with the Company and the Fund
as to matters of accounting, regulatory filings, and federal and state income
taxation.
The financial statements of the Company included in this Statement of Additional
Information have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., as stated in their
opinion appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon such opinion given
upon the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
NAME
Prior to May 29, 1998, the Fund operated under the name of GT Global Dollar
Fund.
Statement of Additional Information Page 18
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
INVESTMENT RESULTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund may, from time to time, provide yield information or comparisons of its
yield to various averages including data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.,
Bank Rate Monitor-TM-, IBC/Donaghue's Money Fund Report, MONEY Magazine, and
other industry publications, in advertisements or in reports furnished to
current or prospective shareholders.
The Fund calculates its yield for its shares daily, based upon the seven days
ending on the day of the calculation, called the "base period." The yield is
computed by determining the net change in the value of a hypothetical account
with a balance of one share at the beginning of the base period, with the net
change, excluding capital changes, but including the value of any additional
shares purchased with dividends earned from the original one share and all
dividends declared on the original and any purchased shares; dividing the net
change in the account's value by the value of the account at the beginning of
the base period to determine the base period return; and multiplying the base
period return by (365/7). The Fund's effective yield is computed by compounding
the unannualized base period return by adding 1 to the base period return;
raising the sum to the 365/7th power; and subtracting 1 from the result.
For the seven-day period ended December 31, 1997, the Fund's Class A share yield
was 4.55% and effective yield was 4.66%. The seven-day and effective yields are
calculated as follows:
Assumptions:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Value of hypothetical pre-existing account with exactly one share
at the beginning of the period:........................................... $1.000000000
Value of same account* (excluding capital changes) at the end
of the seven-day period ending Dec. 31, 1997:............................. $1.000873532
</TABLE>
- --------------
* Value includes additional shares acquired with dividends paid on the
original shares.
Calculation:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Ending account value:.................... $ 1.000873532
Less beginning account value:............ $ 1.000000000
Net change in account value:............. $ .000873532
Seven-day yield = $.000873532 x 365/7 = 4.55%
Effective yield** = [1 + .000873532] 365/7 -1 = 4.66%
</TABLE>
- --------------
** The effective yield assumes a year's compounding of the seven-day yield.
For the seven-day period ended December 31, 1997, the Fund's Class B share yield
was 3.82% and effective yield was 3.89%. The seven-day and effective yields are
calculated as follows:
Assumptions:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Value of hypothetical pre-existing account with exactly one share
at the beginning of the period:........................................... $1.000000000
Value of same account* (excluding capital changes) at the end
of the seven-day period ending Dec. 31, 1997:............................. $1.000731785
</TABLE>
- --------------
* Value includes additional shares acquired with dividends paid on the
original shares.
Calculation:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Ending account value:.................... $ 1.000731785
Less beginning account value:............ $ 1.000000000
Net change in account value:............. $ .000731785
Seven-day yield = $.000731785 x 365/7 = 3.82%
Effective yield** = [1 + .000731785] 365/7 -1 = 3.89%
</TABLE>
- --------------
** The effective yield assumes a year's compounding of the seven-day yield.
Statement of Additional Information Page 19
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Fund's investment results may also be calculated for longer periods in
accordance with the following method: by subtracting (a) the net asset value of
one share at the beginning of the period, from (b) the net asset value of all
shares an investor would own at the end of the period for the share held at the
beginning of the period (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions) and dividing by (c) the net asset value per share at the
beginning of the period. The resulting percentage indicates the positive or
negative rate of return that an investor would have earned from the reinvested
dividends and distributions and any changes in share price during the period.
The Fund's "Standardized Return," as referred to in the Prospectus (see "Other
Information -- Performance Information" in the Prospectus), is calculated as
follows: Standardized Return ("T") is computed by using the value at the end of
the period ("EV") of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P") over a
period of years ("n") according to the following formula as required by the SEC:
P(1+T) to the (n)th power = EV. The following assumptions will be reflected in
computations made in accordance with this formula: (1) for Class B shares,
deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge imposed on a
redemption of Class B shares held for the period; (2) reinvestment of dividends
and other distributions at net asset value on the reinvestment date determined
by the Board; and (3) a complete redemption at the end of any period illustrated
subject to deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge imposed
on a redemption of Class B shares held for the period illustrated.
The Fund's Standardized Returns for its Class A shares, stated as average
annualized total returns, at December 31, 1997, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997......................................................................... 4.62%
Five years ended Dec. 31, 1997................................................................... 3.93%
Ten years ended Dec. 31, 1997.................................................................... 4.84%
</TABLE>
The Fund's Standardized Returns for its Class B shares, which were first offered
on April 1, 1993, stated as average annualized total returns, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997......................................................................... (1.16)%
April 1, 1993 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997................................. 2.87%
</TABLE>
"Non-Standardized Return," as referred to in the Prospectus, is calculated for a
specified period of time by assuming the investment of $1,000 in Fund shares and
further assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions made
to Fund shareholders in additional Fund shares at their net asset value.
Percentage rates of return are then calculated by comparing this assumed initial
investment to the value of the hypothetical account at the end of the period for
which the Non-Standardized Return is quoted. As discussed in the Prospectus, the
Fund may quote Non-Standardized Returns that do not reflect the effect of
contingent deferred sales charges. Non-Standardized Returns may be quoted from
the same or different time periods for which Standardized Returns are quoted.
The Fund's Non-Standardized Returns for its Class A shares, stated as average
annualized total returns, at December 31, 1997, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997..................................................................... 4.62%
Five years ended Dec. 31, 1997............................................................... 3.93%
Ten years ended Dec. 31, 1997................................................................ 4.84%
</TABLE>
The Fund's Non-Standardized Return for its Class A shares, stated as aggregate
total return, at December 31, 1997, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AGGREGATE
PERIOD TOTAL RETURN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
<S> <C>
Sept. 16, 1985 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997............................ 82.77%
</TABLE>
The Fund's Non-Standardized Return for its Class B shares, stated as average
annualized total returns, at December 31, 1997, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997....................................................................... 3.84%
April 1, 1993 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997............................... 3.24%
</TABLE>
Statement of Additional Information Page 20
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Fund's Non-Standardized Return for its Class B shares, stated as aggregate
total return (reflecting deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales
charge), at December 31, 1997, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AGGREGATE
PERIOD TOTAL RETURN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
<S> <C>
April 1, 1993 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997............................. 14.37%
</TABLE>
The Fund's Non-Standardized Return for its Class B shares, stated as aggregate
total return (not reflecting deduction of the applicable contingent deferred
sales charge), at December 31, 1997, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AGGREGATE
PERIOD TOTAL RETURN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
<S> <C>
April 1, 1993 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997............................. 16.37%
</TABLE>
The Fund's investment results will vary from time to time depending upon market
conditions, the composition of the Fund's portfolio and operating expenses of
the Fund, so that current or past yield or total return figures should not be
considered representative of what an investment in the Fund may earn in any
future period. These factors and possible differences in the methods used in
calculating investment results should be considered when comparing the Fund's
investment results with those published for other investment companies and other
investment vehicles. Investment results also should be considered relative to
the risks associated with the investment objective and policies. The Fund's
investment results will be calculated separately for Class A and Class B shares.
The Fund will include performance data for both Class A and Class B shares of
the Fund in any advertisement or information including performance data for the
Fund.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE ABOUT DATA RELATING TO WORLD EQUITY AND BOND MARKETS
The Fund and AIM Distributors may from time to time, in advertisements, sales
literature and reports furnished to present or prospective shareholders, compare
the Fund with the following, among others:
(1) The Salomon Brothers Non-U.S. Dollars Indices, which are measures of
the total return performance of high quality non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities in major sectors of the worldwide bond markets.
(2) The Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index, which is a
comprehensive measure of all public obligations of the U.S. Treasury
(excluding flower bonds and foreign targeted issues), all publicly issued
debt of agencies of the U.S. Government (excluding mortgage backed
securities), and all public, fixed rate, non-convertible investment grade
domestic corporate debt rated at least Baa by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB by Standard and Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), or, in
the case of nonrated bonds, BBB by Fitch Investors Service ("Fitch")
(excluding Collateralized Mortgage Obligations).
(3) Average of savings accounts, which is a measure of all kinds of
savings deposits, including longer-term certificates (based on figures
supplied by the U.S. League of Savings Institutions). Savings accounts offer
a guaranteed rate of return on principal, but no opportunity for capital
growth. The maximum rates paid on some savings deposits are currently fixed
by law.
(4) The Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), which is a measure of the average
change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services
(e.g., food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation fares, charges for
doctors' and dentists' services, prescription medicines, and other goods and
services that people buy for day-to-day living). There is inflation risk
which does not affect a security's value but its purchasing power, i.e., the
risk of changing price levels in the economy that affects security prices or
the price of goods and services.
(5) Data and mutual fund rankings published or prepared by Lipper
Analytical Data Services, Inc. ("Lipper"), CDA/Wiesenberger Investment
Company Service ("CDA/Wiesenberger"), Morningstar, Inc. ("Morningstar"),
Micropal, Inc. and/or other companies that rank and/or compare mutual funds
by overall performance, investment objectives, assets, expense levels,
periods of existence and/or other factors. In this regard the Fund may be
compared to its "peer group" as defined by Lipper, CDA/Wiesenberger,
Morningstar and/or other firms, as applicable, or to specific funds or
groups of funds within or outside of such peer group. Lipper generally ranks
funds on the basis of total return, assuming reinvestment of distributions,
but does not take sales charges or redemption fees into consideration, and
is prepared without regard to tax consequences. In addition to the mutual
fund rankings, the Fund's performance may be compared to mutual fund
performance indices prepared by Lipper. Morningstar is a mutual fund rating
service that also rates mutual funds on the basis of risk-adjusted
performance. Morningstar ratings are calculated from a fund's three, five
and ten year average annual returns with appropriate fee adjustments and a
risk factor that reflects fund performance relative to the three-month U.S.
Treasury bill monthly returns. Ten percent of the funds in an investment
category receive five stars and 22.5% receive four stars. The ratings are
subject to change each month.
Statement of Additional Information Page 21
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
(6) Bear Stearns Foreign Bond Index, which provides simple average
returns for individual countries and gross national product ("GNP")-weighted
index, beginning in 1975. The returns are broken down by local market and
currency.
(7) Ibbotson Associates International Bond Index, which provides a
detailed breakdown of local market and currency returns since 1960.
(8) Salomon Brothers Broad Investment Grade Index, which is a widely
used index composed of U.S. domestic government, corporate and
mortgage-backed fixed income securities.
(9) Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Index and Salomon Brothers
World Government Bond Index-Non-U.S., each of which is a widely used index
composed of world government bonds.
(10) The World Bank Publication of Trends in Developing Countries
("TIDE"), which provides brief reports on most of the World Bank's borrowing
members. The World Development Report is published annually and looks at
global and regional economic trends and their implications for the
developing economies.
(11) Datastream and Worldscope, each of which is an on-line database
retrieval service for information, including international financial and
economic data.
(12) International Financial Statistics, which is produced by the
International Monetary Fund.
(13) Various publications and reports produced by the World Bank and its
affiliates.
(14) Various publications from the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development.
(15) Various publications produced by ratings agencies such as Moody's,
S&P and Fitch.
(16) Privatizations from various sources, stock market capitalization,
number of issuers, and trading volume of newly privatized companies and, in
addition, projected levels of privatization. Privatization, an economic
process virtually unknown in the U.S., is the selling of state-owned
companies to the private sector. Under private ownership, such companies can
release assets and seek to make profits free from political intervention.
Examples of state-owned industries being privatized outside the U.S. include
airlines, telecommunications, utilities and financial institutions.
Indices, economic and financial data prepared by the research departments of
various financial organizations, such as Salomon Brothers, Inc., Lehman
Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., Financial Research
Corporation, J. P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Smith Barney Shearson, S.G. Warburg,
Jardine Flemming, The Bank for International Settlements, Asian Development
Bank, Bloomberg, L.P. and Ibbotson Associates, may be used, as well as
information reported by the Federal Reserve and the respective central banks of
various nations. In addition, AIM Distributors may use performance rankings,
ratings and commentary reported periodically in national financial publications,
including Money Magazine, Mutual Fund Magazine, Smart Money, Global Finance,
EuroMoney, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, Latin Finance, the
Wall Street Journal, Emerging Markets Weekly, Kiplinger's Guide To Personal
Finance, Barron's, The Financial Times, USA Today, The New York Times, Far
Eastern Economic Review, The Economist and Investors Business Digest. Each Fund
may compare its performance to that of other compilations or indices of
comparable quality to those listed above and other indices that may be developed
and made available in the future.
The Fund may compare its performance to that of other compilations or indices of
comparable quality to those listed above which may be developed and made
available in the future. The Fund may be compared in advertising to Certificates
of Deposit (CDs), the Bank Rate Monitor National Index, an average of the quoted
rates for 100 leading banks and thrifts in ten U.S. cities chosen to represent
the ten largest Consumer Metropolitan statistical areas, or other investments
issued by banks. The Fund differs from bank investments in several respects. The
Fund may offer greater liquidity or higher potential returns than CDs; but
unlike CDs, the Fund will have a fluctuating share price and return and is not
FDIC insured.
AIM Distributors may provide information designed to help individuals understand
their investment goals and explore various financial strategies. For example,
AIM Distributors may describe general principles of investing, such as asset
allocation, diversification and risk tolerance.
In advertising and sales materials, AIM Distributors may make reference to or
discuss its products and services, which may include: retirement investing; the
effects of dollar-cost averaging and saving for college or a home. In addition,
AIM Distributors may quote financial or business publications and periodicals,
including model portfolios or allocations, as they relate to fund management,
investment philosophy, and investment techniques.
Statement of Additional Information Page 22
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Fund may quote various measures of volatility and benchmark correlation such
as beta, standard deviation and R(2) in advertising. In addition, the Fund may
compare these measures to those of other funds. Measures of volatility seek to
compare the Fund's total returns compared to those of a benchmark. All measures
of volatility and correlation are calculated using averages of historical data.
The Fund may advertise examples of the effects of periodic investment plans,
including the principle of dollar cost averaging. In such a program, an investor
invests a fixed dollar amount in a fund at periodic intervals, thereby
purchasing fewer shares when prices are high and more shares when prices are
low. While such a strategy does not assure a profit or guard against loss in a
declining market, the investor's average cost per share can be lower than if
fixed numbers of shares are purchased at the same intervals. In evaluating such
a plan, investors should consider their ability to continue purchasing shares
through periods of low price levels.
The Fund may describe in its sales material and advertisements how an investor
may invest in the Funds through various retirement plans or other programs that
offer deferral of income taxes on investment earnings and pursuant to which an
investor may make deductible contributions. Because of their advantages, these
retirement plans and programs may produce returns superior to comparable
non-retirement investments. For example, a $10,000 investment earning a taxable
return of 10% annually would have an after-tax value of $17,976 after ten years,
assuming tax was deducted from the return each year at a 39.6% rate. An
equivalent tax-deferred investment would have an after-tax value of $19,626
after ten years, assuming tax was deducted at a 39.6% rate from the deferred
earnings at the end of the ten-year period. In sales material and
advertisements, the Fund may also discuss these plans and programs. See
"Information Relating to Sales and Redemptions -- Individual Retirement Accounts
("IRAs") and Other Tax-Deferred Plans."
In advertising and sales materials, AIM Distributors may make reference to or
discuss its products, services and accomplishments. Among these accomplishments
are that in 1983 the Sub-Adviser provided assistance to the government of Hong
Kong in linking its currency to the U.S. dollar, and that in 1987 Japan's
Ministry of Finance licensed LGT Asset Management Ltd. as one of the first
foreign discretionary investment managers for Japanese investors. Such
accomplishments, however, should not be viewed as an endorsement of the
Sub-adviser by the government of Hong Kong, Japan's Ministry of Finance or any
other government or government agency. Nor do any such accomplishments of the
Sub-adviser provide any assurance that the AIM/GT Funds' investment objectives
will be achieved.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT RATINGS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
S&P. "A-1" and "A-2" are the two highest commercial paper rating categories:
A-1. This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding
timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely
strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.
A-2. Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated "A-1".
MOODY'S. "Prime-1" and "Prime-2" are the two highest commercial paper rating
categories.
Prime-1. Issuers (or supporting institutions) assigned this highest
rating have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of
the following characteristics: leading market positions in well-established
industries; high rates of return on funds employed; conservative
capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset
protection; broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges
and high internal cash generation; and well-established access to a range of
financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Prime-2. Issuers (or supporting institutions) assigned this rating have
a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This
will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to
a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be
more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still
appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.
Statement of Additional Information Page 23
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
BOND RATINGS
S&P: Its ratings for high quality bonds are as follows:
An obligation rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The
obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
An obligation rated "AA" differs from the highest rated obligations only
in a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment
on the obligation is very strong.
MOODY'S: Its ratings for high quality bonds are as follows:
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin, and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized
are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because
margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may
be other elements present which make the long-term risk appear somewhat
larger than the Aaa securities.
NOTE RATINGS
S&P: The SP-1 rating denotes a very strong or strong capacity to pay
principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety
characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.
The SP-2 rating denotes a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
MOODY'S: The MIG 1 designation denotes best quality. There is strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
The MIG 2 designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample
although not as large as in the preceding group.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The audited financial statements of the Fund as of December 31, 1997 and for the
fiscal year then ended appear on the following pages.
Statement of Additional Information Page 24
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
Fifty California Street, 27th Floor
San Francisco, California 94111
General Telephone No. 415/392-6181
General Fund Information 800/824-1580
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORT FROM THE FUND MANAGER
The Fund's total return for the 12 months ended December 31, 1997, was 4.62%
for Class A shares and 3.84% for Class B shares. As of December 31, the Fund's
SEC seven-day yield was 4.55% for Class A shares and 3.82% for Class B shares.
Because the Fund invests only in short-term debt obligations with remaining
maturities of 13 months or less, its performance generally reflects the level of
short-term interest rates. Please bear in mind that an investment in the Fund is
neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. government and that there can be no
assurance that the Fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset value of
$1.00 per share.
The U.S. bond market produced excellent returns in 1997. After a 25-basis
point increase in the Federal funds rate in March, the market began an upswing
in the second quarter that lasted throughout the last three quarters of the
year. In addition, interest rates fell after it became clear that the benign
economic environment in the U.S. would forestall additional interest rate
increases by the Fed in 1997.
In total, 1997 produced the lowest rates of U.S. inflation in decades, while
the economy enjoyed continued good growth. That combination, along with a stable
dollar, beckoned global investors in the fourth quarter. In addition, yields on
money market instruments have been fairly stable throughout the period and the
90-day Treasury bill yield ended the year about 18 basis points higher than it
began, at 5.35%.
We believe the overall environment for U.S. fixed income markets should
continue to be attractive in 1998. Short-term rates have remained in a narrow
range for some time, and we feel the economic environment augurs well for
continued stability. We concur with Federal Reserve (the Fed) Chairman
Greenspan's recent comments that effects of the Asian crisis have not yet fully
impacted U.S. markets. We expect weakness in Asia to moderate economic growth
somewhat, but believe its potential negative effect on U.S. profits and growth
in 1998 will be counterbalanced by its positive effect on inflation and interest
rates.
Additionally, we see reasonable potential for further declines in interest
rates. Inflation is at its lowest level in over 40 years, and productivity is
strong -- all positive cost factors we think will support U.S. profitability
even as product pricing remains under pressure. This environment (a new one for
investors) may necessitate a shift in policy stance by the Fed, whereby, instead
of constantly fighting inflation, they must also be concerned with deflation.
Our concerns about Fed tightening have been virtually erased, and we feel
the potential grows that the Fed may soon lower interest rates. In keeping with
our outlook, the average maturity of holdings in the Fund has been increased
moderately while still maintaining a high degree of liquidity for investors.
DECEMBER 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
GT Investment Portfolios, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of GT
Global Dollar Fund, a series of shares of common stock of GT Investment
Portfolios, Inc., including the schedule of portfolio investments, as of
December 31, 1997, the related statement of operations for the year then ended,
the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period
then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period
then ended. These financial statements and the financial highlights are the
responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and the financial highlights based on our
audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and the financial
highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of
December 31, 1997 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and the financial highlights
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of GT Global Dollar Fund as of December 31, 1997, the results of its
operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of
the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of
the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
COOPERS & LYBRAND, L.L.P.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
FEBRUARY 17, 1998
[LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Maturity Principal Value % of Net
Short-Term Investments Yield Date Amount (Note 1) Assets
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- ----------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial Paper - Discounted (47.4%)
John Deere Capital Corp. ...................................... 5.73% 19-Mar-98 12,000,000 $ 11,854,982 4.3
Walt Disney Co. ............................................... 5.59% 14-Apr-98 12,000,000 11,812,884 4.3
American Express Credit Corp. ................................. 5.71% 21-May-98 12,000,000 11,740,067 4.2
Kingdom of Sweden ............................................. 5.62% 26-Jan-98 10,000,000 9,961,875 3.6
AIG Funding, Inc. ............................................. 5.73% 30-Jan-98 10,000,000 9,954,245 3.6
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. .................................. 5.62% 09-Feb-98 10,000,000 9,940,742 3.6
Ford Motor Credit Corp. ....................................... 5.63% 13-Feb-98 10,000,000 9,934,544 3.6
Bellsouth Telecommunications, Inc. ............................ 5.78% 25-Feb-98 10,000,000 9,912,611 3.6
General Electric Capital Corp. ................................ 5.71% 11-Mar-98 10,000,000 9,893,625 3.6
3M Corp. ...................................................... 5.68% 24-Apr-98 10,000,000 9,824,850 3.5
AT&T Corp. .................................................... 5.58% 15-Jan-98 9,500,000 9,479,902 3.4
Motorola, Inc. ................................................ 5.59% 09-Feb-98 9,000,000 8,946,375 3.2
Emerson Electric Co. .......................................... 5.66% 05-Jan-98 8,000,000 7,995,111 2.9
------------ -----
Total Commercial Paper - Discounted (amortized cost
$131,251,813) .................................................. 131,251,813 47.4
------------ -----
Government & Government Agency Obligations (3.6%)
Federal Home Loan Bank ........................................ 5.59% 06-Mar-98 10,000,000 9,903,289 3.6
------------ -----
Total Government & Government Agency Obligations (amortized cost
$9,903,289) .................................................... 9,903,289 3.6
------------ -----
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $141,155,102) ................ 141,155,102 51.0
------------ -----
<CAPTION>
Value % of Net
Repurchase Agreements (Note 1) Assets
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Dated December 31, 1997, with State Street Bank & Trust Co.,
due January 2, 1998, for an effective yield of 5.80%,
collateralized by $45,775,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 6.25% due
6/30/98 (market value of collateral is $45,946,656 including
accrued interest) ........................................... 45,041,000 16.3
Dated December 31, 1997, with BancAmerica Robertson Stephens,
due January 2, 1998, for an effective yield of 6.10%,
collateralized by $40,190,000 U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes,
6.25% due 6/30/98 & 3/31/99, respectively (market value of
collateral is $40,808,921 including accrued interest) ....... 40,000,000 14.4
------------ -----
TOTAL REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (cost $85,041,000) .................. 85,041,000 30.7
------------ -----
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $226,196,102) * ........................ 226,196,102 81.7
Other Assets and Liabilities .................................... 50,692,653 18.3
------------ -----
NET ASSETS ...................................................... $276,888,755 100.0
------------ -----
------------ -----
</TABLE>
- --------------
* For Federal income tax purposes, cost is $226,196,102
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F2
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS
AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Assets:
Investments in securities, at value (amortized cost $141,155,102) (Note 1)............................. $141,155,102
Repurchase agreement, at value and cost (Note 1)....................................................... 85,041,000
U.S. currency.......................................................................................... 22,315
Receivable for Fund shares sold........................................................................ 72,954,035
Interest receivable.................................................................................... 14,034
------------
Total assets......................................................................................... 299,186,486
------------
Liabilities:
Payable for Fund shares repurchased.................................................................... 21,805,756
Payable for investment management and administration fees (Note 2)..................................... 134,841
Distribution payable................................................................................... 97,586
Payable for registration and filing fees............................................................... 91,486
Payable for service and distribution expenses (Note 2)................................................. 65,528
Payable for transfer agent fees (Note 2)............................................................... 35,773
Payable for printing and postage expenses.............................................................. 26,318
Payable for professional fees.......................................................................... 24,747
Payable for fund accounting fees (Note 2).............................................................. 4,326
Payable for Directors' fees and expenses (Note 2)...................................................... 3,682
Payable for custodian fees............................................................................. 1,701
Other accrued expenses................................................................................. 5,987
------------
Total liabilities.................................................................................... 22,297,731
------------
Net assets............................................................................................... $276,888,755
------------
------------
Class A:
Net asset value and redemption price per share ($186,610,657 DIVIDED BY 186,670,776 shares
outstanding)............................................................................................ $ 1.00
------------
------------
Class B:+
Net asset value and offering price per share ($83,498,094 DIVIDED BY 83,456,702 shares outstanding)...... $ 1.00
------------
------------
Advisor Class:
Net asset value, offering price per share, and redemption price per share ($6,780,004 DIVIDED BY
6,779,978 shares outstanding)........................................................................... $ 1.00
------------
------------
Net assets: At December 31, 1997, net assets consisted of paid-in capital of $276,888,755.
<FN>
- --------------
+ Redemption price per share is equal to the net asset value per share less
any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F3
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year ended December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Investment income: (Note 1)
Interest income............................................................................................. $15,170,711
Expenses:
Service and distribution expenses: (Note 2)
Class A......................................................................................... $422,808
Class B......................................................................................... 995,797 1,418,605
--------
Investment management and administration fees (Note 2)...................................................... 1,384,735
Transfer agent fees (Note 2)................................................................................ 725,305
Registration and filing fees................................................................................ 400,217
Professional fees........................................................................................... 102,864
Printing and postage expenses............................................................................... 101,842
Fund accounting fees (Note 2)............................................................................... 69,517
Custodian fees (Note 4)..................................................................................... 43,930
Directors' fees and expenses (Note 2)....................................................................... 13,971
Other expenses.............................................................................................. 13,326
-----------
Total expenses before reductions.......................................................................... 4,274,312
-----------
Expenses waived by [Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc.] (Note 2)..................................... (671,757)
Expenses reimbursed by [Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc.] (Note 2)................................. (88,707)
Expense reductions (Note 2)............................................................................. (43,916)
-----------
Total net expenses........................................................................................ 3,469,932
-----------
Net investment income......................................................................................... 11,700,779
-----------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations.......................................................... $11,700,779
-----------
-----------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F4
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
1997 1996
-------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
Increase (Decrease) in net assets
Operations:
Net investment income................................................... $ 11,700,779 $ 15,135,332
-------------- ---------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations.................. 11,700,779 15,135,332
-------------- ---------------
Class A:
Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)
From net investment income.............................................. (7,587,680) (11,055,154)
Class B:
Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)
From net investment income.............................................. (3,720,785) (3,791,539)
Advisor Class:
Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)
From net investment income.............................................. (392,314) (288,639)
-------------- ---------------
Total distributions................................................... (11,700,779) (15,135,332)
-------------- ---------------
Capital share transactions: (Note 3)
Increase from capital shares sold and reinvested........................ 8,215,928,197 16,871,270,679
Decrease from capital shares repurchased................................ (8,474,948,990) (16,620,368,622)
-------------- ---------------
Net increase (decrease) from capital share transactions............... (259,020,793) 250,902,057
-------------- ---------------
Total increase (decrease) in net assets................................... (259,020,793) 250,902,057
Net assets:
Beginning of year....................................................... 535,909,548 285,007,491
-------------- ---------------
End of year *........................................................... $ 276,888,755 $ 535,909,548
-------------- ---------------
-------------- ---------------
<FN>
- --------------
* Includes undistributed net investment income of $0.
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F5
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding
throughout each period, total investment return, ratios and supplemental data.
This information has been derived from information provided in the financial
statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A+
----------------------------------------------------------
Year ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.045 $ 0.044 $ 0.050 $ 0.032 $ 0.022
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.045) (0.044) (0.050) (0.032) (0.022)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total investment return (b)............. 4.62% 4.50% 5.08% 3.3% 2.2%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000's).... $ 186,611 $ 392,623 $ 183,761 $ 320,858 $ 87,822
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 4.50% 4.39% 4.94% 3.40% 2.17%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 4.20% 4.08% 4.66% 3.15% 1.46%
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets: (a)
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 0.98% 0.99% 0.97% 0.92% 1.00%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 1.28% 1.30% 1.25% 1.17% 1.72%
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized for periods of less than one year.
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing April 1, 1993, the Fund began offering Class B shares.
+++ Commencing June 1, 1995, the Fund began offering Advisor Class shares.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F6
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (cont'd)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding
throughout each period, total investment return, ratios and supplemental data.
This information has been derived from information provided in the financial
statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class B++
-------------------------------------------------------------
April 1, 1993
Year ended December 31, to
---------------------------------------------- December 31,
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.038 $ 0.037 $ 0.040 $ 0.025 $ 0.010
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.038) (0.037) (0.040) (0.025) (0.010)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
Total investment return (b)............. 3.84% 3.73% 4.29% 2.53% 1.4%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000's).... $ 83,498 $ 128,308 $ 99,151 $ 109,936 $ 3,478
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 3.75% 3.64% 4.19% 2.65% 1.42%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 3.45% 3.33% 3.91% 2.40% 0.86%
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets: (a)
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 1.73% 1.74% 1.72% 1.67% 1.75%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 2.03% 2.05% 2.00% 1.92% 2.31%
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized for periods of less than one year.
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing April 1, 1993, the Fund began offering Class B shares.
+++ Commencing June 1, 1995, the Fund began offering Advisor Class shares.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F7
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (cont'd)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding
throughout each period, total investment return, ratios and supplemental data.
This information has been derived from information provided in the financial
statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Advisor Class+++
-------------------------------------
Year ended December June 1, 1995
31, to
---------------------- December 31,
1997 1996 1995
---------- ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.045 $ 0.044 $ 0.030
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.045) (0.044) (0.030)
---------- ---------- -------------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- -------------
---------- ---------- -------------
Total investment return (b)............. 4.61% 4.50% 2.92%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000's).... $ 6,780 $ 14,978 $ 2,096
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 4.50% 4.39% 4.94%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 4.45% 4.33% 4.91%
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets: (a)
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 0.98% 0.99% 0.97%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 1.03% 1.05% 1.0%
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized for periods of less than one year.
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing April 1, 1993, the Fund began offering Class B shares.
+++ Commencing June 1, 1995, the Fund began offering Advisor Class shares.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F8
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Significant Accounting Policies
GT Global Dollar Fund ("Fund") is a diversified series of GT Investment
Portfolios, Inc. ("Company"). The Company is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), as an open-end management investment
company.
The Fund offers Class A, Class B, and Advisor Class shares, each of which has
equal rights as to assets and voting privileges. Each class has exclusive voting
rights with respect to its distribution plan. Investment income, realized and
unrealized capital gains and losses, and the common expenses of the Fund are
allocated on a pro rata basis to each class based on the relative net assets of
each class to the total net assets of the Fund. Each class of shares differs in
its respective distribution expenses, and may differ in its transfer agent,
registration, and certain other class-specific fees and expenses.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of
significant accounting policies in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of the
financial statements.
(A) Portfolio Valuation
Securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
(B) Federal Income Taxes
It is the policy of the Fund to meet the requirements for qualification as a
"regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended ("Code"). It is also the intention of the Fund to make distributions
sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.
Therefore, no provision has been made for Federal taxes on income, capital
gains, and unrealized appreciation of securities held, or for excise tax on
income and capital gains. The Fund currently has a capital loss carryforward of
$3,382 which expires in 2005.
(C) Repurchase Agreements
With respect to repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, it is the Fund's
policy to always receive, as collateral, U.S. government securities or other
high quality debt securities of which the value, including accrued interest, is
at least equal to the amount to be repaid to the Fund under each agreement at
its maturity. Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc. (the "Manager") is
responsible for determining that the value of these underlying securities
remains at least equal to the resale price.
(D) Other
Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (date the order to buy or
sell is executed). Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Dividends to
shareholders from net investment income are declared daily and paid or
reinvested monthly.
2. Related Parties
The Manager serves as the investment manager and administrator of the Fund. The
Fund pays the Manager investment management and administration fees at the
annualized rate of 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets. These fees are
computed daily and paid monthly, and are subject to reduction in any year to the
extent that the Fund's expenses (exclusive of brokerage commissions, taxes,
interest, distribution-related expenses and extraordinary expenses) exceed the
most stringent limits prescribed by the laws or regulations of any state in
which the Fund's shares are sold.
GT Global, Inc. ("GT Global"), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as the Fund's
distributor. The Fund offers Class A shares for purchase. Certain redemptions of
Class A shares made within two years of purchase are subject to contingent
deferred sales charges ("CDSCs"), in accordance with the Fund's current
prospectus. Class B shares of the Fund are available only through an exchange of
Class B shares of other GT Global Mutual Funds. Certain redemptions of Class B
shares made within six years of purchase are also subject to CDSCs, in
accordance with the Fund's current prospectus. For the year ended December 31,
1997, GT Global collected CDSCs in the amount of $1,241,407. In addition, GT
Global may, from time to time, make ongoing payments to brokerage firms,
financial institutions (including banks) and others that facilitate the
administration and servicing of shareholder accounts.
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Company's Board of Directors has
adopted separate distribution plans with respect to the Fund's Class A shares
("Class A Plan") and Class B shares ("Class B Plan"), pursuant to which the Fund
reimburses GT Global for a portion of its shareholder servicing and distribution
expenses. Under the Class A Plan, the Fund may pay GT Global a service fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class A shares for GT Global's expenditures incurred in servicing and
maintaining shareholder accounts, and may pay GT Global a distribution fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class A shares less any amounts paid by the Fund as the aforementioned service
fee for GT Global's expenditures incurred in providing services as distributor.
GT Global does not currently intend to seek reimbursement of any amounts under
the Class A Plan. All expenses for which GT Global is reimbursed under the Class
A Plan will have been incurred within one year of such reimbursement.
Pursuant to the Fund's Class B Plan, the Fund may pay GT Global a service fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class B shares for GT Global's expenditures incurred in servicing and
maintaining shareholder accounts, and may pay GT Global a distribution fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class B shares for GT Global's expenditures incurred in providing services as
distributor. GT Global does not currently intend to seek reimbursement of any
amounts in excess of 0.75% of average daily net assets under the Class B Plan.
Expenses incurred under the Class B Plan in excess of
F9
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
1.00% annually may be carried forward for reimbursement in subsequent years as
long as that Plan continues in effect.
The Manager and GT Global have voluntarily undertaken to limit the Fund's
expenses (exclusive of brokerage commissions, interest, taxes and extraordinary
expenses) to the annual rate of 1.00%, 1.75%, and 1.00% of the average daily net
assets of the Fund's Class A, Class B, and Advisor Class shares, respectively.
If necessary, this limitation will be effected by waivers by the Manager of its
investment management and administration fees, waivers by GT Global of payments
under the Class A Plan and/or Class B Plan and/or reimbursements by the Manager
or GT Global of portions of the Fund's other operating expenses.
GT Global Investor Services, Inc. ("GT Services"), an affiliate of the Manager
and GT Global, is the transfer agent for the Fund. For performing shareholder
servicing, reporting, and general transfer agent services, GT Services receives
an annual maintenance fee of $17.50 per account, a new account fee of $4.00 per
account, a per transaction fee of $1.75 for all transactions other than
exchanges and a per exchange fee of $2.25. The Transfer Agent also is reimbursed
by the Fund for its out-of-pocket expenses for such items as postage, forms,
telephone charges, stationery and office supplies.
The Company pays each of its Directors who is not an employee, officer or
director of the Manager, GT Global or GT Services $1,000 per year plus $300 for
each meeting of the board or any committee thereof attended by the Director.
The Manager is the pricing and accounting agent for the Fund. The monthly fee
for these services to the Manager is a percentage, not to exceed 0.03% annually,
of the Fund's average daily net assets. The annual fee rate is derived by
applying 0.03% to the first $5 billion of assets of all registered mutual funds
advised by LGT and 0.02% to the assets in excess of $5 billion and allocating
the result according to the Fund's average daily net assets.
3. Capital Shares
At December 31, 1997, there were 2,000,000,000 shares of the Company's common
stock authorized, at $0.001 per share. Of this number, 1,500,000,000 shares have
been classified as shares of the Fund; 500 million shares have been classified
as Class A shares, 500 million have been classified as Class B shares, and 500
million have been classified as Advisor Class shares. These amounts may be
increased from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Transactions in capital shares of the Fund were as follows:
Capital Share Transactions
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended Year ended
December 31, 1997 December 31, 1996
---------------------- ----------------------
Class A Shares & Amount Shares & Amount
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold............................. 6,222,351,251 14,275,856,684
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions......... 4,193,093 7,664,536
---------------------- ----------------------
6,226,544,344 14,283,521,220
Shares repurchased...................... (6,432,557,179) (14,074,631,817)
---------------------- ----------------------
Net increase (decrease)................. (206,012,835) 208,889,403
---------------------- ----------------------
---------------------- ----------------------
<CAPTION>
Class B Shares & Amount Shares & Amount
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold............................. 1,763,392,144 2,348,173,773
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions......... 2,479,264 2,261,688
---------------------- ----------------------
1,765,871,408 2,350,435,461
Shares repurchased...................... (1,810,681,116) (2,321,320,722)
---------------------- ----------------------
Net increase (decrease)................. (44,809,708) 29,114,739
---------------------- ----------------------
---------------------- ----------------------
<CAPTION>
Advisor Class Shares & Amount Shares & Amount
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold............................. 223,289,952 237,098,781
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions......... 222,493 215,804
---------------------- ----------------------
223,512,445 237,314,585
Shares repurchased...................... (231,710,695) (224,416,508)
---------------------- ----------------------
Net increase (decrease)................. (8,198,250) 12,898,077
---------------------- ----------------------
---------------------- ----------------------
</TABLE>
4. Expense Reductions
For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund's custody fees were offset by
$43,916 of credits on cash held at the custodian.
5. Subsequent Event
On January 30, 1998, Liechtenstein Global Trust ("LGT") and AMVESCAP PLC
("AMVESCAP") entered into an agreement by which AMVESCAP will acquire LGT's
Asset Management Division, including Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc.
AMVESCAP is the holding company of the A I M and INVESCO asset management
businesses.
F10
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
AIM GLOBAL FUNDS
AIM DISTRIBUTORS OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF FUNDS TO COMPLEMENT MANY INVESTORS'
PORTFOLIOS. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A PROSPECTUS ON ANY OF THE FUNDS LISTED
BELOW, INCLUDING FEES, EXPENSES AND THE RISKS OF GLOBAL AND EMERGING MARKET
INVESTING AND THE RISKS OF INVESTING IN RELATED INDUSTRIES, PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER OR CALL 1-800-824-1580.
GROWTH FUNDS
/ / GLOBALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW DIMENSION FUND
Captures global growth opportunities by investing directly in the six global
theme funds
AIM WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND
Invests around the world, including the U.S.
AIM INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
Provides portfolio diversity by investing outside
the U.S.
AIM EMERGING MARKETS FUND
Gives access to the growth potential of developing economies
AIM DEVELOPING MARKETS FUND
Invests in debt and equity securities of developing market issuers
/ / GLOBAL THEME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES FUND
Invests in companies that manufacture, market, retail, or distribute consumer
products or services
AIM GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND
Focuses on the worldwide opportunities from the demand for financial services
and products
AIM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
Invests in growing health care industries worldwide
AIM GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Seeks companies that build, improve or maintain a country's infrastructure
AIM GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
Concentrates on companies that own, explore or develop natural resources
AIM GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
Invests in companies worldwide that develop, manufacture or sell
telecommunications services or equipment
/ / REGIONALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW PACIFIC GROWTH FUND
Offers access to the emerging and established markets of the Pacific Rim,
excluding Japan
AIM EUROPE GROWTH FUND
Focuses on investment opportunities in Europe
AIM LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
Invests in the emerging markets of Latin America
/ / SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
AIM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
Invests in equity securities of small U.S. companies
AIM MID CAP GROWTH FUND
Concentrates on medium-sized companies in the U.S.
AIM AMERICA VALUE FUND
Concentrates on equity securities of large cap U.S. companies believed to be
undervalued
AIM JAPAN GROWTH FUND
Provides U.S. investors with direct access to the Japanese market
GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
AIM GLOBAL GROWTH & INCOME FUND
Invests in blue-chip stocks and government bonds from around the world
INCOME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
Earns monthly income from global government securities
AIM STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
Allocates its assets among debt securities from the U.S., developed foreign
countries and emerging markets
AIM GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND
Invests in debt securities in emerging markets
AIM FLOATING RATE FUND
Invests primarily in senior secured floating rate loans that have the potential
to achieve a high level of current income
MONEY MARKET FUND
AIM DOLLAR FUND
Invests in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities
worldwide for stability and preservation of capital
[LOGO]
NO DEALER, SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION
OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY AIM
DOLLAR FUND, A I M ADVISORS, INC., AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC., INVESCO
(NY), INC. OR A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF ANY
OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY
PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
DOLSA705MC
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND: ADVISOR CLASS
PROSPECTUS -- JUNE 1, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM DOLLAR FUND ("FUND") seeks maximum current income consistent with liquidity
and conservation of capital. The Fund may invest in a wide variety of high
quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments, including obligations
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and
instrumentalities; U.S. and non-U.S. corporate obligations; and instruments of
U.S. and foreign banks.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND IS NEITHER INSURED NOR GUARANTEED BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE FUND WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A
STABLE NET ASSET VALUE OF $1.00 PER SHARE.
FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR ENDORSED OR GUARANTEED BY,
ANY BANK, NOR ARE THEY FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
The Fund is managed by A I M Advisors, Inc. ("AIM") and are sub-advised and
sub-administered by INVESCO (NY), Inc. (the "Sub-adviser"). AIM and the
Sub-adviser and their worldwide asset management affiliates provide investment
management and/or administrative services to institutional, corporate and
individual clients around the world. AIM and the Sub-adviser are both indirect
wholly owned subsidiaries of AMVESCAP PLC. AMVESCAP PLC and its subsidiaries are
an independent investment management group that has a significant presence in
the institutional and retail segment of the investment management industry in
North America and Europe, and a growing presence in Asia.
Shares offered by this Prospectus are available for purchase only by certain
investors and are offered at net asset value without the imposition of a front-
end or contingent deferred sales charge and without a Rule 12b-1 charge.
This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information an investor should know
before investing and should be read carefully and retained for future reference.
A Statement of Additional Information, dated June 1, 1998, has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and, as amended or supplemented
from time to time, is incorporated herein by reference. The Statement of
Additional Information is available without charge by writing to the Fund at 50
California Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, or calling (800) 347-4246. It is
also available, along with other related materials, on the SEC's Internet web
site (http://www.sec.gov).
An investment in the Fund offers the following advantages:
/ / Daily Dividends
/ / Automatic Dividend Reinvestment at No Sales Charge
/ / Portfolio Rebalancing Program
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CALL (800) 824-1580 OR CONTACT YOUR
FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
[LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED
ON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Prospectus Page 1
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
---------
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary........................................................................ 3
Financial Highlights...................................................................... 6
Investment Objective and Policies......................................................... 8
How to Invest............................................................................. 11
How to Make Exchanges..................................................................... 13
How to Redeem Shares...................................................................... 14
Shareholder Account Manual................................................................ 16
Calculation of Net Asset Value............................................................ 17
Dividends and Federal Income Taxation..................................................... 17
Management................................................................................ 18
Other Information......................................................................... 20
</TABLE>
Prospectus Page 2
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- ------------------------------------------------------------
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information appearing in the body of this Prospectus. Cross-references in the
summary are to headings in the body of this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The Fund: The Fund is a diversified series of AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc., (the "Company").
Investment Objective: The Fund seeks maximum current income consistent with liquidity and conservation of capital.
Principal Investments: The Fund invests in a wide variety of high quality U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments
of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers.
Investment Managers: AIM and the Sub-adviser and their worldwide asset management affiliates provide investment management
and/or administrative services to institutional, corporate and individual clients around the world.
AIM and the Sub-adviser are both indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of AMVESCAP PLC. AMVESCAP PLC and
its subsidiaries are an independent investment management group that has a significant presence in
the institutional and retail segment of the investment management industry in North America and
Europe, and a growing presence in Asia. AIM was organized in 1976 and, together with its affiliates,
currently advises approximately 90 investment company portfolios, AIM advises the Fund and other
investment company portfolios which are sub-advised by the Sub-adviser ("AIM/GT Funds"). On May 29,
1998, AMVESCAP PLC acquired the Asset Management Division of Liechtenstein Global Trust AG, which
include the Sub-adviser and certain other affiliates. AIM also serves as the investment adviser to
other mutual funds, which are not sub-advised by the Sub-adviser, that are part of The AIM Family of
Funds-Registered Trademark- ("The AIM Family of Funds," and together with the AIM/GT Funds, the "AIM
Funds").
Advisor Class Shares: Advisor Class shares are offered through this Prospectus to (a) trustees or other fiduciaries
purchasing shares for employee benefit plans which are sponsored by organizations which have at least
1,000 employees; (b) any account with assets of at least $10,000 if (i) a financial planner, trust
company, bank trust department or registered investment adviser has investment discretion over such
account, and (ii) the account holder pays such person as compensation for its advice and other
services an annual fee of at least 0.50% on the assets in the account ("Advisory Account"); (c) any
account with assets of at least $10,000 if (i) such account is established under a "wrap fee"
program, and (ii) the account holder pays the sponsor of such program an annual fee of at least 0.50%
on the assets in the account ("Wrap Fee Account"); (d) accounts advised by INVESCO (NY), Inc. or one
of the companies formerly affiliated with Liechtenstein Global Trust AG, provided such accounts were
invested in Advisor Class shares of any of the AIM/GT Funds on June 1, 1998; and (e) any of the
companies composing or affiliated with AMVESCAP PLC.
</TABLE>
THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS, THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS AND DESIGN (I.E., THE AIM
LOGO), AIM AND DESIGN, AIM, AIM LINK, AIM INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS, AIMFUNDS.COM, LA
FAMILIA AIM DE FONDOS AND LA FAMILIA AIM DE FONDOS AND DESIGN ARE REGISTERED
SERVICE MARKS AND INVEST WITH DISCIPLINE AND AIM BANK CONNECTION ARE SERVICE
MARKS OF A I M MANAGEMENT GROUP INC.
Prospectus Page 3
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
(Continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Shares Available Through: Advisor Class shares are available through Financial Advisers (as defined herein) who have entered
into agreements with the Fund's distributor, A I M Distributors, Inc. ("AIM Distributors") or certain
of its affiliates.
Exchange Privileges: Advisor Class shares may be exchanged for Advisor Class shares of other AIM/GT Funds. See "How to
Make Exchanges" and "Shareholder Account Manual."
Redemptions: Shares may be redeemed through the Fund's Transfer Agent. See "How to Redeem Shares" and "Shareholder
Account Manual."
Dividends: Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly from available net investment income and any realized
net short-term capital gain.
Reinvestment: Dividends may be reinvested automatically in Advisor Class shares of the Fund or in Advisor Class
shares of other AIM/GT Funds.
</TABLE>
Prospectus Page 4
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
(Continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY OF INVESTOR COSTS. The expenses and maximum transaction costs associated
with investing in the Advisor Class shares of the Fund are reflected in the
following tables (1):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADVISOR
CLASS
-----------
<S> <C>
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION COSTS:
Sales charge on purchases of shares......................................................................... None
Sales charges on reinvested distributions to shareholders................................................... None
Maximum contingent deferred sales charge (as a % of net asset value at time of purchase or sale, whichever
is less).................................................................................................. None
Redemption charges.......................................................................................... None
Exchange fees............................................................................................... None
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (2):
(AS A % OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
Investment management and administration fees............................................................... 0.50%
12b-1 distribution and service fees......................................................................... None
Other expenses (after waivers).............................................................................. 0.50%
-----------
Total Fund Operating Expenses................................................................................. 1.00%
-----------
-----------
</TABLE>
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE OF EFFECT OF EXPENSES (3):
An investor would directly or indirectly pay the following expenses at the end
of the periods shown on a $1,000 investment in the Fund, assuming a 5% annual
return:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ONE YEAR THREE YEARS FIVE YEARS TEN YEARS
----- ----------- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Advisor Class shares..................................................... $ 10 $ 32 $ 55 $ 123
</TABLE>
- --------------
(1) THESE TABLES ARE INTENDED TO ASSIST INVESTORS IN UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS
COSTS AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTING IN THE FUND.
(2) Expenses are based on the Fund's fiscal year ended December 31, 1997. "Other
Expenses" include custody, transfer agency, legal, audit and other operating
expenses. Effective January 1, 1998, AIM has undertaken to limit the Fund's
expenses (exclusive of brokerage commissions, taxes, interest and
extraordinary expenses) to the annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily net
assets of the Fund's Advisor Class shares. See "Management" herein and the
Statement of Additional Information for more information. Without
reimbursements, "Other expenses" and "Total Fund Operating Expenses" would
have been 0.53% and 1.03%, respectively, for the Fund. Investors purchasing
Advisor Class shares through financial planners, trust companies, bank trust
departments or registered investment advisers, or under a "wrap fee"
program, will be subject to additional fees charged by such entities or by
the sponsors of such programs. Where any account advised by one of the
companies composing or affiliated with AMVESCAP PLC invests in Advisor Class
shares of the Fund, such account shall not be subject to duplicative
advisory fees.
(3) THE "HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE" SET FORTH ABOVE IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF PAST
OR FUTURE EXPENSES. THE FUND'S ACTUAL EXPENSES, AND AN INVESTOR'S DIRECT AND
INDIRECT EXPENSES, MAY BE MORE OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. The above table and
the assumption in the Hypothetical Example of a 5% annual return are
required by regulation of the SEC applicable to all mutual funds. The 5%
annual return is not a prediction of and does not represent the Fund's
projected or actual performance.
Prospectus Page 5
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The table below provides condensed financial information concerning income and
capital changes for one Class A and Advisor Class share of the Fund for the
periods shown. This information is supplemented by the financial statements and
notes thereto included in the Statement of Additional Information. The financial
statements and notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, have been
audited by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants, whose report
thereon also appears in the Statement of Additional Information. Information
presented below for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1988 to 1991 was audited
by other auditors that served as the Fund's independent accountants for those
periods.
AIM DOLLAR FUND
(FORMERLY GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A+
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.045 $ 0.044 $ 0.050 $ 0.032 $ 0.022 $ 0.028 $ 0.051
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.045) (0.044) (0.050) (0.032) (0.022) (0.028) (0.051)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total Investment Return (b)............. 4.62% 4.50% 5.08% 3.30% 2.2% 2.8% 5.1%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets at end of the period (in
000's)................................. $186,611 $392,623 $183,761 $320,858 $87,822 $81,674 $70,295
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 4.50% 4.39% 4.94% 3.40% 2.17% 2.78% 5.10%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 4.20% 4.08% 4.66% 3.15% 1.46% 2.47% 4.90%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 0.98% 0.99% 0.97% 0.92% 1.00% 1.25% 1.25%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.28% 1.30% 1.25% 1.17% 1.72% 1.56% 1.45%
</TABLE>
- --------------
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized.
Prospectus Page 6
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADVISOR CLASS++
CLASS A+ ----------------------------------
----------------------------------
YEAR ENDED JUNE 1,
YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, DEC. 31, 1995 TO
---------------------------------- ---------------------- DEC. 31,
1990 1989 1988 1997 1996 1995
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.069 $ 0.075 $ 0.058 $ 0.045 $ 0.044 $ 0.030
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.069) (0.075) (0.058) (0.045) (0.044 ) (0.030 )
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total Investment Return (b)............. 6.9% 7.6% 5.9% 4.61% 4.50% 2.92%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets at end of the period (in
000's)................................. $123,218 $13,143 $11,628 $6,780 $14,978 $2,096
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 6.95% 7.60% 5.72% 4.50% 4.39% 4.94%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 6.64% 7.17% --% 4.45% 4.33% 4.91%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
With expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.25% 1.19% 1.03% 0.98% 0.99% 0.97%
Without expense waivers and reductions
(a).................................. 1.56% 1.62% --% 1.03% 1.05% 1.00%
</TABLE>
- ------------------
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing June 1, 1995, the Fund began offering Advisor Class shares.
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized.
Prospectus Page 7
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's investment objective is to seek maximum current income consistent
with liquidity and conservation of capital. The Fund seeks this objective by
investing in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments,
i.e., debt obligations with remaining maturities of 13 months or less.
The Fund seeks to maintain a net asset value of $1.00 per share. To do so, the
Fund uses the amortized cost method of valuing its securities pursuant to Rule
2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
certain requirements of which are summarized below.
In accordance with Rule 2a-7, the Fund will (i) maintain a dollar-weighted
average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less and (ii) purchase only instruments
having remaining maturities of 13 months or less.
The Fund will invest only in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market
instruments determined by the Sub-adviser to present minimal credit risks in
accordance with procedures established by the Company's Board of Trustees (the
"Board"). To be considered high quality, a security must be rated in accordance
with applicable rules in one of the two highest rating categories for short-term
securities by at least two nationally recognized statistical rating
organizations ("NRSROs") (or one, if only one such NRSRO has rated the security)
or, if the issuer has no applicable short-term rating, determined by the
Sub-adviser to be of equivalent credit quality.
High quality securities are divided into "first tier" and "second tier"
securities. The Fund will invest only in first tier securities. First tier
securities have received the highest rating for short-term debt from at least
two NRSROs, i.e., rated not lower than A-1 by Standard & Poor's, a division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ("S&P"), or P-1 by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") (or one, if only one such NRSRO has rated the security) or, if
unrated, are determined to be of equivalent quality as described above. If a
security has been assigned different ratings by different NRSROs, at least two
NRSROs must have assigned the higher rating in order for the Sub-adviser to
determine the security's eligibility for purchase by the Fund.
The rating criteria of S&P and Moody's, two NRSROs currently rating instruments
of the type the Fund may purchase, are more fully described in "Description of
Debt Ratings" in the Statement of Additional Information.
PERMITTED INVESTMENTS. The Fund may invest in the following types of money
market instruments:
/ / OBLIGATIONS ISSUED OR GUARANTEED BY THE U.S. AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, THEIR
AGENCIES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES. These include: direct obligations of the
U.S. Treasury, such as Treasury bills and notes; obligations backed by the
full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such as those issued by the
Government National Mortgage Association; obligations supported primarily or
solely by the creditworthiness of the issuer, such as securities of Fannie
Mae (also known as the Federal National Mortgage Association), Freddie Mac
(also known as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) and the Tennessee
Valley Authority; and similar U.S.-dollar denominated instruments of foreign
governments, their agencies, authorities and instrumentalities.
/ / OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. AND NON-U.S. BANKS, including certificates of deposit,
bankers' acceptances and similar instruments, when such banks have total
assets at the time of purchase equal to at least $1 billion.
/ / INTEREST-BEARING DEPOSITS IN U.S. COMMERCIAL AND SAVINGS BANKS having total
assets of $1 billion or less, in principal amounts at each such bank not
greater than are insured by an agency of the U.S. government, provided that
the aggregate amount of such deposits (including interest earned) does not
exceed 5% of the Fund's assets.
/ / COMMERCIAL PAPER AND OTHER SHORT-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. AND FOREIGN
COMPANIES, rated at least A-1 by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody's or, if not rated,
determined by the Sub-adviser to be of equivalent quality, provided that any
outstanding intermediate- or long-term debt of the issuer is rated at least
AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's. These instruments may include corporate bonds
and notes (corporate obligations that mature, or that
Prospectus Page 8
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
may be redeemed, in one year or less). These corporate obligations include
variable rate master notes, which are redeemable upon notice and permit
investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to
direct arrangements with the issuer of the instrument.
/ / REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS SECURED BY ANY OF THE FOREGOING. A repurchase
agreement is a transaction in which the Fund purchases a security from a
bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits to resell
that security to the bank or dealer at an agreed-upon price, date and market
rate of interest unrelated to the coupon rate or maturity of the purchased
security. Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated
with direct investments in securities, including possible decline in the
market value of the underlying securities and delays and costs to the Fund
if the other party to the repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt, the Fund
will enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and dealers believed
by the Sub-adviser to present minimal credit risks in accordance with
guidelines approved by the Board. The Sub-adviser will review and monitor
the creditworthiness of such institutions under the Board's general
supervision. The Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements with
maturities of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the
value of its net assets would be invested in such repurchase agreements and
other illiquid securities.
INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES. In managing the Fund, the Sub-adviser may employ a number
of professional money management techniques, including varying the composition
of the Fund's investments and the average weighted maturity of the Fund's
portfolio within the limitations described above. Determinations to use such
techniques will be based on the Sub-adviser's identification and assessment of
the relative values of various money market instruments and the future of
interest rate patterns, economic conditions and shifts in fiscal and monetary
policy. The Sub-adviser also may seek to improve the Fund's yield by purchasing
or selling securities in order to take advantage of yield disparities that
regularly occur in the market. For example, frequently there are yield
disparities between different types of money market instruments, and market
conditions from time to time result in similar securities trading at different
prices.
RISKS AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. Investors should recognize that in periods of
declining interest rates, the Fund's yield will tend to be somewhat higher than
prevailing market rates; conversely, in periods of rising interest rates, the
Fund's yield will tend to be somewhat lower than those rates. Also, when
interest rates are falling, the net new money flowing into the Fund from the net
sale of its shares likely will be invested in instruments producing lower yields
than the balance of the Fund's portfolio, thereby reducing its yield. The
opposite generally will be true in periods of rising interest rates. The Fund is
designed to provide maximum current income consistent with the liquidity and
safety of principal afforded by investment in a portfolio of high quality money
market instruments; the Fund's yield may be lower than that produced by funds
investing in lower quality and/or longer-term securities.
Although the Fund may invest in instruments of non-U.S. issuers, all such
instruments will be denominated in U.S. dollars and will be first tier
securities. Obligations of non-U.S. issuers are subject to the same risks that
pertain to domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk.
Nonetheless, these instruments present risks that are different from those
presented by investment in instruments of U.S. issuers. Obligations of foreign
entities may be subject to certain sovereign risks, including adverse political
and economic developments in a foreign country, the extent and quality of
government regulation of financial markets and institutions, interest
limitations, currency controls, foreign withholding taxes, and expropriation or
nationalization of foreign issuers and their assets. There may be less publicly
available information about foreign issuers than about domestic issuers, and
foreign issuers may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and
financial recordkeeping standards and requirements as are domestic issuers.
Accordingly, while the Fund's ability to invest in these instruments may provide
it with the potential to produce a higher yield than money market funds
investing solely in instruments of domestic issuers, the Fund presents greater
risk than such other funds.
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES. The Fund may purchase variable and
floating rate securities with remaining maturities in excess of 13 months. Such
securities must comply with conditions established by the SEC under which they
may be considered to have remaining maturities of 13 months or less. The yield
of these securities varies in relation to changes in specific money market rates
such as the prime rate. These changes are reflected in adjustments to the yields
of the variable and floating rate securities, and different
Prospectus Page 9
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
securities may have different adjustment rates. To the extent that the Fund
invests in such variable and floating rate securities, it is the Sub-adviser's
view that the Fund may be able to take advantage of the higher yield that is
usually paid on longer-term securities. The Sub-adviser further believes that
the variable and floating rates paid on such securities may substantially reduce
the wide fluctuations in market value caused by interest rate changes and other
factors which are typical of longer-term debt securities.
OTHER INFORMATION. The Fund may acquire participation interests in securities in
which it is permitted to invest. Participation interests are pro rata interests
in securities held by others. Pending investment of proceeds from new sales of
Fund shares or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may hold any portion
of its assets in cash. The Fund may borrow money from banks as a temporary
measure (a) for extraordinary or emergency purposes in amounts up to 5% of its
net assets (taken at market value) or (b) in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its net
assets in order to meet redemption requests. The Fund will not purchase
securities while borrowings remain outstanding. The Fund may invest no more than
5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer (other than
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, or
instrumentalities).
The Fund's investment objective and policies with respect to borrowing as stated
above are fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of a majority
of its outstanding voting securities. A "majority of the Fund's outstanding
voting securities" means the lesser of (i) 67% of its shares represented at a
meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented, and
(ii) more than 50% of its outstanding shares. In addition, the Fund has adopted
certain investment limitations that also may not be changed without shareholder
approval. A description of these limitations is included in the Statement of
Additional Information. The Fund's other investment policies described herein
are not fundamental and may be changed by vote of the Board without shareholder
approval.
If a percentage restriction on investment or utilization of assets in an
investment policy or restriction is adhered to at the time an investment is
made, a later change in percentage ownership of a security or kind of securities
resulting from changing market values or a similar type of event will not be
considered a violation of the Fund's investment policies or restrictions.
Prospectus Page 10
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
HOW TO INVEST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL. Advisor Class shares are offered through this Prospectus to (a)
trustees or other fiduciaries purchasing shares for employee benefit plans which
are sponsored by organizations which have at least 1,000 employees; (b) any
account with assets of at least $10,000 if (i) a financial planner, trust
company, bank trust department or registered investment adviser has investment
discretion over such account, and (ii) the account holder pays such person as
compensation for its advice and other services an annual fee of at least .50% on
the assets in the account ("Advisory Account"); (c) any account with assets of
at least $10,000 if (i) such account is established under a "wrap fee" program,
and (ii) the account holder pays the sponsor of such program an annual fee of at
least .50% on the assets in the account ("Wrap Fee Account"); (d) accounts
advised by INVESCO (NY), Inc. or one of the companies formerly affiliated with
Liechtenstein Global Trust AG, provided such accounts were invested in Advisor
Class shares of any of the AIM/GT Funds on June 1, 1998; and (e) any of the
companies composing or affiliated with AMVESCAP PLC. Financial planners, trust
companies, bank trust companies and registered investment advisers referenced in
subpart (b) and sponsors of "wrap fee" programs referenced in subpart (c) are
collectively referred to as "Financial Advisers." Investors in Wrap Fee Accounts
and Advisory Accounts may only purchase Advisor Class shares through Financial
Advisers who have entered into agreements with AIM Distributors and certain of
its affiliates. Investors may be charged a fee by their agent or broker if they
effect transactions other than through a dealer.
All purchase orders will be executed at the public offering price next
determined after the purchase order is received. Orders received by authorized
institutions (or their designees) before the close of regular trading on the New
York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless weather,
equipment failure or other factors contribute to an earlier closing time) on any
Business Day will be executed at the Fund's net asset value per share determined
that day, provided Federal Funds, as defined below, become available to the Fund
that day. A "Business Day" is any day Monday through Friday on which the NYSE is
open for business. Prior to receipt of Federal Funds, an investor's money will
not be invested. "Federal Funds" are monies held on deposit at a Federal Reserve
Bank that are available for the Fund's immediate use. Purchases by check or
negotiable bank draft normally take two business days to be converted into
Federal Funds. Shares begin accruing income dividends on the day following the
date of purchase.
THE FUND AND AIM DISTRIBUTORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY PURCHASE ORDER AND
TO SUSPEND THE OFFERING OF SHARES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. In particular, the Fund
and AIM Distributors may reject purchase orders or exchanges by investors who
appear to follow, in the Sub-adviser's judgment, a market-timing strategy or
otherwise engage in excessive trading. See "How to Make Exchanges -- Limitations
on Purchase Orders and Exchanges."
Fiduciaries and Financial Advisers may be required to provide information
satisfactory to AIM Distributors concerning their eligibility to purchase
Advisor Class shares. For specific information on opening an account, please
contact your Financial Adviser or AIM Distributors.
FOR ANY FUND NAMED ON THE COVER PAGE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, AIM DISTRIBUTORS AND
ITS AGENTS RESERVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME (1) TO WITHDRAW ALL OR ANY PART OF THE
OFFERING MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS; (2) TO REJECT ANY PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE ORDER
OR TO CANCEL ANY PURCHASE DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE; (3) TO
INCREASE, WAIVE OR LOWER THE MINIMUM INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS; OR (4) TO MODIFY
ANY OF THE TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE OF SHARES OF SUCH FUND. For any Fund
named on the cover page, AIM Distributors and its agents will use their best
efforts to provide notice of any such actions through correspondence with
broker-dealers and existing shareholders, supplements to the AIM/GT Funds'
prospectuses, or other appropriate means, and will provide sixty (60) days'
notice in the case of termination or material modification to the exchange
privilege
Prospectus Page 11
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
discussed under the caption "How to Make Exchanges."
PURCHASES BY BANK WIRE. Shares of the Fund may also be purchased by bank wire.
Bank wire purchases will be effected at the net asset value next determined
after the bank wire is received. A wire investment is considered received when
the Transfer Agent is notified that the bank wire has been credited to a Fund.
Prior telephonic or facsimile notice must be provided to the Transfer Agent that
a bank wire is being sent. A bank may charge a service fee for wiring money to
the Fund. The Transfer Agent currently does not charge a service fee for
facilitating wire purchases, but reserves the right to do so in the future. For
more information, please refer to the Shareholder Account Manual in this
Prospectus.
CERTIFICATES. In the interest of economy and convenience, the Fund does not
issue physical certificates representing its shares. Shares of the Fund are
recorded on a register by the Transfer Agent, and shareholders have the same
rights of ownership as if certificates had been issued to them.
PORTFOLIO REBALANCING PROGRAM. The Portfolio Rebalancing Program ("Program")
permits eligible shareholders to establish and maintain an allocation across a
range of AIM Funds. The Program automatically rebalances holdings of AIM/GT
Funds to the established allocation on a periodic basis. Under the Program, a
shareholder may predesignate, on a percentage basis, how the total value of his
or her holdings in a minimum of two, and a maximum of ten, AIM/GT Funds
("Personal Portfolio") is to be rebalanced on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual,
or annual basis.
Rebalancing under the Program will be effected through the exchange of shares of
one or more AIM/ GT Funds in the shareholder's Personal Portfolio for shares of
the same class of one or more other AIM/GT Funds in the shareholder's Personal
Portfolio. See "How to Make Exchanges." If shares of the AIM/GT Fund(s) in a
shareholder's Personal Portfolio have appreciated during a rebalancing period,
the Program will result in shares of AIM/GT Fund(s) that have appreciated most
during the period being exchanged for shares of AIM/GT Fund(s) that have
appreciated least. SUCH EXCHANGES ARE NOT TAX-FREE AND MAY RESULT IN A
SHAREHOLDER'S REALIZING A GAIN OR LOSS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR FEDERAL INCOME
TAX PURPOSES. See "Dividends and Federal Income Taxation." Participation in the
Program does not assure that a shareholder will profit from purchases under the
Program nor does it prevent or lessen losses in a declining market.
The Program will automatically rebalance the shareholder's Personal Portfolio on
the 28th day of the last month of the period chosen (or the immediately
preceding business day if the 28th is not a business day), subject to any
limitations below. The Program will not execute an exchange if the variance in a
shareholder's Personal Portfolio for a particular Fund would be 2% or less. In
predesignating percentages, shareholders must use whole percentages and totals
must equal 100%. Shareholders participating in the Program may not request
issuance of physical certificates representing a Fund's shares. The AIM/GT Funds
and AIM Distributors reserve the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the
Program at any time on 60 days' prior written notice to shareholders. A request
to participate in the Program must be received in good order at least five
business days prior to the next rebalancing date. Once a shareholder establishes
the Program for his or her Personal Portfolio, a shareholder cannot cancel or
change which rebalancing frequency, which Funds or what allocation percentages
are assigned to the Program, unless canceled or changed in writing and received
by the Transfer Agent in good order at least five business days prior to the
rebalancing date. Certain Financial Institutions may charge a fee for
establishing accounts relating to the Program. Investors should contact their
Financial Institution or AIM Distributors for more information.
Prospectus Page 12
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
HOW TO MAKE EXCHANGES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advisor Class shares of the Fund may be exchanged for Advisor Class shares of
any other AIM/GT Fund, based on their respective net asset values without
imposition of any sales charges, provided that the registration remains
identical. Exchange requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent before
the close of regular trading on the NYSE on any Business Day will be processed
at the net asset value determined that day.
EXCHANGES ARE NOT TAX-FREE AND MAY RESULT IN A SHAREHOLDER REALIZING A GAIN OR
LOSS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES. See "Dividends, Other
Distributions and Federal Income Taxation." In addition to the Fund, the AIM/GT
Funds include the following:
- AIM AMERICA VALUE FUND
- AIM DEVELOPING MARKETS FUND
- AIM EMERGING MARKETS FUND
- AIM EUROPE GROWTH FUND
- AIM GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FUND
- AIM GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND
- AIM GLOBAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
- AIM GLOBAL GROWTH & INCOME FUND
- AIM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
- AIM GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND
- AIM GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
- AIM GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
- AIM GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
- AIM INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
- AIM JAPAN GROWTH FUND
- AIM LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
- AIM MID CAP GROWTH FUND
- AIM NEW DIMENSION FUND
- AIM NEW PACIFIC GROWTH FUND
- AIM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
- AIM STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
- AIM WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND
Investors in Wrap Fee Accounts and Advisory Accounts interested in making an
exchange should contact their Financial Advisers to request the prospectuses of
the other AIM/GT Fund(s) being considered. Other investors should contact AIM
Distributors. The terms of the exchange offer may be modified at any time, on 60
days' prior written notice.
EXCHANGES BY TELEPHONE. A shareholder may give exchange information to the
shareholder's Financial Adviser or to the Transfer Agent by telephone at the
appropriate toll-free number provided in the Shareholder Account Manual.
Shareholders automatically have telephone privileges to authorize exchanges. The
Fund, AIM Distributors and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any loss or
damage for acting in good faith upon instructions received by telephone and
reasonably believed to be genuine. The Fund employs reasonable procedures to
confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine prior to acting
upon instructions received by telephone, including requiring some form of
personal identification, providing written confirmation of such transactions,
and/or tape recording of telephone instructions.
LIMITATIONS ON PURCHASE ORDERS AND EXCHANGES. The AIM/GT Funds are not intended
to serve as vehicles for frequent trading in response to short-term fluctuations
in the market. Due to the disruptive effect that market-timing investment
strategies and excessive trading can have on efficient portfolio management,
each AIM/GT Fund and AIM Distributors reserve the right to refuse purchase
orders and exchanges by any person or group, if, in the Sub-adviser's judgment
such person or group was following a market-timing strategy or was otherwise
engaging in excessive trading.
In addition, each AIM/GT Fund and AIM Distributors reserve the right to refuse
purchase orders and exchanges by any person or group if, in the Sub-adviser's
judgment, the Fund would not be able to invest the money effectively in
accordance with that Fund's investment objective and policies or would otherwise
potentially be adversely affected. Although an AIM/GT Fund will attempt to give
investors prior notice whenever it is reasonably able to do so, it may impose
the above restrictions at any time.
Finally, as described above, the AIM/GT Fund and AIM Distributors reserve the
right to reject any purchase order.
Prospectus Page 13
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption requests may be transmitted to the Transfer Agent by telephone or by
mail, in accordance with the instructions provided in the Shareholder Account
Manual. All redemptions will be effected at the net asset value next determined
after the Transfer Agent has received the request, provided that the request is
transmitted to the Transfer Agent prior to the time set for receipt of such
redemption requests. Redemptions will only be effected if the request is
received in good order and accompanied by any required supporting documentation.
Redemption requests will not require a signature guarantee if the redemption
proceeds are to be sent either: (i) to the redeeming shareholder at the
shareholder's address of record as maintained by the Transfer Agent, provided
the shareholder's address of record has not been changed in the preceding
fifteen days; or (ii) directly to a pre-designated bank, savings and loan or
credit union account ("Pre-Designated Account"). ALL OTHER REDEMPTION REQUESTS
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE OF THE REDEEMING SHAREHOLDER'S
SIGNATURE. A signature guarantee can be obtained from any bank, U.S. trust
company, a member firm of a U.S. stock exchange or a foreign branch of any of
the foregoing or other eligible guarantor institution. A notary public is not an
acceptable guarantor.
Shareholders with Pre-Designated Accounts should request that redemption
proceeds be sent either by bank wire or by check. The minimum redemption amount
for a bank wire is $500. Shareholders requesting a bank wire should allow two
business days from the time the redemption request is effected for the proceeds
to be deposited in the shareholder's Pre-Designated Account. See "How to Redeem
Shares -- Other Important Redemption Information." Shareholders may change their
Pre-Designated Accounts only by a letter of instruction to the Transfer Agent
containing all account signatures, each of which must be guaranteed. The
Transfer Agent currently does not charge a bank wire service fee for each wire
redemption sent but reserves the right to do so in the future. The shareholder's
bank may charge a bank wire service fee.
REDEMPTIONS BY TELEPHONE. Redemption requests may be made by telephone by
calling the Transfer Agent at the appropriate toll-free number provided in the
Shareholder Account Manual. REDEMPTION REQUESTS MAY NOT BE MADE BY TELEPHONE FOR
FIFTEEN DAYS FOLLOWING ANY CHANGE OF THE SHAREHOLDER'S ADDRESS OF RECORD.
Shareholders automatically have telephone privileges to authorize redemptions.
The Fund, AIM Distributors and the Transfer Agent will not be liable for any
loss or damage for acting in good faith upon instructions received by telephone
and reasonably believed to be genuine. The Fund employs reasonable procedures to
confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine prior to acting
upon instructions received by telephone, including requiring some form of
personal identification, providing written confirmation of such transactions,
and/or tape recording of telephone instructions.
REDEMPTIONS BY MAIL. Redemption requests should be mailed directly to the
Transfer Agent at the appropriate address provided in the Shareholder Account
Manual. As discussed above, requests for payment of redemption proceeds to a
party other than the shareholder of record and/or requests that redemption
proceeds be mailed to an address other than the shareholder's address of record
require a signature guarantee. In addition, if the shareholder's address of
record has been changed within the preceding fifteen days, a signature guarantee
is required.
OTHER IMPORTANT REDEMPTION INFORMATION. A request for redemption will not be
processed until all of the necessary documentation has been received in good
order. A shareholder in doubt about what documents are required should contact
his or her Financial Adviser or the Transfer Agent.
Except in extraordinary circumstances and as permitted under the 1940 Act,
payment for shares redeemed by telephone or by mail will be made promptly after
receipt of a redemption request, if in good order, but not later than seven days
after the date the request is executed. Requests for
Prospectus Page 14
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
redemption which are subject to any special conditions or which specify a future
or past effective date cannot be accepted.
If the Transfer Agent is requested to redeem shares for which the Fund has not
yet received good payment, the Fund may delay payment of redemption proceeds
until the Transfer Agent has assured itself that good payment has been collected
for the purchase of the shares. In the case of purchases by check, it can take
up to 10 business days to confirm that the check has cleared and good payment
has been received. Redemption proceeds will not be delayed when shares have been
paid for by wire or when the investor's account holds a sufficient number of
shares for which funds already have been collected.
AIM Distributors each reserves the right to redeem the shares of any Advisory
Account or Wrap Fee Account if the amount invested in AIM/GT Funds through such
account is reduced to less than $500 through redemptions or other action by the
shareholder. Written notice will be given to the shareholder at least 60 days
prior to the date fixed for such redemption, during which time the shareholder
may increase the amount invested in AIM/GT Funds through such account to an
aggregate amount of $500 or more.
For additional information on how to redeem shares, see the Shareholder Account
Manual in this Prospectus, or contact your Financial Adviser.
Prospectus Page 15
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT MANUAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase, exchange and redemption orders should be placed in accordance with
this Manual. It is recommended that investors in Wrap Fee Accounts and Advisory
Accounts make such orders through their Financial Advisers. PLEASE BE CAREFUL TO
REFERENCE "ADVISOR CLASS" IN ALL INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED. See "How to Invest,"
"How to Make Exchanges" and "How to Redeem Shares" for more information.
The Fund's Transfer Agent is GT GLOBAL INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
INVESTMENTS BY MAIL
Send completed Account Application (if initial purchase) or letter stating Fund
name, class of shares, shareholder's registered name and account number (if
subsequent purchase) with a check to:
AIM/GT Funds
P.O. Box 7345
San Francisco, CA 94120-7345
INVESTMENTS BY BANK WIRE
A new account may be opened by calling 1-800-223-2138 to obtain an account
number. WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF PURCHASE A COMPLETED ACCOUNT APPLICATION CONTAINING
THE INVESTOR'S CERTIFIED TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER MUST BE SENT TO THE
ADDRESS PROVIDED ABOVE UNDER "INVESTMENTS BY MAIL." Wire instructions must state
Fund name, class of shares, shareholder's registered name and account number.
Bank wires should be sent through the Federal Reserve Bank Wire System to:
WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.
ABA 121000248
Attn: GT GLOBAL
Account No. 4023-050701
EXCHANGES BY TELEPHONE
Call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-223-2138.
EXCHANGES BY MAIL
Send complete instructions, including name of Fund exchanging from, class of
shares, amount of exchange, name of the AIM/GT Fund exchanging into,
shareholder's registered name and account number, to:
AIM/GT Funds
P.O. Box 7893
San Francisco, CA 94120-7893
REDEMPTIONS BY TELEPHONE
Call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-223-2138.
REDEMPTIONS BY MAIL
Send complete instructions, including name of Fund, class of shares, amount of
redemption, shareholder's registered name and account number, to:
AIM/GT Funds
P.O. Box 7893
San Francisco, CA 94120-7893
OVERNIGHT MAIL
Overnight mail services do not deliver to post office boxes. To send purchase,
exchange or redemption orders by overnight mail, follow the above instructions
but send to the following address:
GT Global Investor Services, Inc.
California Plaza
2121 N. California Boulevard
Suite 450
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Shareholders with additional questions regarding purchase, exchange and
redemption procedures should call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-223-2138.
Prospectus Page 16
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund intends to use its best efforts to maintain its net asset value at
$1.00 per share. There can be no assurance, however, that it will be able to do
so. The value of each share of the Fund is computed by dividing its net assets
by the number of its outstanding shares. "Net assets" equal the value of the
Fund's investments and other assets less its liabilities. The Fund calculates
its net asset value as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (currently
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless weather, equipment failure or other factors
contribute to an earlier closing time) each Business Day. Net asset value is
determined separately for each class of the Fund's shares.
The Fund values its portfolio securities using the amortized cost method of
valuation, pursuant to which the market value of an instrument is approximated
by amortizing the difference between the acquisition cost and value at maturity
of the instrument on a straight-line basis over its remaining life. All cash,
receivables and current payables are carried at their face value. Other assets,
if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the
direction of the Company's Board of Directors.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS AND FEDERAL INCOME
TAXATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS. Dividends are declared daily and paid monthly from the Fund's net
investment income and any realized net short-term capital gain (the excess of
short-term capital gains over short-term capital losses). The Fund's net
investment income includes accrued interest and earned discount (including both
original issue and market discounts), less amortization of premium and
applicable expenses. Fund shares begin to earn dividends on the day following
the day on which Federal Funds become available. Dividends paid by the Fund with
respect to all classes of its shares are calculated in the same manner and at
the same time. The per share dividends on Advisor Class shares will be higher
than the per share dividends on shares of other classes of the Fund as a result
of the 12b-1 service and distribution fees applicable to those shares.
Dividends are automatically reinvested in Advisor Class shares unless the
investor has elected to receive them in cash. Cash payments may be elected on
the Account Application located at the end of this Prospectus or through the
investor's broker/ dealer. Reinvestments in Advisor Class shares of another
mutual fund may only be directed to an account with an identical shareholder
registration and account number. An election to receive dividends in additional
shares or in cash may be changed at any time, but, to be effective for a
particular dividend, the investor or the investor's broker/dealer must notify
the Transfer Agent at least fifteen Business Days prior to the payment date.
Shares earn dividends on the day of redemption. THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS OF
DIVIDENDS IS THE SAME WHETHER THEY ARE RECEIVED IN CASH OR REINVESTED IN
ADDITIONAL SHARES.
The Fund does not expect to realize long-term capital gain and thus does not
anticipate payment of any capital gain distributions.
TAXES. The Fund intends to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In each
taxable year that the Fund so qualifies, the Fund (but not its shareholders)
will be relieved of federal income tax on that part of its investment company
taxable income (consisting of net investment income and any net short-term
capital gain) that is distributed to its shareholders. Those distributions are
taxable to the Fund's shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of its
Prospectus Page 17
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
earnings and profits, whether they are received in cash or reinvested in
additional shares.
The Fund provides federal income tax information to its shareholders annually,
including information about dividends paid during the preceding year.
The Fund must withhold 31% of all dividends payable to any individuals and
certain other noncorporate shareholders who (1) have not furnished to the Fund a
correct taxpayer identification number or a properly completed claim for
exemption on Form W-8 or W-9 or (2) otherwise are subject to backup withholding.
Taxpayer identification numbers may be furnished on the Account Application
provided at the end of this Prospectus. Fund accounts opened via a bank wire
purchase (see "How to Invest -- Purchases Through the Transfer Agent") are
considered to have uncertified taxpayer identification numbers unless a
completed Form W-8 or W-9 or Account Application is received by the Transfer
Agent within seven days after the purchase. A shareholder should contact the
Transfer Agent if the shareholder is uncertain whether a proper taxpayer
identification number is on file with the Fund.
The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal income tax
considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders. See "Dividends
and Taxes" in the Statement of Additional Information for a further discussion.
There may be other federal, state, local or foreign tax considerations
applicable to a particular investor. Prospective investors are therefore urged
to consult their tax advisers.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company's Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the operation of
the Fund. The Company's Board of Directors has approved all significant
agreements between the Company on the one side and persons or companies
furnishing services to the Fund on the other, including the investment advisory
and administrative services agreement with AIM, the investment sub-advisory and
sub-administration agreement with the Sub-adviser, the agreements with AIM
Distributors regarding distribution of the Fund's shares, the custody agreement
with State Street Bank and Trust Company and the transfer agency agreement with
GT Global Investor Services, Inc. The day-to-day operations of the Fund are
delegated to the officers of the Company, subject always to the objective and
policies of the Fund and to the general supervision of the Company's Board of
Directors. See "Directors and Executive Officers" in the Statement of Additional
Information for information on the Directors.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. Services provided by AIM and the
Sub-adviser as the Fund's investment managers and administrators include
determining the composition of the Fund's portfolio and placing orders to buy,
sell or hold particular securities; furnishing corporate officers and clerical
staff; providing office space, services and equipment; and supervising all
matters relating to the Fund's operation. For these services, the Fund pays AIM
management and administration fees, computed daily and paid monthly, at the
annualized rate of 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets. Out of the
aggregate fees payable by the Fund, AIM pays the Sub-adviser sub-advisory and
sub-administration fees equal to 40% of the aggregate fees AIM receives from the
Fund. AIM has undertaken to limit the Fund's expenses (exclusive of brokerage
commissions, interests, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to the annual rate of
1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's Advisor Class Shares.
The Sub-adviser also serves as the Fund's pricing and accounting agent. For
these services, the Sub-adviser receives a fee at an annual rate derived by
applying 0.03% to the first $5 billion of assets of the AIM/GT Funds and 0.02%
to the assets in excess of $5 billion and allocating the result according to the
Fund's average daily net assets.
AIM, 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77046, serves as the
investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to a master investment advisory
agreement, dated as of May 29, 1998 (the "Advisory Agreement"). AIM was
organized in 1976 and, together with its subsidiaries, manages or advises
approximately 90 investment company portfolios encompassing a broad range of
investment objectives. The Sub-adviser, INVESCO (NY), Inc.,
Prospectus Page 18
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
50 California Street, 27th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111, and 1166
Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, serves as the sub-adviser to
the Fund pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement dated as of May 29,
1998. Prior to May 29, 1998, the Sub-adviser was known as Chancellor LGT Asset
Management, Inc. On May 29, 1998, Liechtenstein Global Trust AG ("LGT"), the
former indirect parent organization of the Sub-adviser, consummated a purchase
agreement with AMVESCAP PLC pursuant to which AMVESCAP PLC acquired LGT's Asset
Management Division, which included the Sub-adviser and certain other
affiliates. As a result of this transaction, the Sub-adviser is now an indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of AMVESCAP PLC. Prior to the sale, the Sub-adviser and
its worldwide asset management affiliates provided investment management and/or
administrative services to institutional, corporate and individual clients
around the world since 1969.
AIM and the Sub-adviser and their worldwide asset management affiliates provide
investment management and/or administrative services to institutional, corporate
and individual clients around the world. AIM and the Sub-adviser are both
indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of AMVESCAP PLC. AMVESCAP PLC and its
subsidiaries are an independent investment management group that has a
significant presence in the institutional and retail segment of the investment
management industry in North America and Europe, and a growing presence in Asia.
In addition to the investment resources of their Houston, San Francisco and New
York offices, AIM and the Sub-adviser draw upon the expertise, personnel, data
and systems of other offices, including investment offices in Atlanta, Boston,
Dallas, Denver, Louisville, Miami, Portland (Oregon), Frankfurt, Hong Kong,
London, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto. In managing the Fund, the
Sub-adviser employs a team approach, taking advantage of its investment
resources around the world.
The investment professionals primarily responsible for the portfolio management
of the Fund are as follows:
GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RESPONSIBILITIES BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
NAME/OFFICE FOR THE FUND PAST FIVE YEARS
- -------------------------- -------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cheng-Hock Lau Portfolio Manager since Chief Investment Officer for Global Fixed Income for the
New York 1998 Sub-adviser since October 1996. Senior Portfolio Manager for
Global/International Fixed Income for the Sub-adviser from
July 1995 to October 1996. Employed by Chancellor Capital
Management, Inc. ("Chancellor Capital"), a predecessor of the
Sub-adviser from 1995 to October 1996. Senior Vice President
and Senior Portfolio Manager for Fiduciary Trust Company
International from 1993 to 1995. Vice President at Bankers
Trust Company from 1991 to 1993.
Heide Koch Portfolio Manager since Portfolio Manager for the Sub-adviser since October 1996.
New York 1997 Employed by Chancellor Capital from 1991 to October 1996.
</TABLE>
------------------------
In placing orders for the Fund's portfolio transactions, the Sub-adviser seeks
to obtain the best net results. Consistent with its obligation to obtain the
best net results, the Sub-adviser may consider a dealer's sale of shares of the
AIM Funds as a factor in considering through whom portfolio transactions will be
effected.
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES. AIM Distributors is the distributor of the Fund's
Advisor Class shares. AIM Distributors is a wholly owned subsidiary of AIM. The
address of AIM Distributors is P.O. Box 4739, Houston, Texas 77210-4739. AIM,
the Sub-adviser or their affiliates may, from time to time, make ongoing
payments to Financial Advisors and others that facilitate the administration and
servicing of Advisor Class shareholder accounts.
The Glass-Steagall Act and other applicable laws, among other things, generally
prohibit federally chartered or supervised banks from engaging in the
Prospectus Page 19
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
business of underwriting or distributing securities. Accordingly, AIM
Distributors intends to engage banks (if at all) only to perform administrative
and shareholder servicing functions. Banks and broker/dealer affiliates of banks
also may execute agreements with AIM Distributors for the purpose of selling
shares of the Fund. If a bank were prohibited from so acting, its shareholder
clients would be permitted to remain shareholders, and alternative means for
continuing the servicing of such shareholders would be sought. It is not
expected that shareholders would suffer any adverse financial consequences as a
result of any of these occurrences.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS. Shareholders receive monthly statements
from the Transfer Agent detailing account transactions, such as an additional
investment, redemption or the payment of a dividend. Shortly after the end of
the Fund's fiscal year on December 31 and fiscal half-year on June 30 of each
year, shareholders receive an annual and semiannual report, respectively. These
reports list the securities held by the Fund and contain its financial
statements. In addition, the federal income status of dividends paid by the Fund
to its shareholders is reported after the end of each calendar year on Form
1099-DIV. Under certain circumstances, duplicate mailings of the foregoing
reports to the same household may be consolidated.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPANY. The Company was organized as a Maryland corporation
in 1981. Prior to May 29, 1998, the company operated under the name G.T.
Investment Portfolios, Inc. From time to time, the Board may, at its discretion,
establish additional funds, each corresponding to a distinct investment
portfolio and a distinct series of the Company's shares.
Advisor Class shares are offered through this prospectus to certain investors.
The Fund also offers Class A shares and Class B shares to investors through a
separate prospectus. The different expenses borne by each class of shares will
result in different dividends. The per share dividends on Advisor Class shares
of the Fund will generally be higher than the per share dividends on Class A and
B shares of the Fund as a result of the service and distribution fees applicable
with respect to Class A and B shares. Consequently, during comparable periods,
the Fund expects that the total return on an investment in shares of the Advisor
Class will be higher than the total return on Class A and B shares.
Pursuant to the Company's Articles of Amendment and Restatement, the Company may
issue two billion shares. Of this number, one billion five hundred million
shares have been classified as shares of the Fund; five hundred million shares
have been classified as Class A shares, five hundred million have been
classified as Class B shares, and five hundred million shares have been
classified as Advisor Class shares. These amounts may be increased from time to
time at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Each share of the Fund
represents an interest in the Fund only, has a par value of $0.001 per share,
represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund with other shares of the
Fund and is entitled to such dividends and other distributions out of the income
earned and gain realized on the assets belonging to the Fund as may be declared
at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Each Class A, Class B and Advisor
Class share of the Fund is equal in earnings, assets and voting privileges
except as noted below, and each class bears the expenses, if any, related to the
distribution of its shares. Shares of the Fund, when issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable.
Shareholders have been asked to vote on the reorganization of the Company into a
Delaware business trust. If approved by shareholders, it is anticipated that the
reorganization would occur prior to October 1, 1998.
Fund shares are entitled to one vote per share (with proportional voting for
fractional shares) and are freely transferable. Shareholders have no preemptive
or conversion rights. Shares may be voted on the election of Directors and on
other matters submitted to the vote of Fund shareholders. If one or more
additional funds were
Prospectus Page 20
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
established, on any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, shares of each
fund would be voted by that fund's shareholders individually when the matter
affected the specific interest of that fund only, such as approval of that
fund's investment advisory arrangements. In addition, shares of a particular
class of the Fund may vote on matters affecting only that class. The shares of
all the Company's funds would be voted in the aggregate on other matters, such
as the election of Directors and ratification of the Directors' selection of the
Company's independent accountants.
Normally there will be no annual meeting of shareholders in any year, except as
required under the 1940 Act. The Company would be required to hold a
shareholders' meeting in the event that at any time less than a majority of the
Directors holding office had been elected by shareholders. Directors shall
continue to hold office until their successors are elected and have qualified.
Shares of the Company's funds do not have cumulative voting rights, which means
that the holders of a majority of the shares voting for the election of
Directors can elect all the Directors. A Director may be removed upon a majority
vote of the shareholders qualified to vote in the election. Shareholders holding
10% of the Company's outstanding voting securities may call a meeting of
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any
Director or for any other purpose. The 1940 Act requires the Company to assist
shareholders in calling such a meeting.
SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES. Shareholder inquiries may be made by calling the Fund at
(800) 223-2138 or by writing to the Fund at 50 California Street, 27th Floor,
San Francisco, CA 94111.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION. From time to time the Fund may advertise its "yield"
and "effective yield" in advertisements or promotional materials ("Performance
Advertisements"). Both yield and effective yield are calculated separately for
Class A, Class B and Advisor Class shares of the Fund. Both yield figures are
based on historical earnings and are not intended to indicate future
performance. It can be expected that these yields will fluctuate substantially.
The "yield" of the Fund refers to the income generated by an investment in the
Fund over a seven-day period (which period will be stated in the advertisement).
This income is then "annualized." That is, the amount of income generated by the
investment during that week is assumed to be generated each week over a 52-week
period and is shown as a percentage of the investment. The "effective yield" is
calculated similarly but, when annualized, the income earned by an investment in
the Fund is assumed to be reinvested. The "effective yield" will be slightly
higher than the "yield" because of the compounding effect of this assumed
reinvestment. The Fund's "yield" and "effective yield" may reflect expenses
after reimbursement pursuant to an undertaking that may be in effect. See
"Management." The Statement of Additional Information describes the methods used
to calculate the Fund's yield and effective yield.
In Performance Advertisements, the Fund may quote its average annual total
return ("Standardized Return"). Standardized Return is calculated separately for
each class of shares of the Fund. Standardized Return shows percentage rates
reflecting the average annual change in the value of an assumed investment in
the Fund at the end of one-, five-, and ten-year periods, reduced by the maximum
applicable sales charge imposed on sales of Fund shares. If a one-, five- and/or
ten-year period has not yet elapsed, data will be provided as to the end of a
shorter period corresponding to the life of the Fund. Standardized Return
assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions.
In addition, in order to more completely represent the Fund's performance or
more accurately compare such performance to other measures of investment return,
the Fund also may include in advertisements, sales literature and shareholder
reports other total return performance data ("Non-Standardized Return").
Non-Standardized Return reflects percentage rates of return encompassing all
elements of return; it assumes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain
distributions. Non-Standardized Return may be quoted for the same or different
periods as those for which Standardized Return is quoted; it may consist of an
aggregate or average annual percentage rate of return, actual year-by-year rates
or any combination thereof. Non-Standardized Return may or may not take sales
charges into account; performance data calculated without taking the effect of
sales charges into account will be higher than data including the effect of such
charges.
The Fund's performance data reflects past performance and is not necessarily
indicative of future results. The Fund's investment results will vary from time
to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolio and
its operating expenses. These factors and possible differences in calculation
methods should be considered when
Prospectus Page 21
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
comparing the Fund's investment results with those published for other
investment companies, other investment vehicles and unmanaged indices. The
Fund's results also should be considered relative to the risks associated with
its investment objective and policies. See "Investment Results" in the Statement
of Additional Information.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE PROJECT. In providing services to the Fund, AIM, AIM
Distributors, the Transfer Agent and the Sub-adviser rely on internal computer
systems as well as external computer systems provided by third parties. Some of
these systems were not originally designed to distinguish between the year 1900
and the year 2000. This inability, if not corrected, could adversely affect the
services AIM, AIM Distributors, the Transfer Agent and the Sub-adviser and
others provide the Fund and its shareholders.
To address this important issue, AIM, AIM Distributors, the Transfer Agent and
the Sub-adviser have undertaken a comprehensive Year 2000 Compliance Project
(the "Project"). The Project consists of four phases: (i) inventorying every
software and hardware system in use at AIM, AIM Distributors, the Transfer Agent
and the Sub-adviser, as well as remote, third-party systems on which AIM, AIM
Distributors, the Transfer Agent and the Sub-adviser rely; (ii) identifying
those systems that may not function properly after December 31, 1999; (iii)
correcting or replacing those systems that have been so identified; and (iv)
testing the processing of Fund data in all systems. Phase (i) has been
completed; phase (ii) is substantially completed; phase (iii) has commenced; and
phase (iv) is expected to commence during the third quarter of 1998. The Project
is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 1998. Following completion of the
Project, AIM, AIM Distributors and the Sub-adviser will review any systems
subsequently acquired to confirm that they are year 2000 compliant.
TRANSFER AGENT. Shareholder servicing, reporting and general transfer agent
functions for the Fund are performed by GT Global Investor Services, Inc. The
Transfer Agent is an affiliate of the Sub-adviser and AIM, a subsidiary of
Liechtenstein Global Trust and maintains offices at California Plaza, 2121 North
California Boulevard, Suite 450, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.
CUSTODIAN. State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA
02110 is custodian of the Fund's assets.
COUNSEL. The law firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, 1800 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C., 20036-1800, acts as counsel to the Company. Kirkpatrick
& Lockhart LLP also acts as counsel to the Sub-adviser and the Transfer Agent in
connection with other matters.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. The Company's and the Fund's independent accountants
are Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109. Coopers
& Lybrand L.L.P. conducts an annual audit of the Fund, assists in the
preparation of the Fund's federal and state income tax returns and consults with
the Company and the Fund as to matters of accounting, regulatory filings, and
federal and state income taxation.
MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS. This Prospectus may be translated into
other languages. In the event of any inconsistency or ambiguity as to the
meaning of any word or phrase contained in a translation, the English text shall
prevail.
Prospectus Page 22
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
AIM/GT FUNDS
AIM DISTRIBUTORS OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF FUNDS TO COMPLEMENT MANY INVESTORS'
PORTFOLIOS. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A PROSPECTUS ON ANY OF THE FUNDS LISTED
BELOW, INCLUDING FEES, EXPENSES AND THE RISKS OF GLOBAL AND EMERGING MARKET
INVESTING AND THE RISKS OF INVESTING IN RELATED INDUSTRIES, PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER OR CALL 1-800-824-1580.
GROWTH FUNDS
/ / GLOBALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW DIMENSION FUND
Captures global growth opportunities by investing directly in the six global
theme funds
AIM WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND
Invests around the world, including the U.S.
AIM INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
Provides portfolio diversity by investing outside
the U.S.
AIM EMERGING MARKETS FUND
Gives access to the growth potential of developing economies
AIM DEVELOPING MARKETS FUND
Invests in debt and equity securities of developing market issuers
/ / GLOBAL THEME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES FUND
Invests in companies that manufacture, market, retail, or distribute consumer
products or services
AIM GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND
Focuses on the worldwide opportunities from the demand for financial services
and products
AIM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
Invests in growing health care industries worldwide
AIM GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Seeks companies that build, improve or maintain a country's infrastructure
AIM GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
Concentrates on companies that own, explore or develop natural resources
AIM GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
Invests in companies worldwide that develop, manufacture or sell
telecommunications services or equipment
/ / REGIONALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW PACIFIC GROWTH FUND
Offers access to the emerging and established markets of the Pacific Rim,
excluding Japan
AIM EUROPE GROWTH FUND
Focuses on investment opportunities in Europe
AIM LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
Invests in the emerging markets of Latin America
/ / SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
AIM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
Invests in equity securities of small U.S. companies
AIM MID CAP GROWTH FUND
Concentrates on medium-sized companies in the U.S.
AIM AMERICA VALUE FUND
Concentrates on equity securities of large cap U.S. companies believed to be
undervalued
AIM JAPAN GROWTH FUND
Provides U.S. investors with direct access to the Japanese market
GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
AIM GLOBAL GROWTH & INCOME FUND
Invests in blue-chip stocks and government bonds from around the world
INCOME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
Earns monthly income from global government securities
AIM STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
Allocates its assets among debt securities from the U.S., developed foreign
countries and emerging markets
AIM GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND
Invests in debt securities in emerging markets
AIM FLOATING RATE FUND
Invests primarily in senior secured floating rate loans that have the potential
to achieve a high level of current income
MONEY MARKET FUND
AIM DOLLAR FUND
Invests in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities
worldwide for stability and preservation of capital
[LOGO]
NO DEALER, SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY AIM DOLLAR FUND, A I M
ADVISORS, INC., INVESCO (NY), INC., AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC. OR A I M
DISTRIBUTORS, INC. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY
JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH
JURISDICTION.
DOL-PRO-2
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND:
ADVISOR CLASS
50 California Street, 27th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111-4624
(415) 392-6181
Toll Free: (800) 824-1580
Statement of Additional Information
June 1, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM Dollar Fund (the "Fund") is a diversified series of AIM Investment
Portfolios Inc. (the "Company"), a registered open-end management investment
company. This Statement of Additional Information relating to the Advisor Class
shares of the Fund, which is not a prospectus, supplements and should be read in
conjunction with the Fund's current Advisor Class Prospectus dated June 1, 1998,
a copy of which is available without charge by writing to the above address or
calling the Fund at the toll-free telephone number printed above.
A I M Advisors, Inc. ("AIM") serves as the investment manager of and
administrator for, and INVESCO (NY), Inc. (the "Sub-adviser") serves as the
investment sub-adviser and sub-administrator for, the Fund. The distributor of
the Fund's shares is A I M Distributors, Inc. ("AIM Distributors"). The Fund's
transfer agent is GT Global Investor Services, Inc. ("GT Services" or the
"Transfer Agent").
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page No.
--------
<S> <C>
Investment Objective and Policies........................................................................................ 2
Investment Limitations................................................................................................... 4
Directors and Executive Officers......................................................................................... 6
Management............................................................................................................... 9
Dividends and Taxes...................................................................................................... 10
Information Relating to Sales and Redemptions............................................................................ 11
Valuation of Fund Shares................................................................................................. 13
Execution of Portfolio Transactions...................................................................................... 14
Additional Information................................................................................................... 15
Investment Results....................................................................................................... 16
Description of Debt Ratings.............................................................................................. 20
Financial Statements..................................................................................................... 21
</TABLE>
[LOGO]
Statement of Additional Information Page 1
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The investment objective of the Fund is maximum current income consistent with
liquidity and conservation of capital. The Fund seeks its objective by investing
in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments.
CHANGES IN A SECURITY'S RATING
Subsequent to the purchase of a security by the Fund, the security may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for its
purchase, as described in the Prospectus. In such event the Fund, the Company's
Board of Directors (the "Board") and the Sub-adviser will review the situation
and take appropriate action in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board
pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act").
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE OBLIGATIONS
Floating and variable rate demand notes and bonds are obligations ordinarily
having stated maturities in excess of 13 months, but which permit the holder to
demand payment of principal at any time, or at specified intervals not exceeding
13 months, in each case upon not more than 30 days' notice. The issuer of such
obligations generally has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay
in its discretion the outstanding principal amount of the obligation plus
accrued interest upon a specified number of days' notice to the holders thereof.
The interest rates payable on certain securities in which the Fund may invest
are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. Variable and
floating rate obligations have interest rates that are adjusted at designated
intervals or whenever there are changes in the market rates of interest on which
the interest rates are based. Variable and floating rate obligations permit the
Fund to "lock in" the current interest rate for only the period until the next
rate adjustment, but the rate adjustment feature tends to limit the extent to
which the market value of the obligation will fluctuate.
BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES
Bankers' acceptances are negotiable obligations of a bank to pay a draft which
has been drawn on it by a customer. These obligations are backed by large banks
and usually are backed by goods in international trade.
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT
Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates representing a commercial
bank's obligations to repay funds deposited with it, earning specified rates of
interest over a given period of time.
COMMERCIAL PAPER
Commercial paper consists of short-term promissory notes issued by large
corporations with a high quality rating to finance short-term credit needs.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
U.S. government obligations are debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Treasury or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government. However, not
all U.S. government obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States. For example, securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage
Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Tennessee Valley
Authority are supported only by the credit of the issuer. There is no guarantee
that the U.S. government will provide support to such U.S. government sponsored
agencies, as it is not so obligated by law. Therefore, the purchase of such
securities involves more risk than investment in other U.S. government
obligations.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which the Fund purchases a security
from a bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits to resell
that security to the bank or dealer, an agreed-upon price, date and market rate
of interest unrelated to coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security.
Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with direct
investments in securities, including possible decline in the market value of the
underlying securities and delays and costs to the Fund if the other party to the
repurchase agreement becomes bankrupt, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase
agreements only with banks and dealers believed by the Sub-adviser to present
Statement of Additional Information Page 2
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
minimal credit risks in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. The
Sub-adviser will review and monitor the creditworthiness of such institutions
under the Board's general supervision.
The Fund will invest only in repurchase agreements collateralized at all times
in an amount at least equal to the repurchase price plus accrued interest. To
the extent that the proceeds from any sale of such collateral upon a default in
the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund would
suffer a loss. If the financial institution which is party to the repurchase
agreement petitions for bankruptcy or otherwise becomes subject to bankruptcy or
other liquidation proceedings, there may be restrictions on the Fund's ability
to sell the collateral and the Fund could suffer a loss. However, with respect
to financial institutions whose bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings are
subject to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Fund intends to comply with provisions
under that code that would allow the immediate resale of such collateral. There
is no limitation on the amount of the Fund's assets that may be subject to
repurchase agreements at any given time. The Fund will not enter into a
repurchase agreement with a maturity of more than seven days if, as a result,
more than 10% of the value of its net assets would be invested in such
repurchase agreements and other illiquid investments.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS
The Fund may buy and sell securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis,
with payment and delivery taking place at a future date. The market value of
securities purchased in this way may change before the delivery date, which
could increase fluctuations in the Fund's yield. Ordinarily, the Fund will not
earn interest on securities purchased until they are delivered.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
The term "illiquid securities" for this purpose means securities that cannot be
disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at
approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities and
includes, among other things, repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven
days, and restricted securities other than those the Sub-adviser has determined
to be liquid pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. Commercial paper
issues in which the Fund may invest include securities issued by major
corporations without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act"), in reliance on the exemption from such registration afforded
by Section 3(a)(3) thereof and commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-
called "private placement" exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2)
of the 1933 Act ("Section 4(2) paper"). Section 4(2) paper is restricted as to
disposition under the federal securities laws in that any resale must similarly
be made in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper is normally resold to other
institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers who
make a market in Section 4(2) paper, thus providing liquidity.
Not all restricted securities are illiquid. In recent years a large
institutional market has developed for certain securities that are not
registered under the 1933 Act, including private placements, repurchase
agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities and corporate bonds and notes.
These instruments are often restricted securities because the securities are
sold in transactions not requiring registration. Institutional investors
generally will not seek to sell these instruments to the general public, but
instead will often depend either on an efficient institutional market in which
such unregistered securities can be readily resold on or an issuer's ability to
honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the fact that there are contractual or
legal restrictions on resale to the general public or certain institutions is
not dispositive of the liquidity of such investments.
Rule 144A under the 1933 Act establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration
requirements of the 1933 Act for resales of certain securities to qualified
institutional buyers. Institutional markets for restricted securities have
developed as a result of Rule 144A, providing both readily ascertainable values
for restricted securities and the ability to liquidate an investment to satisfy
share redemption orders. Such markets include automated systems for the trading,
clearance and settlement of unregistered securities, such as the PORTAL System
sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. An
insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing
Rule 144A-eligible restricted securities held by the Fund, however, could affect
adversely the marketability of such portfolio securities and the Fund might be
unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at favorable prices.
With respect to liquidity determinations generally, the Board has the ultimate
responsibility for determining whether specific securities, including restricted
securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, are liquid or illiquid. The
Board has delegated the function of making day-to-day determinations of
liquidity to the Sub-adviser, in accordance with procedures approved by the
Board. The Sub-adviser takes into account a number of factors in reaching
liquidity decisions, including (1) the frequency of trading in the security; (2)
the number of dealers that make quotes for the security; (3) the number of
dealers that have undertaken to make a market in the security; (4) the number of
other potential purchasers; and (5) the nature of the security and how trading
is effected (E.G., the time needed to sell the security, how offers are
Statement of Additional Information Page 3
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
solicited and the mechanics of transfer). The Sub-adviser monitors the liquidity
of securities held by the Fund and periodically reports such determinations to
the Board as applicable. If the liquidity percentage restriction of the Fund is
satisfied at the time of investment, a later increase in the percentage of
illiquid securities held by the Fund resulting from a change in market value or
assets will not constitute a violation of that restriction. If as a result of a
change in market value or assets, the percentage of illiquid securities held by
the Fund increases above the applicable limit, the Sub-adviser will take
appropriate steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid assets back within
the prescribed limitations as soon as reasonably practicable, taking into
account the effect of any disposition on the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund has adopted the following investment limitations as fundamental
policies that may not be changed without approval by the affirmative vote of the
lesser of (i) 67% of the Fund's shares represented at a meeting at which more
than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented, and (ii) more than 50% of
the Fund's outstanding shares. The Fund may not:
(1) Purchase securities of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5%
of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer or
the Fund would own or hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of that issuer, except that up to 25% of the Fund's total assets
may be invested without regard to this limitation, and except that this
limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities or to securities issued by
other investment companies;
(2) Issue senior securities or borrow money, except as permitted under
the 1940 Act and then not in excess of 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets
(including the amount borrowed but reduced by any liabilities not
constituting borrowings) at the time of the borrowing, except that the Fund
may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets (not including the
amount borrowed) for temporary or emergency purposes;
(3) Engage in the business of underwriting securities of other issuers,
except to the extent that the Fund might be considered an underwriter under
the federal securities laws in connection with its disposition of portfolio
securities;
(4) Purchase or sell real estate, except that investments in securities
of issuers that invest in real estate and investments in mortgage-backed
securities, mortgage participations or other instruments supported by
interests in real estate are not subject to this limitation, and except that
the Fund may exercise rights under agreements relating to such securities,
including the right to enforce security interests and to hold real estate
acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be
liquidated in an orderly manner;
(5) Make loans, except through loans of portfolio securities or through
repurchase agreements, provided that for purposes of this limitation, the
acquisition of bonds, debentures, other debt securities or instruments, or
participations or other interests therein and investments in government
obligations, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances
or similar instruments will not be considered the making of a loan;
(6) Purchase or sell physical commodities, but the Fund may purchase,
sell or enter into financial options and futures, forward and spot currency
contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative
instruments; or
(7) Purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, 25% or more
of the Fund's total assets would be invested in securities of issuers having
their principal business activities in the same industry, except that this
limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities;
Notwithstanding any other investment policy of the Fund, the Fund may invest all
of its investable assets (cash, securities and receivables related to
securities) in an open-end management investment company having substantially
the same investment objective, policies and limitations as the Fund.
Statement of Additional Information Page 4
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
For purposes of the concentration policy contained in limitation (7), above, the
Fund intends to comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") staff
position that securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by
any single foreign government are considered to be securities of issuers in the
same industry.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later
increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values or assets
will not constitute a violation of that restriction.
The following investment policies of the Fund are not fundamental policies and
may be changed by vote of the Company's Board of Directors without shareholder
approval. The Fund may not:
(1) Invest more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities;
(2) Purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain
short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and
sales of securities, and further provided that the Fund may make margin
deposits in connection with its use of financial options and futures,
forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial
contracts or derivative instruments; or
(3) Mortgage, pledge, or hypothecate any of its assets, provided that
this shall not apply to the transfer of securities in connection with any
permissible borrowing or to collateral arrangements in connection with
permissible activities.
Statement of Additional Information Page 5
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company's Trustees and Executive Officers are listed below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, POSITION(S) WITH THE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS AND BUSINESS
COMPANY AND ADDRESS EXPERIENCE FOR PAST 5 YEARS
- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
William J. Guilfoyle*, 39 Mr. Guilfoyle is President, GT Global, Inc. since 1995; Director, GT Global since 1991;
Director, Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing, GT Global from May 1992 to
President April 1995; Vice President and Director of Marketing, GT Global from 1987 to 1992;
50 California Street Director, Liechtenstein Global Trust AG (holding company of the various international LGT
San Francisco, CA 94111 companies) Advisory Board since January 1996; Director, G.T. Global Insurance Agency
("G.T. Insurance") since 1996; President and Chief Executive Officer, G.T. Insurance since
1995; Senior Vice President and Director, Sales and Marketing, G.T. Insurance from April
1995 to November 1995; Senior Vice President, Retail Marketing, G.T. Insurance from 1992
to 1993. Mr. Guilfoyle is also trustee of each of the other investment companies
registered under the 1940 Act that is sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser.
C. Derek Anderson, 57 Mr. Anderson is President, Plantagenet Capital Management, LLC (an investment
Director partnership); Chief Executive Officer, Plantagenet Holdings, Ltd. (an investment banking
220 Sansome Street firm); Director, Anderson Capital Management, Inc. since 1988; Director, PremiumWear, Inc.
Suite 400 (formerly Munsingwear, Inc.)(a casual apparel company) and Director, "R" Homes, Inc. and
San Francisco, CA 94104 various other companies. Mr. Anderson is also a trustee of each of the other investment
companies registered under the 1940 Act that is sub-advised or sub-administered by the
Sub-adviser.
Frank S. Bayley, 58 Mr. Bayley is a partner of the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, and serves as a Director and
Director Chairman of C.D. Stimson Company (a private investment company). Mr. Bayley is also a
Two Embarcadero Center trustee of each of the other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act that is
Suite 2400 sub-advised or sub- administered by the Sub-adviser.
San Francisco, CA 94111
Arthur C. Patterson, 54 Mr. Patterson is Managing Partner of Accel Partners (a venture capital firm). He also
Director serves as a director of Viasoft and PageMart, Inc. (both public software companies), as
428 University Avenue well as several other privately held software and communications companies. Mr. Patterson
Palo Alto, CA 94301 is also a trustee of each of the other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act
that is sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser.
Ruth H. Quigley, 63 Miss Quigley is a private investor. From 1984 to 1986, she was President of Quigley
Director Friedlander & Co., Inc. (a financial advisory services firm). Miss Quigley is also a
1055 California Street trustee of each of the other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act that is
San Francisco, CA 94108 sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser.
</TABLE>
- --------------
* Mr. Guilfoyle is an "interested person" of the Company as defined by the
1940 Act due to his affiliation with the Sub-adviser.
Statement of Additional Information Page 6
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, POSITION(S) WITH THE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS AND BUSINESS
COMPANY AND ADDRESS EXPERIENCE FOR PAST 5 YEARS
- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John J. Arthur+, 53 Director, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, A I M Advisors, Inc.;
Vice President Vice President and Treasurer, A I M Management Group Inc., A I M Capital
Management, Inc., A I M Distributors, Inc., A I M Fund Services, Inc.
and Fund Management Company.
Kenneth W. Chancey, 52 Senior Vice President -- Mutual Fund Accounting, the Sub-adviser since
Vice President and 1997; Vice President -- Mutual Fund Accounting, the Sub-adviser from
Principal Accounting Officer 1992 to 1997.
50 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Melville B. Cox, 54 Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, A I M Advisors, Inc., A I M
Vice President Capital Management, Inc., A I M Distributors, Inc., A I M Fund Services,
Inc. and Fund Management Company.
Gary T. Crum, 50 Director and President, A I M Capital Management, Inc.; Director and
Vice President Senior Vice President, A I M Management Group Inc. and A I M Advisors,
Inc.; and Director, A I M Distributors, Inc. and AMVESCAP PLC.
Robert H. Graham, 51 Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, A I M Management Group
Vice President Inc.; Director and President, A I M Advisors, Inc.; Director and Senior
Vice President, A I M Capital Management, Inc., A I M Distributors,
Inc., A I M Fund Services, Inc. and Fund Management Company; Director,
AMVESCAP PLC; Chairman of the Board of Directors and President, INVESCO
Holdings Canada Inc.; and Director, A I M Funds Group Canada Inc. and
INVESCO G.P. Canada Inc.
Helge K. Lee, 52 Chief Legal and Compliance Officer -- North America, the Sub-adviser
Vice President and Secretary since October 1997; Executive Vice President of the Asset Management
50 California Street Division of Liechtenstein Global Trust since October 1996; Senior Vice
San Francisco, CA 94111 President, General Counsel and Secretary of LGT Asset Management, Inc.,
INVESCO (NY), Inc., GT Global, GT Global Investor Services, Inc. and
G.T. Insurance from May 1994 to October 1996; Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary of Strong/Corneliuson Management, Inc. and
Secretary of each of the Strong Funds from October 1991 through May
1994.
Carol F. Relihan+, 43 Director, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, A I M
Vice President Advisors, Inc.; Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, A I M
Management Group Inc.; Director, Vice President and General Counsel,
Fund Management Company; Vice President and General Counsel, A I M Fund
Services, Inc.; and Vice President, A I M Capital Management, Inc. and A
I M Distributors, Inc.
Dana R. Sutton, 39 Vice President and Fund Controller, A I M Advisors, Inc.; and Assistant
Vice President and Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, Fund Management Company.
Treasurer
</TABLE>
- ------------------
+ Mr. Arthur and Ms. Relihan are married to each other.
Statement of Additional Information Page 7
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Board of Directors has a Nominating and Audit Committee, comprised of Miss
Quigley and Messrs. Anderson, Bayley and Patterson, which is responsible for
nominating persons to serve as Directors, reviewing audits of the Company and
recommending firms to serve as independent auditors of the Company. Each of the
Directors and Officers of the Company is also a Director or Trustee and Officer
of AIM Investment Funds, AIM Floating Rate Fund, AIM Growth Series, AIM Series
Trust, AIM Eastern Europe Fund, GT Global Variable Investment Trust, GT Global
Variable Investment Series, Global High Income Portfolio, Growth Portfolio,
Floating Rate Portfolio and Global Investment Portfolio which also are
registered investment companies advised by AIM and sub-advised by the
Sub-adviser or an affiliate thereof. Each Director, Trustee and Officer serves
in total as a Director, Trustee and Officer, respectively, of 12 registered
investment companies with 47 series managed or administered by AIM and
sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser. Each Director who is not a
director, officer or employee of the Sub-adviser or any affiliated company is
paid aggregate fees of $5,000 a year, plus $300 per Fund for each meeting of the
Board attended, and reimbursed travel and other expenses incurred in connection
with attendance at such meetings. Other Directors and Officers receive no
compensation or expense reimbursement from the Company. For the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Bayley, Mr. Patterson and Miss
Quigley, who are not directors, officers or employees of the Sub-adviser or any
affiliated company, received total compensation of $3,588, $3,716, $3,100 and
$3,409, respectively, from the Company for their services as Directors. For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Bayley, Mr. Patterson and
Miss Quigley, who are not directors, officers or employees of the Sub-adviser or
any other affiliated company received total compensation of $103,654, $106,556,
$89,700 and $98,038, respectively, from the investment companies managed or
administered by AIM and sub-advised or sub-administered by the Sub-adviser for
which he or she serves as a Director or Trustee. Fees and expenses disbursed to
the Directors contained no accrued or payable pension or retirement benefits. As
of May 7, 1998, the Officers and Directors and their families as a group owned
in the aggregate beneficially or of record less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of the Fund.
Statement of Additional Information Page 8
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
AIM serves as the Fund's investment manager and administrator under an
investment management and administration contract between the Company and AIM
("Management Contract"). The Sub-adviser serves as the sub-adviser and sub-
administrator to the Fund under a Sub-Advisory and Sub-Administration Contract
between AIM and the Sub-adviser ("Sub-Management Contract," and together with
the Management Contract, the "Management Contracts"). As investment managers and
administrators, AIM and the Sub-adviser make all investment decisions for the
Fund and administer the Fund's affairs. Among other things, AIM and the
Sub-adviser furnish the services and pay the compensation and travel expenses of
persons who perform the executive, administrative, clerical and bookkeeping
functions of the Company and the Fund, and provide suitable office space,
necessary small office equipment and utilities.
The Management Contracts may be renewed for one-year terms with respect to the
Fund, provided that any such renewal has been specifically approved at least
annually by: (i) the Board, or by the vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), and (ii) a majority
of Directors who are not parties to the Management Contracts or "interested
persons" of any such party (as defined in the 1940 Act), cast in person at a
meeting called for the specific purpose of voting on such approval. Either the
Company or each of AIM or the Sub-adviser may terminate the Management Contracts
without penalty upon sixty days' written notice to the other party. The
Management Contracts terminate automatically in the event of their assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act).
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Fund paid
investment management and administration fees to the Sub-adviser in the amounts
of $1,384,735, $1,808,976 and $1,665,299, respectively. During the fiscal years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Sub-adviser reimbursed the Fund for a
portion of its investment management and administration fees in the amounts of
$88,707 and $173,045, respectively. No such reimbursements were made during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
The Fund's Advisor Class are offered continuously through the Fund's principal
underwriter and distributor, AIM Distributors, on a "best efforts" basis
pursuant to a distribution contract between the Company and AIM Distributors
without a front-end sales charge or a contingent deferred sales charge.
TRANSFER AGENCY AND ACCOUNTING AGENCY SERVICES
The Transfer Agent has been retained by the Fund to perform shareholder
servicing, reporting and general transfer agent functions for the Fund. For
these services, the Transfer Agent receives an annual maintenance fee of $17.50
per account, a new account fee of $4.00 per account, a per transaction fee of
$1.75 for all transactions other than exchanges and a per exchange fee of $2.25.
The Transfer Agent also is reimbursed by the Fund for its out-of-pocket expenses
for such items as postage, forms, telephone charges, stationery and office
supplies. The Sub-adviser also serves as the Fund's pricing and accounting
agent. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the
accounting services fees for the Fund were $69,517, $90,682 and $86,710,
respectively.
EXPENSES OF THE FUND
The Fund pays all expenses not assumed by AIM, the Sub-adviser, AIM Distributors
and other agents. These expenses include, in addition to the advisory,
administration, distribution, transfer agency, pricing and accounting agency and
brokerage fees discussed above, legal and audit expenses, custodian fees,
directors' fees, organizational fees, fidelity bond and other insurance
premiums, taxes, extraordinary expenses and the expenses of reports and
prospectuses sent to existing investors. The allocation of general Company
expenses and expenses shared among the Fund and other funds organized as series
of the Company are allocated on a basis deemed fair and equitable, which may be
based on the relative net assets of the Fund or the nature of the services
performed and relative applicability to the Fund. Expenditures, including costs
incurred in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, which
are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applicable to investment companies, are accounted for as capital items and not
as expenses.
Statement of Additional Information Page 9
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
DIVIDENDS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAILY INCOME DIVIDENDS
Net investment income and any realized net short-term capital gain are
determined and declared as a dividend each day. Each such dividend is payable to
shareholders as of the close of business on that day. Orders to purchase Fund
shares are executed on the business day on which Federal Funds, i.e., monies
held on deposit at a Federal Reserve Bank, become available. Shares begin
accruing dividends on the day following the date of purchase. Shares are
entitled to the dividend declared on the day a redemption request is received by
the Transfer Agent. Dividends are automatically reinvested in Advisor Class
shares of the Fund on the last Business Day of the month, at net asset value,
unless a shareholder otherwise instructs the Transfer Agent in writing. A
shareholder that does so will be mailed a check in the amount of each dividend.
For the purpose of calculating dividends, daily net investment income of the
Fund consists of (a) all interest income accrued on investments (including any
discount or premium ratably accrued or amortized, respectively, to the date of
maturity or determined in such other manner the Fund chooses in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles), (b) minus all accrued liabilities,
including interest, taxes and other expense items, and reserves for contingent
or undetermined liabilities, all determined in accordance with those principles,
(c) plus or minus all realized gains or losses on investments, if any.
TAXES -- GENERAL
To continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Fund must distribute
to its shareholders for each taxable year at least 90% of its investment company
taxable income (consisting of net investment income and any net short-term
capital gain) and must meet several additional requirements. These requirements
include the following: (1) the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income
each taxable year from dividends, interest and gains from the sale or other
disposition of securities, or other income derived with respect to its business
of investing in securities; and (2) the Fund must diversify its holdings so
that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the
value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government
securities and other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to an
amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets and (ii)
not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities
of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities).
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent it fails
to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all of its ordinary
income for that year and capital gain net income, if any, for the one-year
period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.
Dividends from the Fund's investment company taxable income are taxable to its
shareholders as ordinary income. The Fund does not expect to receive any
dividend income from U.S. corporations, which means that no part of the
dividends from the Fund will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction
allowed to corporations. Dividends will be taxed for federal income tax purposes
in the same manner whether they are received in cash or reinvested in additional
Fund shares.
NON-U.S. SHAREHOLDERS
Dividends paid by the Fund to a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a
nonresident alien individual, nonresident alien fiduciary of a trust or estate,
foreign corporation or foreign partnership (a "foreign shareholder") will be
subject to U.S. withholding tax (at a rate of 30% or lower treaty rate).
Withholding will not apply if a dividend paid by the Fund to a foreign
shareholder is "effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or
business," in which case the reporting and withholding requirements applicable
to domestic shareholders will apply.
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of certain federal tax
considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. Investors are urged to
consult their own tax advisers for more detailed information and for information
regarding any foreign, state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the
Fund.
Statement of Additional Information Page 10
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
INFORMATION RELATING TO
SALES AND REDEMPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
When an investor makes an initial investment in the Fund, a shareholder account
is opened in accordance with the investor's registration instructions.
Shareholders receive monthly statements detailing account transactions. Shortly
after the end of the Fund's fiscal year on December 31 and fiscal half-year on
June 30, shareholders receive an annual and semiannual report, respectively.
These reports list the securities held by the Fund and contain the Fund's
financial statements. In addition, the federal income tax status of dividends
paid by the Fund to shareholders is reported after the end of each calendar year
on Form 1099-DIV.
PAYMENT AND TERMS OF OFFERING
Payment for Advisor Class shares should accompany the purchase order, or funds
should be wired to the Transfer Agent as described in the Prospectus. Payment,
other than by wire transfer, must be made by check or money order drawn on a
U.S. bank. Checks or money orders must be payable in U.S. dollars.
As a condition of this offering, if an order to purchase either class of shares
is cancelled due to nonpayment (for example, because a check is returned for
insufficient funds), the person who made the order will be responsible for any
loss incurred by the Fund by reason of such cancellation, and if such purchaser
is a shareholder, the Fund shall have the authority as agent of the shareholder
to redeem shares in his or her account for their then-current net asset value
per share to reimburse the Company for the loss incurred. Investors whose
purchase orders have been cancelled due to nonpayment may be prohibited from
placing future orders.
The Fund reserves the right at any time to waive or increase the minimum
requirements applicable to initial or subsequent investments with respect to any
person or class of persons. An order to purchase shares is not binding on the
Fund until it has been confirmed in writing by the Transfer Agent (or other
arrangements made with the Fund, in the case of orders utilizing wire transfer
of funds, as described above) and payment has been received. To protect existing
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to reject any offer for a purchase of
shares by any individual.
WHEN ORDERS ARE EFFECTIVE
In order to maximize earnings on its portfolio, the Fund intends at all times to
be as completely invested as reasonably possible. Transactions in the money
market instruments in which the Fund invests normally require immediate
settlement in Federal Funds, as defined above. Thus, an order to purchase Fund
shares will be executed on any day Monday through Friday on which the New York
Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for business ("Business Day"), on which Federal
Funds become available to the Fund. Funds transmitted by bank wire to the
Transfer Agent and received by it prior to the close of regular trading on the
NYSE will normally be credited to a shareholder's account on the same day as
received. Funds transmitted by bank wire and received after the close of regular
trading on the NYSE normally will be credited on the next Business Day. If
remitted in other than the foregoing manner, such as by check, purchase orders
will be executed as of the close of business on the day on which the payment is
converted into Federal Funds, normally two days after receipt of the payment.
The investor becomes a shareholder on the day on which the order is effective.
Dividends begin to accrue on the next day. Information on how to transmit
Federal Funds by wire is available at any national bank or any state bank which
is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Any such bank may charge the
shareholder for this service.
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS ("IRAS") AND OTHER TAX-DEFERRED PLANS
IRAS: If you have earned income from employment (including self-employment), you
can contribute each year to an IRA up to the lesser of (1) $2,000 for yourself
or $4,000 for you and your spouse, regardless of whether your spouse is
employed, or (2) 100% of compensation. Some individuals may be able to take an
income tax deduction for the contribution. Regular contributions may not be made
for the year you become 70 1/2 or thereafter. Unless your and your spouse's
earnings exceed a certain level, you also may establish an "education IRA"
and/or a "Roth IRA." Although contributions to these new types of IRAs are
nondeductible, withdrawals from them will be tax-free under certain
circumstances. Please consult your tax adviser for more information. IRA
applications are available from brokers or AIM Distributors.
ROLLOVER IRAS: Individuals who receive distributions from qualified retirement
plans (other than required distributions) and who wish to keep their savings
growing tax-deferred can roll over (or make a direct transfer of) their
distribution to a Rollover IRA. These accounts can also receive rollovers or
transfers from an existing IRA. If an "eligible rollover
Statement of Additional Information Page 11
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
distribution" from a qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan is not
directly rolled over to an IRA (or certain qualified plans), withholding at the
rate of 20% will be required for federal income tax purposes. A distribution
from a qualified plan that is not an "eligible rollover distribution," including
a distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments,
generally is subject to regular wage withholding or withholding at the rate of
10% (depending on the type and amount of the distribution), unless you elect not
to have any withholding apply. Please consult your tax adviser for more
information.
SEP-IRAS: Simplified employee pension plans ("SEPs" or "SEP-IRAs") provide
self-employed individuals (and any eligible employees) with benefits similar to
Keogh plans (I.E., self-employed individual retirement plans) or Code Section
401(k) plans, but with fewer administrative requirements and therefore
potentially lower annual administration expenses.
CODE SECTION 403(b)(7) CUSTODIAL ACCOUNTS: Employees of public schools and most
other tax-exempt organizations can make pre-tax salary reduction contributions
to these accounts.
PROFIT-SHARING (INCLUDING SECTION 401(K)) AND MONEY PURCHASE PENSION
PLANS: Corporations and other employers can sponsor these qualified defined
contribution plans for their employees. A Section 401(k) plan, a type of
profit-sharing plan, additionally permits the eligible, participating employees
to make pre-tax salary reduction contributions to the plan (up to certain
limits).
SIMPLE PLANS: Employers with no more than 100 employees that do not maintain
another retirement plan may establish a Savings Incentive Match Plan for
Employees ("SIMPLE") either as separate IRAs or as part of a Section 401(k)
plan. SIMPLEs are not subject to the complicated nondiscrimination rules that
generally apply to qualified retirement plans.
EXCHANGES BETWEEN FUNDS
A shareholder may exchange Advisor Class shares of the Fund for Advisor Class
shares of the corresponding class of other AIM/GT Funds as described in the
Prospectus. Advisor Class shares may be exchanged only for Advisor Class shares
of other AIM/GT Funds. The exchange privilege is not an option or right to
purchase shares but is permitted under the current policies of the respective
AIM/GT Funds. The privilege may be discontinued or changed at any time by any of
those funds upon sixty days' written notice to the shareholders of the fund and
is available only in states where the exchange may be made legally. Before
purchasing shares through the exercise of the exchange privilege, a shareholder
should obtain and read a copy of the prospectus of the fund to be purchased and
should consider its investment objective(s).
TELEPHONE REDEMPTIONS
A corporation or partnership wishing to utilize the telephone redemption
services must submit a "Corporate Resolution" or "Certificate of Partnership"
indicating the names, titles and the required number of signatures of persons
authorized to act on its behalf. The certificate must be signed by a duly
authorized officer(s) and, in the case of a corporation, the corporate seal must
be affixed. All shareholders may request that redemption proceeds be transmitted
by bank wire upon request directly to the shareholder's predesignated account at
a domestic bank or savings institution if the proceeds are at least $1,000.
Costs in connection with the administration of this service, including wire
charges, currently are borne by the appropriate Fund. Proceeds of less than
$1,000 will be mailed to the shareholder's registered address of record. The
Fund and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to refuse any telephone
instructions and may discontinue the aforementioned redemption options upon
thirty days' written notice.
SUSPENSION OF REDEMPTION PRIVILEGES
The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment for
more than seven days after a redemption order is received during any period: (1)
when the NYSE is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or
trading on the NYSE is restricted as directed by the SEC, (2) when an emergency
exists, as defined by the SEC, that would prohibit the Fund from disposing of
portfolio securities owned by them or in fairly determining the value of its
assets, or (3) as the SEC may otherwise permit.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND
It is possible that conditions may arise in the future which, in the opinion of
the Board, would make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for all redemptions in
cash. In such cases, the Board may authorize payment to be made in portfolio
securities or other property of the Fund, so called "Redemptions in Kind."
Payment of redemptions in kind will be made in readily marketable securities.
Such securities would be valued at the same value assigned to them in computing
the net asset value per share. Shareholders receiving such securities would
incur brokerage costs in selling any such securities so received.
Statement of Additional Information Page 12
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
VALUATION OF FUND SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As described in the Prospectus, the Fund's net asset value per share for each
class of shares is determined each Business Day as of the close of regular
trading on the NYSE (currently, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless weather,
equipment failure or other factors contribute to an earlier closing time).
Currently, the NYSE is closed on weekends and on certain days relating to the
following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day.
The net asset value of the Fund's shares is determined by dividing its total
assets less its liabilities by the number of shares outstanding. The Fund may
declare a suspension of the determination of net asset value during the periods
when it may suspend redemption privileges, as provided in "Suspension of
Redemption Privileges," above.
The Fund has adopted a policy which requires that it use its best efforts, under
normal circumstances, to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share.
The Fund values its portfolio securities using the amortized cost method. This
policy does not establish a net asset value of $1.00 per share; it merely
permits a pricing method under which the Fund may seek to maintain a per share
net asset value of $1.00. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able
to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share for purchases and
redemptions. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost
and thereafter accruing any discount or premium at a constant rate to maturity.
By declaring these accruals to the Fund's shareholders in the daily dividend,
the value of the Fund's assets, and, thus, its net asset value per share,
generally will remain constant. Although this method provides certainty in
valuation, it may result in periods during which the value of the Fund's
securities, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price
the Fund would receive if it sold the securities. During periods of declining
interest rates, the daily yield on shares of the Fund computed as described
above may tend to be higher than a like computation made by a similar fund with
identical investments utilizing a method of valuation based upon market prices
and estimates of market prices for all of its portfolio securities. Thus, if the
Fund's use of amortized cost resulted in a lower aggregate portfolio value on a
particular day, a prospective investor in the Fund would be able to obtain a
somewhat higher yield than would result from investment in a similar fund
utilizing solely market values, and existing investors in the Fund would receive
less investment income. The converse would apply in a period of rising interest
rates.
In connection with the Fund's policy of valuing its securities using the
amortized cost method, the Fund maintains a dollar-weighted portfolio maturity
of 90 days or less and purchases only portfolio securities having remaining
maturities of 13 months or less. The Board also has established procedures in
accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act designed to stabilize, to the
extent reasonably possible, the Fund's net asset value per share, as computed
for the purpose of sales and redemptions, at $1.00. Such procedures include
review of portfolio holdings by the Board, at such intervals as it may deem
appropriate, to determine whether the Fund's net asset value calculated by using
available market quotations deviates from $1.00 per share and, if so, whether
such deviation may result in material dilution or may be otherwise unfair to
existing shareholders. In the event the Board determines that such a deviation
exists, the Board has agreed to take such corrective action as it deems
necessary and appropriate, which action might include selling portfolio
securities prior to maturity to realize capital gains or losses or to shorten
average portfolio maturity, withholding dividends, or paying distributions from
capital or capital gains, redeeming shares in kind, or establishing a net asset
value per share by using available market quotations or market equivalents.
Statement of Additional Information Page 13
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
EXECUTION OF PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to policies established by the Board, the Sub-adviser is responsible for
the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions and the selection of
broker/dealers who execute such transactions on behalf of the Fund. Purchases
and sales of money market instruments by the Fund generally are made on a
principal basis, in which the dealer through whom the trade is executed retains
a "spread" as compensation. The spread is the difference in the price at which
the dealer buys or sells the instrument to the Fund and the price which the
dealer is able to resell or at which the dealer originally purchased,
respectively, the instrument. In executing transactions, the Sub-adviser seeks
the best net results for the Fund, taking into account such factors as the price
(including the applicable dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of
execution and operational facilities of the firm involved. Although the
Sub-adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive spreads, payment of the
lowest spread is not necessarily consistent with the best net results. The Fund
has no obligation to deal with any broker/dealer or group of broker/dealers in
the execution of portfolio transactions.
Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by
the Sub-adviser are made independently of each other in light of differing
conditions. However, the same investment decision occasionally may be made for
two or more of such accounts, including the Fund. In such cases, simultaneous
transactions may occur. Purchases or sales are then allocated as to price or
amount in a manner deemed fair and equitable to all accounts involved. While in
some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value
of the security as far as the Fund is concerned, in other cases the Sub-adviser
believes that coordination and the ability to participate in volume transactions
will be beneficial to the Fund.
Under a policy adopted by the Board and subject to the policy of obtaining the
best net results, the Sub-adviser may consider a broker/dealer's sale of the
shares of the Fund and the other funds for which AIM or the Sub-adviser serves
as investment manager and/or administrator in selecting broker/dealers for the
execution of portfolio transactions. This policy does not imply a commitment to
execute portfolio transactions through all broker/dealers that sell shares of
the Fund and such other funds.
Statement of Additional Information Page 14
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM was organized in 1976, and along with its subsidiaries, manages or advises
approximately 90 investment company portfolios encompassing a broad range of
investment objectives. AIM is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of A I M
Management Group Inc. ("AIM Management"), a holding company that has been
engaged in the financial services business since 1976. AIM is the sole
shareholder of the Funds' principal underwriter, AIM Distributors. AIM
Management is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AMVESCAP PLC, 11 Devonshire
Square, London, EC2M 4YR, England. AMVESCAP PLC and its subsidiaries are an
independent investment management group that has a significant presence in the
institutional and retail segment of the investment management industry in North
America and Europe, and a growing presence in Asia.
CUSTODIAN
State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), 225 Franklin Street,
Boston, MA 02110, acts as custodian of the Fund's assets. State Street is
authorized to establish and has established separate accounts in foreign
currencies and to cause securities of the Fund to be held in separate accounts
outside the United States in the custody of non-U.S. banks.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
The Fund's independent accountants are Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., One Post Office
Square, Boston, MA 02109. Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. conducts annual audits of the
Fund's financial statements, assists in the preparation of the Fund's federal
and state income tax returns and consults with the Company and the Fund as to
matters of accounting, regulatory filings, and federal and state income
taxation.
The financial statements of the Company included in this Statement of Additional
Information have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., as stated in their
opinion appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon such opinion given
upon the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
NAME
Prior to May 29, 1998, the Fund operated under the name of GT Global Dollar
Fund.
Statement of Additional Information Page 15
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
INVESTMENT RESULTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund may, from time to time, provide yield information or comparisons of its
yield to various averages including data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.,
Bank Rate Monitor-TM-, IBC/Donaghue's Money Fund Report, MONEY Magazine, and
other industry publications, in advertisements or in reports furnished to
current or prospective shareholders.
The Fund calculates its yield for its shares daily, based upon the seven days
ending on the day of the calculation, called the "base period." The yield is
computed by determining the net change in the value of a hypothetical account
with a balance of one share at the beginning of the base period, with the net
change, excluding capital changes, but including the value of any additional
shares purchased with dividends earned from the original one share and all
dividends declared on the original and any purchased shares; dividing the net
change in the account's value by the value of the account at the beginning of
the base period to determine the base period return; and multiplying the base
period return by (365/7). The Fund's effective yield is computed by compounding
the unannualized base period return by adding 1 to the base period return;
raising the sum to the 365/7th power; and subtracting 1 from the result.
For the seven-day period ended December 31, 1997, the Fund's Class A share yield
was 4.55% and effective yield was 4.66%. The seven-day and effective yields are
calculated as follows:
Assumptions:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Value of hypothetical pre-existing account with exactly one share
at the beginning of the period:........................................... $1.000000000
Value of same account* (excluding capital changes) at the end
of the seven-day period ending Dec. 31, 1997:............................. $1.000873532
</TABLE>
- --------------
* Value includes additional shares acquired with dividends paid on the
original shares.
Calculation:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Ending account value:.................... $ 1.000873532
Less beginning account value:............ $ 1.000000000
Net change in account value:............. $ .000873532
Seven-day yield = $.000873532 x 365/7 = 4.55%
Effective yield** = [1 + .000873532] 365/7 -1 = 4.66%
</TABLE>
- --------------
** The effective yield assumes a year's compounding of the seven-day yield.
For the seven-day period ended December 31, 1997, the Fund's Advisor Class share
yield was 4.55% and effective yield was 4.66%. The seven-day and effective
yields are calculated as follows:
Assumptions:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Value of hypothetical pre-existing account with exactly one share
at the beginning of the period:........................................... $1.000000000
Value of same account* (excluding capital changes) at the end
of the seven-day period ending Dec. 31, 1997:............................. $1.000873375
</TABLE>
- --------------
* Value includes additional shares acquired with dividends paid on the
original shares.
Calculation:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Ending account value:.................... $ 1.000873375
Less beginning account value:............ $ 1.000000000
Net change in account value:............. $ .000873375
Seven-day yield = $.000873375 x 365/7 = 4.55%
Effective yield** = [1 + .000873375] 365/7 -1 = 4.66%
</TABLE>
- --------------
** The effective yield assumes a year's compounding of the seven-day yield.
Statement of Additional Information Page 16
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Fund's investment results may also be calculated for longer periods in
accordance with the following method: by subtracting (a) the net asset value of
one share at the beginning of the period, from (b) the net asset value of all
shares an investor would own at the end of the period for the share held at the
beginning of the period (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions) and dividing by (c) the net asset value per share at the
beginning of the period. The resulting percentage indicates the positive or
negative rate of return that an investor would have earned from the reinvested
dividends and distributions and any changes in share price during the period.
The Fund's "Standardized Return," as referred to in the Prospectus (see "Other
Information -- Performance Information" in the Prospectus), is calculated as
follows: Standardized Return ("T") is computed by using the value at the end of
the period ("EV") of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P") over a
period of years ("n") according to the following formula as required by the SEC:
P(1+T) to the (n)th power = EV. The following assumption will be reflected in
computations made in accordance with this formula: reinvestment of dividends and
other distributions at net asset value on the reinvestment date determined by
the Board.
The Fund's Standardized Returns for its Class A shares, stated as average
annualized total returns, at December 31, 1997, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997......................................................................... 4.62%
Five years ended Dec. 31, 1997................................................................... 3.93%
Ten years ended Dec. 31, 1997.................................................................... 4.84%
</TABLE>
The Fund's Standardized Returns for its Advisor Class shares, stated as average
annualized total returns, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997......................................................................... 4.61%
June 1, 1995 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997.................................. 4.67%
</TABLE>
"Non-Standardized Return," as referred to in the Prospectus, is calculated for a
specified period of time by assuming the investment of $1,000 in Fund shares and
further assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and other distributions made
to Fund shareholders in additional Fund shares at their net asset value.
Percentage rates of return are then calculated by comparing this assumed initial
investment to the value of the hypothetical account at the end of the period for
which the Non-Standardized Return is quoted. As discussed in the Prospectus, the
Fund may quote Non-Standardized Returns that do not reflect the effect of
contingent deferred sales charges. Non-Standardized Returns may be quoted from
the same or different time periods for which Standardized Returns are quoted.
The Fund's Non-Standardized Returns for its Class A shares, stated as average
annualized total returns, at December 31, 1997, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997....................................................................... 4.62%
Five years ended Dec. 31, 1997................................................................. 3.93%
Ten years ended Dec. 31, 1997.................................................................. 4.84%
</TABLE>
The Fund's Non-Standardized Return for its Class A shares, stated as aggregate
total return, at December 31, 1997, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AGGREGATE
PERIOD TOTAL RETURN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
<S> <C>
Sept. 16, 1985 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997............................ 82.77%
</TABLE>
The Fund's Non-Standardized Return for its Advisor Class shares, stated as
average annualized total returns, at December 31, 1997, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AVERAGE
PERIOD ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C>
Year ended Dec. 31, 1997....................................................................... 4.61%
June 1, 1995 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997................................ 4.67%
</TABLE>
Statement of Additional Information Page 17
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Fund's Non-Standardized Return for its Advisor Class shares, stated as
aggregate total return, at December 31, 1997, was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NON-STANDARDIZED AGGREGATE
PERIOD TOTAL RETURN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
<S> <C>
June 1, 1995 (commencement of operations) through Dec. 31, 1997.............................. 12.52%
</TABLE>
The Fund's investment results will vary from time to time depending upon market
conditions, the composition of the Fund's portfolio and operating expenses of
the Fund, so that current or past yield or total return figures should not be
considered representative of what an investment in the Fund may earn in any
future period. These factors and possible differences in the methods used in
calculating investment results should be considered when comparing the Fund's
investment results with those published for other investment companies and other
investment vehicles. Investment results also should be considered relative to
the risks associated with the investment objective and policies. The Fund's
investment results will be calculated separately for Class A and Class B shares.
The Fund will include performance data for both Class A and Class B shares of
the Fund in any advertisement or information including performance data for the
Fund.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE ABOUT DATA RELATING TO WORLD EQUITY AND BOND MARKETS
The Fund and AIM Distributors may from time to time, in advertisements, sales
literature and reports furnished to present or prospective shareholders, compare
the Fund with the following, among others:
(1) The Salomon Brothers Non-U.S. Dollars Indices, which are measures of
the total return performance of high quality non-U.S. dollar denominated
securities in major sectors of the worldwide bond markets.
(2) The Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index, which is a
comprehensive measure of all public obligations of the U.S. Treasury
(excluding flower bonds and foreign targeted issues), all publicly issued
debt of agencies of the U.S. Government (excluding mortgage backed
securities), and all public, fixed rate, non-convertible investment grade
domestic corporate debt rated at least Baa by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB by Standard and Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), or, in
the case of nonrated bonds, BBB by Fitch Investors Service ("Fitch")
(excluding Collateralized Mortgage Obligations).
(3) Average of savings accounts, which is a measure of all kinds of
savings deposits, including longer-term certificates (based on figures
supplied by the U.S. League of Savings Institutions). Savings accounts offer
a guaranteed rate of return on principal, but no opportunity for capital
growth. The maximum rates paid on some savings deposits are currently fixed
by law.
(4) The Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), which is a measure of the average
change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services
(e.g., food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation fares, charges for
doctors' and dentists' services, prescription medicines, and other goods and
services that people buy for day-to-day living). There is inflation risk
which does not affect a security's value but its purchasing power, i.e., the
risk of changing price levels in the economy that affects security prices or
the price of goods and services.
(5) Data and mutual fund rankings published or prepared by Lipper
Analytical Data Services, Inc. ("Lipper"), CDA/Wiesenberger Investment
Company Service ("CDA/Wiesenberger"), Morningstar, Inc. ("Morningstar"),
Micropal, Inc. and/or other companies that rank and/or compare mutual funds
by overall performance, investment objectives, assets, expense levels,
periods of existence and/or other factors. In this regard the Fund may be
compared to its "peer group" as defined by Lipper, CDA/Wiesenberger,
Morningstar and/or other firms, as applicable, or to specific funds or
groups of funds within or outside of such peer group. Lipper generally ranks
funds on the basis of total return, assuming reinvestment of distributions,
but does not take sales charges or redemption fees into consideration, and
is prepared without regard to tax consequences. In addition to the mutual
fund rankings, the Fund's performance may be compared to mutual fund
performance indices prepared by Lipper. Morningstar is a mutual fund rating
service that also rates mutual funds on the basis of risk-adjusted
performance. Morningstar ratings are calculated from a fund's three, five
and ten year average annual returns with appropriate fee adjustments and a
risk factor that reflects fund performance relative to the three-month U.S.
Treasury bill monthly returns. Ten percent of the funds in an investment
category receive five stars and 22.5% receive four stars. The ratings are
subject to change each month.
(6) Bear Stearns Foreign Bond Index, which provides simple average
returns for individual countries and gross national product ("GNP")-weighted
index, beginning in 1975. The returns are broken down by local market and
currency.
Statement of Additional Information Page 18
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
(7) Ibbotson Associates International Bond Index, which provides a
detailed breakdown of local market and currency returns since 1960.
(8) Salomon Brothers Broad Investment Grade Index, which is a widely
used index composed of U.S. domestic government, corporate and
mortgage-backed fixed income securities.
(9) Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Index and Salomon Brothers
World Government Bond Index-Non-U.S., each of which is a widely used index
composed of world government bonds.
(10) The World Bank Publication of Trends in Developing Countries
("TIDE"), which provides brief reports on most of the World Bank's borrowing
members. The World Development Report is published annually and looks at
global and regional economic trends and their implications for the
developing economies.
(11) Datastream and Worldscope, each of which is an on-line database
retrieval service for information, including international financial and
economic data.
(12) International Financial Statistics, which is produced by the
International Monetary Fund.
(13) Various publications and reports produced by the World Bank and its
affiliates.
(14) Various publications from the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development.
(15) Various publications produced by ratings agencies such as Moody's,
S&P and Fitch.
(16) Privatizations from various sources, stock market capitalization,
number of issuers, and trading volume of newly privatized companies and, in
addition, projected levels of privatization. Privatization, an economic
process virtually unknown in the U.S., is the selling of state-owned
companies to the private sector. Under private ownership, such companies can
release assets and seek to make profits free from political intervention.
Examples of state-owned industries being privatized outside the U.S. include
airlines, telecommunications, utilities and financial institutions.
Indices, economic and financial data prepared by the research departments of
various financial organizations, such as Salomon Brothers, Inc., Lehman
Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., Financial Research
Corporation, J. P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Smith Barney Shearson, S.G. Warburg,
Jardine Flemming, The Bank for International Settlements, Asian Development
Bank, Bloomberg, L.P. and Ibbotson Associates, may be used, as well as
information reported by the Federal Reserve and the respective central banks of
various nations. In addition, AIM Distributors may use performance rankings,
ratings and commentary reported periodically in national financial publications,
including Money Magazine, Mutual Fund Magazine, Smart Money, Global Finance,
EuroMoney, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, Latin Finance, the
Wall Street Journal, Emerging Markets Weekly, Kiplinger's Guide To Personal
Finance, Barron's, The Financial Times, USA Today, The New York Times, Far
Eastern Economic Review, The Economist and Investors Business Digest. Each Fund
may compare its performance to that of other compilations or indices of
comparable quality to those listed above and other indices that may be developed
and made available in the future.
The Fund may compare its performance to that of other compilations or indices of
comparable quality to those listed above which may be developed and made
available in the future. The Fund may be compared in advertising to Certificates
of Deposit (CDs), the Bank Rate Monitor National Index, an average of the quoted
rates for 100 leading banks and thrifts in ten U.S. cities chosen to represent
the ten largest Consumer Metropolitan statistical areas, or other investments
issued by banks. The Fund differs from bank investments in several respects. The
Fund may offer greater liquidity or higher potential returns than CDs; but
unlike CDs, the Fund will have a fluctuating share price and return and is not
FDIC insured.
AIM Distributors may provide information designed to help individuals understand
their investment goals and explore various financial strategies. For example,
AIM Distributors may describe general principles of investing, such as asset
allocation, diversification and risk tolerance.
In advertising and sales materials, AIM Distributors may make reference to or
discuss its products and services, which may include: retirement investing; the
effects of dollar-cost averaging and saving for college or a home. In addition,
AIM Distributors may quote financial or business publications and periodicals,
including model portfolios or allocations, as they relate to fund management,
investment philosophy, and investment techniques.
The Fund may quote various measures of volatility and benchmark correlation such
as beta, standard deviation and R(2) in advertising. In addition, the Fund may
compare these measures to those of other funds. Measures of volatility seek to
compare the Fund's total returns compared to those of a benchmark. All measures
of volatility and correlation are calculated using averages of historical data.
Statement of Additional Information Page 19
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
The Fund may advertise examples of the effects of periodic investment plans,
including the principle of dollar cost averaging. In such a program, an investor
invests a fixed dollar amount in a fund at periodic intervals, thereby
purchasing fewer shares when prices are high and more shares when prices are
low. While such a strategy does not assure a profit or guard against loss in a
declining market, the investor's average cost per share can be lower than if
fixed numbers of shares are purchased at the same intervals. In evaluating such
a plan, investors should consider their ability to continue purchasing shares
through periods of low price levels.
The Fund may describe in its sales material and advertisements how an investor
may invest in the Fund through various retirement plans or other programs that
offer deferral of income taxes on investment earnings and pursuant to which an
investor may make deductible contributions. Because of their advantages, these
retirement plans and programs may produce returns superior to comparable
non-retirement investments. For example, a $10,000 investment earning a taxable
return of 10% annually would have an after-tax value of $17,976 after ten years,
assuming tax was deducted from the return each year at a 39.6% rate. An
equivalent tax-deferred investment would have an after-tax value of $19,626
after ten years, assuming tax was deducted at a 39.6% rate from the deferred
earnings at the end of the ten-year period. In sales materials and
advertisements, the Fund may also discuss these plans and programs. See
"Information Relating to Sales and Redemptions -- Individual Retirement Accounts
("IRAs") and Other Tax-Deferred Plans."
In advertising and sales materials, AIM Distributors may make reference to or
discuss its products, services and accomplishments. Among these accomplishments
are that in 1983 the Sub-adviser provided assistance to the government of Hong
Kong in linking its currency to the U.S. dollar, and that in 1987 Japan's
Ministry of Finance licensed GT Asset Management Ltd. as one of the first
foreign discretionary investment managers for Japanese investors. Such
accomplishments, however, should not be viewed as an endorsement of the
Sub-adviser by the government of Hong Kong, Japan's Ministry of Finance or any
other government or government agency. Nor do any such accomplishments of the
Sub-adviser provide any assurance that the AIM/GT Fund's investment objectives
will be achieved.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT RATINGS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
S&P. "A-1" and "A-2" are the two highest commercial paper rating categories:
A-1. This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding
timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely
strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign (+) designation.
A-2. Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is
satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for
issues designated "A-1".
MOODY'S. "Prime-1" and "Prime-2" are the two highest commercial paper rating
categories.
Prime-1. Issuers (or supporting institutions) assigned this highest
rating have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of
the following characteristics: leading market positions in well-established
industries; high rates of return on funds employed; conservative
capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset
protection; broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges
and high internal cash generation; and well-established access to a range of
financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Prime-2. Issuers (or supporting institutions) assigned this rating have
a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This
will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to
a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be
more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still
appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
liquidity is maintained.
Statement of Additional Information Page 20
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
BOND RATINGS
S&P: Its ratings for high quality bonds are as follows:
An obligation rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The
obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
An obligation rated "AA" differs from the highest rated obligations only
in a small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment
on the obligation is very strong.
MOODY'S: Its ratings for high quality bonds are as follows:
Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They
carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to
as "gilt edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin, and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized
are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally
known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because
margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or
fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may
be other elements present which make the long-term risk appear somewhat
larger than the Aaa securities.
NOTE RATINGS
S&P: The SP-1 rating denotes a very strong or strong capacity to pay
principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety
characteristics will be given a plus (+) designation.
The SP-2 rating denotes a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
MOODY'S: The MIG 1 designation denotes best quality. There is strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
The MIG 2 designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample
although not as large as in the preceding group.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The audited financial statements of the Fund as of December 31, 1997 and for the
fiscal year then ended appear on the following pages.
Statement of Additional Information Page 21
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
Fifty California Street, 27th Floor
San Francisco, California 94111
General Telephone No. 415/392-6181
General Fund Information 800/824-1580
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORT FROM THE FUND MANAGER
The Fund's total return for the 12 months ended December 31, 1997, was 4.62%
for Class A shares and 3.84% for Class B shares. As of December 31, the Fund's
SEC seven-day yield was 4.55% for Class A shares and 3.82% for Class B shares.
Because the Fund invests only in short-term debt obligations with remaining
maturities of 13 months or less, its performance generally reflects the level of
short-term interest rates. Please bear in mind that an investment in the Fund is
neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. government and that there can be no
assurance that the Fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset value of
$1.00 per share.
The U.S. bond market produced excellent returns in 1997. After a 25-basis
point increase in the Federal funds rate in March, the market began an upswing
in the second quarter that lasted throughout the last three quarters of the
year. In addition, interest rates fell after it became clear that the benign
economic environment in the U.S. would forestall additional interest rate
increases by the Fed in 1997.
In total, 1997 produced the lowest rates of U.S. inflation in decades, while
the economy enjoyed continued good growth. That combination, along with a stable
dollar, beckoned global investors in the fourth quarter. In addition, yields on
money market instruments have been fairly stable throughout the period and the
90-day Treasury bill yield ended the year about 18 basis points higher than it
began, at 5.35%.
We believe the overall environment for U.S. fixed income markets should
continue to be attractive in 1998. Short-term rates have remained in a narrow
range for some time, and we feel the economic environment augurs well for
continued stability. We concur with Federal Reserve (the Fed) Chairman
Greenspan's recent comments that effects of the Asian crisis have not yet fully
impacted U.S. markets. We expect weakness in Asia to moderate economic growth
somewhat, but believe its potential negative effect on U.S. profits and growth
in 1998 will be counterbalanced by its positive effect on inflation and interest
rates.
Additionally, we see reasonable potential for further declines in interest
rates. Inflation is at its lowest level in over 40 years, and productivity is
strong -- all positive cost factors we think will support U.S. profitability
even as product pricing remains under pressure. This environment (a new one for
investors) may necessitate a shift in policy stance by the Fed, whereby, instead
of constantly fighting inflation, they must also be concerned with deflation.
Our concerns about Fed tightening have been virtually erased, and we feel
the potential grows that the Fed may soon lower interest rates. In keeping with
our outlook, the average maturity of holdings in the Fund has been increased
moderately while still maintaining a high degree of liquidity for investors.
DECEMBER 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
GT Investment Portfolios, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of GT
Global Dollar Fund, a series of shares of common stock of GT Investment
Portfolios, Inc., including the schedule of portfolio investments, as of
December 31, 1997, the related statement of operations for the year then ended,
the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period
then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period
then ended. These financial statements and the financial highlights are the
responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and the financial highlights based on our
audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and the financial
highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of
December 31, 1997 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and the financial highlights
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of GT Global Dollar Fund as of December 31, 1997, the results of its
operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of
the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of
the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
COOPERS & LYBRAND, L.L.P.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
FEBRUARY 17, 1998
[LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MATURITY PRINCIPAL VALUE % OF NET
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS YIELD DATE AMOUNT (NOTE 1) ASSETS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------- --------- ----------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Commercial Paper - Discounted (47.4%)
John Deere Capital Corp. ...................................... 5.73% 19-Mar-98 12,000,000 $ 11,854,982 4.3
Walt Disney Co. ............................................... 5.59% 14-Apr-98 12,000,000 11,812,884 4.3
American Express Credit Corp. ................................. 5.71% 21-May-98 12,000,000 11,740,067 4.2
Kingdom of Sweden ............................................. 5.62% 26-Jan-98 10,000,000 9,961,875 3.6
AIG Funding, Inc. ............................................. 5.73% 30-Jan-98 10,000,000 9,954,245 3.6
E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. .................................. 5.62% 09-Feb-98 10,000,000 9,940,742 3.6
Ford Motor Credit Corp. ....................................... 5.63% 13-Feb-98 10,000,000 9,934,544 3.6
Bellsouth Telecommunications, Inc. ............................ 5.78% 25-Feb-98 10,000,000 9,912,611 3.6
General Electric Capital Corp. ................................ 5.71% 11-Mar-98 10,000,000 9,893,625 3.6
3M Corp. ...................................................... 5.68% 24-Apr-98 10,000,000 9,824,850 3.5
AT&T Corp. .................................................... 5.58% 15-Jan-98 9,500,000 9,479,902 3.4
Motorola, Inc. ................................................ 5.59% 09-Feb-98 9,000,000 8,946,375 3.2
Emerson Electric Co. .......................................... 5.66% 05-Jan-98 8,000,000 7,995,111 2.9
------------ -----
Total Commercial Paper - Discounted (amortized cost
$131,251,813) .................................................. 131,251,813 47.4
------------ -----
Government & Government Agency Obligations (3.6%)
Federal Home Loan Bank ........................................ 5.59% 06-Mar-98 10,000,000 9,903,289 3.6
------------ -----
Total Government & Government Agency Obligations (amortized cost
$9,903,289) .................................................... 9,903,289 3.6
------------ -----
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $141,155,102) ................ 141,155,102 51.0
------------ -----
<CAPTION>
VALUE % OF NET
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (NOTE 1) ASSETS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Dated December 31, 1997, with State Street Bank & Trust Co.,
due January 2, 1998, for an effective yield of 5.80%,
collateralized by $45,775,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 6.25% due
6/30/98 (market value of collateral is $45,946,656 including
accrued interest) ........................................... 45,041,000 16.3
Dated December 31, 1997, with BancAmerica Robertson Stephens,
due January 2, 1998, for an effective yield of 6.10%,
collateralized by $40,190,000 U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes,
6.25% due 6/30/98 & 3/31/99, respectively (market value of
collateral is $40,808,921 including accrued interest) ....... 40,000,000 14.4
------------ -----
TOTAL REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (cost $85,041,000) .................. 85,041,000 30.7
------------ -----
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (cost $226,196,102) * ........................ 226,196,102 81.7
Other Assets and Liabilities .................................... 50,692,653 18.3
------------ -----
NET ASSETS ...................................................... $276,888,755 100.0
------------ -----
------------ -----
</TABLE>
- --------------
* For Federal income tax purposes, cost is $226,196,102
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F2
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS
AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Assets:
Investments in securities, at value (amortized cost $141,155,102) (Note 1)....................... $141,155,102
Repurchase agreement, at value and cost (Note 1)................................................. 85,041,000
U.S. currency.................................................................................... 22,315
Receivable for Fund shares sold.................................................................. 72,954,035
Interest receivable.............................................................................. 14,034
-----------
Total assets................................................................................... 299,186,486
-----------
Liabilities:
Payable for Fund shares repurchased.............................................................. 21,805,756
Payable for investment management and administration fees (Note 2)............................... 134,841
Distribution payable............................................................................. 97,586
Payable for registration and filing fees......................................................... 91,486
Payable for service and distribution expenses (Note 2)........................................... 65,528
Payable for transfer agent fees (Note 2)......................................................... 35,773
Payable for printing and postage expenses........................................................ 26,318
Payable for professional fees.................................................................... 24,747
Payable for fund accounting fees (Note 2)........................................................ 4,326
Payable for Directors' fees and expenses (Note 2)................................................ 3,682
Payable for custodian fees....................................................................... 1,701
Other accrued expenses........................................................................... 5,987
-----------
Total liabilities.............................................................................. 22,297,731
-----------
Net assets......................................................................................... $276,888,755
-----------
-----------
Class A:
Net asset value and redemption price per share ($186,610,657 DIVIDED BY 186,670,776 shares
outstanding)...................................................................................... $ 1.00
-----------
-----------
Class B:+
Net asset value and offering price per share ($83,498,094 DIVIDED BY 83,456,702 shares
outstanding)...................................................................................... $ 1.00
-----------
-----------
Advisor Class:
Net asset value, offering price per share, and redemption price per share ($6,780,004 DIVIDED BY
6,779,978 shares outstanding)..................................................................... $ 1.00
-----------
-----------
Net assets: At December 31, 1997, net assets consisted of paid-in capital of
$276,888,755.
<FN>
- --------------
+ Redemption price per share is equal to the net asset value per share less
any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F3
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Year ended December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Investment income: (Note 1)
Interest income.............................................................................. $15,170,711
Expenses:
Service and distribution expenses: (Note 2)
Class A......................................................................... $ 422,808
Class B......................................................................... 995,797 1,418,605
---------
Investment management and administration fees (Note 2)....................................... 1,384,735
Transfer agent fees (Note 2)................................................................. 725,305
Registration and filing fees................................................................. 400,217
Professional fees............................................................................ 102,864
Printing and postage expenses................................................................ 101,842
Fund accounting fees (Note 2)................................................................ 69,517
Custodian fees (Note 4)...................................................................... 43,930
Directors' fees and expenses (Note 2)........................................................ 13,971
Other expenses............................................................................... 13,326
----------
Total expenses before reductions........................................................... 4,274,312
----------
Expenses waived by [Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc.] (Note 2)...................... (671,757)
Expenses reimbursed by [Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc.] (Note 2).................. (88,707)
Expense reductions (Note 2).............................................................. (43,916)
----------
Total net expenses......................................................................... 3,469,932
----------
Net investment income.......................................................................... 11,700,779
----------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations........................................... $11,700,779
----------
----------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F4
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1997 1996
-------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
Increase (Decrease) in net assets
Operations:
Net investment income................................................... $ 11,700,779 $ 15,135,332
-------------- ---------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations.................. 11,700,779 15,135,332
-------------- ---------------
Class A:
Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)
From net investment income.............................................. (7,587,680) (11,055,154)
Class B:
Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)
From net investment income.............................................. (3,720,785) (3,791,539)
Advisor Class:
Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)
From net investment income.............................................. (392,314) (288,639)
-------------- ---------------
Total distributions................................................... (11,700,779) (15,135,332)
-------------- ---------------
Capital share transactions: (Note 3)
Increase from capital shares sold and reinvested........................ 8,215,928,197 16,871,270,679
Decrease from capital shares repurchased................................ (8,474,948,990) (16,620,368,622)
-------------- ---------------
Net increase (decrease) from capital share transactions............... (259,020,793) 250,902,057
-------------- ---------------
Total increase (decrease) in net assets................................... (259,020,793) 250,902,057
Net assets:
Beginning of year....................................................... 535,909,548 285,007,491
-------------- ---------------
End of year *........................................................... $ 276,888,755 $ 535,909,548
-------------- ---------------
-------------- ---------------
<FN>
- --------------
* Includes undistributed net investment income of $0.
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F5
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding
throughout each period, total investment return, ratios and supplemental data.
This information has been derived from information provided in the financial
statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A+
----------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.045 $ 0.044 $ 0.050 $ 0.032 $ 0.022
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.045) (0.044) (0.050) (0.032) (0.022)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total investment return (b)............. 4.62% 4.50% 5.08% 3.3% 2.2%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000's).... $ 186,611 $ 392,623 $ 183,761 $ 320,858 $ 87,822
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 4.50% 4.39% 4.94% 3.40% 2.17%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 4.20% 4.08% 4.66% 3.15% 1.46%
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets: (a)
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 0.98% 0.99% 0.97% 0.92% 1.00%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 1.28% 1.30% 1.25% 1.17% 1.72%
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized for periods of less than one year.
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing April 1, 1993, the Fund began offering Class B shares.
+++ Commencing June 1, 1995, the Fund began offering Advisor Class shares.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F6
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (cont'd)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding
throughout each period, total investment return, ratios and supplemental data.
This information has been derived from information provided in the financial
statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B++
-------------------------------------------------------------
APRIL 1, 1993
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, TO
---------------------------------------------- DECEMBER 31,
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.038 $ 0.037 $ 0.040 $ 0.025 $ 0.010
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.038) (0.037) (0.040) (0.025) (0.010)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
Total investment return (b)............. 3.84% 3.73% 4.29% 2.53% 1.4%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000's).... $ 83,498 $ 128,308 $ 99,151 $ 109,936 $ 3,478
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 3.75% 3.64% 4.19% 2.65% 1.42%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 3.45% 3.33% 3.91% 2.40% 0.86%
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets: (a)
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 1.73% 1.74% 1.72% 1.67% 1.75%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 2.03% 2.05% 2.00% 1.92% 2.31%
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized for periods of less than one year.
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing April 1, 1993, the Fund began offering Class B shares.
+++ Commencing June 1, 1995, the Fund began offering Advisor Class shares.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F7
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (cont'd)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share outstanding
throughout each period, total investment return, ratios and supplemental data.
This information has been derived from information provided in the financial
statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADVISOR CLASS+++
-------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER JUNE 1, 1995
31, TO
---------------------- DECEMBER 31,
1997 1996 1995
---------- ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment income................... $ 0.045 $ 0.044 $ 0.030
Distributions from net investment
income................................. (0.045) (0.044) (0.030)
---------- ---------- -------------
Net asset value (unchanged during the
period)................................ $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 1.00
---------- ---------- -------------
---------- ---------- -------------
Total investment return (b)............. 4.61% 4.50% 2.92%
Ratios and supplemental data:
Net assets, end of period (in 000's).... $ 6,780 $ 14,978 $ 2,096
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 4.50% 4.39% 4.94%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 4.45% 4.33% 4.91%
Ratio of expenses to average net
assets: (a)
With expense reductions, waivers, and
reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a) (Notes 2
& 4)................................. 0.98% 0.99% 0.97%
Without expense reductions, waivers,
and reimbursement by [Chancellor LGT
Asset Management, Inc.] (a).......... 1.03% 1.05% 1.0%
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(a) Annualized for periods of less than one year.
(b) Not annualized for periods of less than one year.
+ All capital shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 1993 were
reclassified as Class A shares.
++ Commencing April 1, 1993, the Fund began offering Class B shares.
+++ Commencing June 1, 1995, the Fund began offering Advisor Class shares.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F8
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
GT Global Dollar Fund ("Fund") is a diversified series of GT Investment
Portfolios, Inc. ("Company"). The Company is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), as an open-end management investment
company.
The Fund offers Class A, Class B, and Advisor Class shares, each of which has
equal rights as to assets and voting privileges. Each class has exclusive voting
rights with respect to its distribution plan. Investment income, realized and
unrealized capital gains and losses, and the common expenses of the Fund are
allocated on a pro rata basis to each class based on the relative net assets of
each class to the total net assets of the Fund. Each class of shares differs in
its respective distribution expenses, and may differ in its transfer agent,
registration, and certain other class-specific fees and expenses.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of
significant accounting policies in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of the
financial statements.
(A) PORTFOLIO VALUATION
Securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
(B) FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
It is the policy of the Fund to meet the requirements for qualification as a
"regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended ("Code"). It is also the intention of the Fund to make distributions
sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.
Therefore, no provision has been made for Federal taxes on income, capital
gains, and unrealized appreciation of securities held, or for excise tax on
income and capital gains. The Fund currently has a capital loss carryforward of
$3,382 which expires in 2005.
(C) REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
With respect to repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, it is the Fund's
policy to always receive, as collateral, U.S. government securities or other
high quality debt securities of which the value, including accrued interest, is
at least equal to the amount to be repaid to the Fund under each agreement at
its maturity. Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc. (the "Manager") is
responsible for determining that the value of these underlying securities
remains at least equal to the resale price.
(D) OTHER
Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (date the order to buy or
sell is executed). Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Dividends to
shareholders from net investment income are declared daily and paid or
reinvested monthly.
2. RELATED PARTIES
The Manager serves as the investment manager and administrator of the Fund. The
Fund pays the Manager investment management and administration fees at the
annualized rate of 0.50% of the Fund's average daily net assets. These fees are
computed daily and paid monthly, and are subject to reduction in any year to the
extent that the Fund's expenses (exclusive of brokerage commissions, taxes,
interest, distribution-related expenses and extraordinary expenses) exceed the
most stringent limits prescribed by the laws or regulations of any state in
which the Fund's shares are sold.
GT Global, Inc. ("GT Global"), an affiliate of the Manager, serves as the Fund's
distributor. The Fund offers Class A shares for purchase. Certain redemptions of
Class A shares made within two years of purchase are subject to contingent
deferred sales charges ("CDSCs"), in accordance with the Fund's current
prospectus. Class B shares of the Fund are available only through an exchange of
Class B shares of other GT Global Mutual Funds. Certain redemptions of Class B
shares made within six years of purchase are also subject to CDSCs, in
accordance with the Fund's current prospectus. For the year ended December 31,
1997, GT Global collected CDSCs in the amount of $1,241,407. In addition, GT
Global may, from time to time, make ongoing payments to brokerage firms,
financial institutions (including banks) and others that facilitate the
administration and servicing of shareholder accounts.
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Company's Board of Directors has
adopted separate distribution plans with respect to the Fund's Class A shares
("Class A Plan") and Class B shares ("Class B Plan"), pursuant to which the Fund
reimburses GT Global for a portion of its shareholder servicing and distribution
expenses. Under the Class A Plan, the Fund may pay GT Global a service fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class A shares for GT Global's expenditures incurred in servicing and
maintaining shareholder accounts, and may pay GT Global a distribution fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class A shares less any amounts paid by the Fund as the aforementioned service
fee for GT Global's expenditures incurred in providing services as distributor.
GT Global does not currently intend to seek reimbursement of any amounts under
the Class A Plan. All expenses for which GT Global is reimbursed under the Class
A Plan will have been incurred within one year of such reimbursement.
Pursuant to the Fund's Class B Plan, the Fund may pay GT Global a service fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class B shares for GT Global's expenditures incurred in servicing and
maintaining shareholder accounts, and may pay GT Global a distribution fee at
the annualized rate of up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's
Class B shares for GT Global's expenditures incurred in providing services as
distributor. GT Global does not currently intend to seek reimbursement of any
amounts in excess of 0.75% of average daily net assets under the Class B Plan.
Expenses incurred under the Class B Plan in excess of
F9
<PAGE>
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
1.00% annually may be carried forward for reimbursement in subsequent years as
long as that Plan continues in effect.
The Manager and GT Global have voluntarily undertaken to limit the Fund's
expenses (exclusive of brokerage commissions, interest, taxes and extraordinary
expenses) to the annual rate of 1.00%, 1.75%, and 1.00% of the average daily net
assets of the Fund's Class A, Class B, and Advisor Class shares, respectively.
If necessary, this limitation will be effected by waivers by the Manager of its
investment management and administration fees, waivers by GT Global of payments
under the Class A Plan and/or Class B Plan and/or reimbursements by the Manager
or GT Global of portions of the Fund's other operating expenses.
GT Global Investor Services, Inc. ("GT Services"), an affiliate of the Manager
and GT Global, is the transfer agent for the Fund. For performing shareholder
servicing, reporting, and general transfer agent services, GT Services receives
an annual maintenance fee of $17.50 per account, a new account fee of $4.00 per
account, a per transaction fee of $1.75 for all transactions other than
exchanges and a per exchange fee of $2.25. The Transfer Agent also is reimbursed
by the Fund for its out-of-pocket expenses for such items as postage, forms,
telephone charges, stationery and office supplies.
The Company pays each of its Directors who is not an employee, officer or
director of the Manager, GT Global or GT Services $1,000 per year plus $300 for
each meeting of the board or any committee thereof attended by the Director.
The Manager is the pricing and accounting agent for the Fund. The monthly fee
for these services to the Manager is a percentage, not to exceed 0.03% annually,
of the Fund's average daily net assets. The annual fee rate is derived by
applying 0.03% to the first $5 billion of assets of all registered mutual funds
advised by LGT and 0.02% to the assets in excess of $5 billion and allocating
the result according to the Fund's average daily net assets.
3. CAPITAL SHARES
At December 31, 1997, there were 2,000,000,000 shares of the Company's common
stock authorized, at $0.001 per share. Of this number, 1,500,000,000 shares have
been classified as shares of the Fund; 500 million shares have been classified
as Class A shares, 500 million have been classified as Class B shares, and 500
million have been classified as Advisor Class shares. These amounts may be
increased from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Transactions in capital shares of the Fund were as follows:
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1996
---------------------- ----------------------
CLASS A SHARES & AMOUNT SHARES & AMOUNT
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold............................. 6,222,351,251 14,275,856,684
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions......... 4,193,093 7,664,536
---------------------- ----------------------
6,226,544,344 14,283,521,220
Shares repurchased...................... (6,432,557,179) (14,074,631,817)
---------------------- ----------------------
Net increase (decrease)................. (206,012,835) 208,889,403
---------------------- ----------------------
---------------------- ----------------------
<CAPTION>
CLASS B SHARES & AMOUNT SHARES & AMOUNT
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold............................. 1,763,392,144 2,348,173,773
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions......... 2,479,264 2,261,688
---------------------- ----------------------
1,765,871,408 2,350,435,461
Shares repurchased...................... (1,810,681,116) (2,321,320,722)
---------------------- ----------------------
Net increase (decrease)................. (44,809,708) 29,114,739
---------------------- ----------------------
---------------------- ----------------------
<CAPTION>
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES & AMOUNT SHARES & AMOUNT
- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Shares sold............................. 223,289,952 237,098,781
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions......... 222,493 215,804
---------------------- ----------------------
223,512,445 237,314,585
Shares repurchased...................... (231,710,695) (224,416,508)
---------------------- ----------------------
Net increase (decrease)................. (8,198,250) 12,898,077
---------------------- ----------------------
---------------------- ----------------------
</TABLE>
4. EXPENSE REDUCTIONS
For the year ended December 31, 1997, the Fund's custody fees were offset by
$43,916 of credits on cash held at the custodian.
5. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On January 30, 1998, Liechtenstein Global Trust ("LGT") and AMVESCAP PLC
("AMVESCAP") entered into an agreement by which AMVESCAP will acquire LGT's
Asset Management Division, including Chancellor LGT Asset Management, Inc.
AMVESCAP is the holding company of the A I M and INVESCO asset management
businesses.
F10
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GT GLOBAL DOLLAR FUND
NOTES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
AIM DOLLAR FUND
AIM/GT FUNDS
AIM DISTRIBUTORS OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF FUNDS TO COMPLEMENT MANY INVESTORS'
PORTFOLIOS. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A PROSPECTUS ON ANY OF THE FUNDS LISTED
BELOW, INCLUDING FEES, EXPENSES AND THE RISKS OF GLOBAL AND EMERGING MARKET
INVESTING AND THE RISKS OF INVESTING IN RELATED INDUSTRIES, PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER OR CALL 1-800-824-1580.
GROWTH FUNDS
/ / GLOBALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW DIMENSION FUND
Captures global growth opportunities by investing directly in the six global
theme funds
AIM WORLDWIDE GROWTH FUND
Invests around the world, including the U.S.
AIM INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
Provides portfolio diversity by investing outside
the U.S.
AIM EMERGING MARKETS FUND
Gives access to the growth potential of developing economies
AIM DEVELOPING MARKETS FUND
Invests in debt and equity securities of developing market issuers
/ / GLOBAL THEME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES FUND
Invests in companies that manufacture, market, retail, or distribute consumer
products or services
AIM GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND
Focuses on the worldwide opportunities from the demand for financial services
and products
AIM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
Invests in growing health care industries worldwide
AIM GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Seeks companies that build, improve or maintain a country's infrastructure
AIM GLOBAL RESOURCES FUND
Concentrates on companies that own, explore or develop natural resources
AIM GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
Invests in companies worldwide that develop, manufacture or sell
telecommunications services or equipment
/ / REGIONALLY DIVERSIFIED FUNDS
AIM NEW PACIFIC GROWTH FUND
Offers access to the emerging and established markets of the Pacific Rim,
excluding Japan
AIM EUROPE GROWTH FUND
Focuses on investment opportunities in Europe
AIM LATIN AMERICAN GROWTH FUND
Invests in the emerging markets of Latin America
/ / SINGLE COUNTRY FUNDS
AIM SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
Invests in equity securities of small U.S. companies
AIM MID CAP GROWTH FUND
Concentrates on medium-sized companies in the U.S.
AIM AMERICA VALUE FUND
Concentrates on equity securities of large cap U.S. companies believed to be
undervalued
AIM JAPAN GROWTH FUND
Provides U.S. investors with direct access to the Japanese market
GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
AIM GLOBAL GROWTH & INCOME FUND
Invests in blue-chip stocks and government bonds from around the world
INCOME FUNDS
AIM GLOBAL GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
Earns monthly income from global government securities
AIM STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
Allocates its assets among debt securities from the U.S., developed foreign
countries and emerging markets
AIM GLOBAL HIGH INCOME FUND
Invests in debt securities in emerging markets
AIM FLOATING RATE FUND
Invests primarily in senior secured floating rate loans that have the potential
to achieve a high level of current income
MONEY MARKET FUND
AIM DOLLAR FUND
Invests in high quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities
worldwide for stability and preservation of capital
[LOGO]
NO DEALER, SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION
OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY AIM
DOLLAR FUND, AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, INC., A I M ADVISORS, INC., INVESCO
(NY), INC. OR A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF ANY
OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY
PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
DOLSX705MC
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- The following audited financial statements as of
December 31, 1997, and for the fiscal year then ended, for Class A, Class B and
Advisor Class shares of the AIM Dollar Fund, the sole series of the Registrant,
are included in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information and are filed
herewith:
-- Report of Independent Accountants
-- Portfolio of Investments
-- Statement of Assets and Liabilities
-- Statement of Operations
-- Statement of Changes in Net Assets
-- Financial Highlights
-- Notes to Financial Statements
(b) EXHIBITS REQUIRED BY PART C, ITEM 24 OF FORM N-1A.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(1) Registrant's Articles of Amendment and Restatement (1).
(2) Registrant's By-Laws as amended (1).
(3) Not Applicable.
(4) Instruments defining the rights of holders of Registrant's shares of common
stock (2).
(5)(a) Form of Investment Management and Administration Contract -- Filed
herewith.
(5)(b) Form of Investment Sub-Advisory and Sub-Administration Contract -- Filed
herewith.
(6)(a) Form of Distribution Agreement with respect to Class A shares -- Filed
herewith.
(6)(b) Form of Distribution Agreement with respect to Class B shares -- Filed
herewith.
(6)(c) Form of Distribution Agreement with respect to Advisor Class shares --
Filed herewith.
(7) Not Applicable.
(8) Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust
Company (1).
(9)(a) Transfer Agency Contract (1).
(9)(b) Fund Accounting and Pricing Agent Agreement (2).
</TABLE>
C-1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(9)(c) Other material contracts:
</TABLE>
(i) Form of Selected Dealer Agreement -- Filed herewith.
(ii) Form of Bank Sales Contract -- Filed herewith.
(iii) Form of Shareholder Service Agreement -- Filed herewith.
(iv) Form of Bank Shareholder Service Agreement -- Filed
herewith.
(v) Form of Service Agreement for Bank Trust Department and
for Broker -- To be Filed.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(10) Opinion and Consent of Counsel is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10
of a Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement filed
previously.
(11) Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., Independent Accountants -- Filed
herewith.
(12) Not Applicable.
(13) Not Applicable.
(14)(a) IRA Application -- Filed herewith.
(14)(b) SEP and SARSEP IRA Adoption Agreement -- Filed herewith.
(14)(c) Profit Sharing/Money Purchase Pension Plan -- Filed herewith.
(14)(d) 403(b) Plan -- Filed herewith.
(14)(e) SIMPLE IRA Application -- Filed herewith.
(14)(f) Roth IRA Application -- Filed herewith.
(15)(a) Form of Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to
Class A shares -- Filed herewith.
(15)(b) Form of Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 with respect to
Class B shares -- Filed herewith.
(16) Schedules of Computation of Performance Quotations relating to the Class A,
Class B and Advisor Class shares of the AIM Dollar Fund (1).
(17) Financial Data Schedule (2).
(18) Multiple Class Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 -- To be Filed.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Other Exhibits:
(a) Power of Attorney for Helge K. Lee and Michael A. Silver for AIM Investment
Portfolios, Inc. (2).
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Incorporated by reference to the identically enumerated Exhibit of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A,
filed on April 24, 1997.
(2) Incorporated by reference to the identically enumerated Exhibit of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A,
filed on March 10, 1998.
ITEM 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE REGISTRANT
None.
C-2
<PAGE>
ITEM 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
As of May 7, 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TITLE OF CLASS NUMBER OF RECORD HOLDERS
- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C>
Shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of
AIM Dollar Fund Class A....................................... 6,425
AIM Dollar Fund Class B....................................... 4,155
AIM Dollar Fund Advisor Class................................. 257
</TABLE>
ITEM 27. INDEMNIFICATION
Article VII(g) of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provides for
indemnification of certain persons acting on behalf of the Registrant.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"), may be permitted to Directors, officers and
controlling persons by the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the 1933 Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such Director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act
and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.
ITEM 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER
See the material under the heading "Management" included in Part A
(Prospectus) of this Amendment and the material appearing under the headings
"Directors and Executive Officers" and "Management" included in Part B
(Statement of Additional Information) of this Amendment. Information as to the
Directors and Officers of A I M Advisors, Inc. and INVESCO (NY), Inc. is
included in Schedule A and Schedule D of Part I of each entity's Form ADV (File
No. 801-12313 and File No. 801-10254, respectively), filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
ITEM 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
(a) A I M Distributors, Inc. is also the principal underwriter for the
following other investment companies: AIM Advisor Funds, Inc. (which includes
five funds: AIM Advisor Flex Fund, AIM Advisor International Value Fund, AIM
Advisor Large Cap Value Fund, AIM Advisor Multiflex Fund and AIM Advisor Real
Estate Fund); AIM Equity Funds, Inc. (which includes six funds: AIM Aggressive
Growth Fund, AIM Blue Chip Fund, AIM Capital Development Fund, AIM Charter Fund,
AIM Constellation Fund and AIM Weingarten Fund); AIM Funds Group (which includes
nine funds: AIM Balanced Fund, AIM Global Utilities Fund, AIM High Yield Fund,
AIM Income Fund, AIM Intermediate Government Fund, AIM Money Market Fund, AIM
Municipal Bond Fund, AIM Select Growth Fund and AIM Value Fund); AIM
International Funds, Inc. (which includes six funds: AIM Asian Growth Fund, AIM
European Development Fund, AIM International Equity Fund, AIM Global Aggressive
Growth Fund, AIM Global Growth Fund and AIM Global Income Fund); AIM Investment
Securities Funds (which includes one fund: AIM Limited Maturity Treasury Fund);
AIM Summit Fund, Inc.; AIM Tax-Exempt Funds, Inc. (which includes four funds:
AIM High Income Municipal Fund, AIM Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of Connecticut, AIM
Tax-Exempt Cash Fund and AIM Tax-Free Intermediate Fund); AIM Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. (which includes thirteen funds: AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth Fund, AIM
V.I. Balanced Fund, AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund, AIM V.I. Capital
Development Fund, AIM V.I. Diversified
C-3
<PAGE>
Income Fund, AIM V.I. Global Utilities Fund, AIM V.I. Government Securities
Fund, AIM V.I. Growth Fund, AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund, AIM V.I. High Yield
Fund, AIM V.I. International Equity Fund, AIM V.I. Money Market Fund, AIM V.I.
Value Fund); AIM Growth Series (which includes eight funds: AIM Small Cap Equity
Fund, AIM America Value Fund, AIM Mid Cap Growth Fund, AIM Europe Growth Fund,
AIM International Growth Fund, AIM Japan Growth Fund, AIM New Pacific Growth
Fund and AIM Worldwide Growth Fund); AIM Investment Funds, Inc. (which includes
thirteen funds: AIM Strategic Income Fund, AIM Global High Income Fund, AIM
Global Government Income Fund, AIM Global Health Care Fund, AIM Global Growth &
Income Fund, AIM Latin American Growth Fund, AIM Developing Markets Fund, AIM
Emerging Markets Fund, AIM Global Telecommunications Fund, AIM Global Financial
Services Fund, AIM Global Infrastructure Fund, AIM Global Resources Fund and AIM
Global Consumer Products and Services Fund); AIM Series Trust (which includes
one fund: AIM New Dimension Fund); GT Global Variable Investment Series (which
includes five funds: GT Global Variable New Pacific Fund, GT Global Variable
Europe Fund, GT Global Variable America Fund, GT Global Variable International
Fund and GT Global Money Market Fund); GT Global Variable Investment Trust
(which includes nine funds: GT Global Variable Latin America Fund, GT Global
Variable Emerging Markets Fund, GT Global Variable Infrastructure Fund, GT
Global Variable Natural Resources Fund, GT Global Variable Telecommunications
Fund, GT Global Variable Growth & Income Fund, GT Global Variable Strategic
Income Fund, GT Global Variable Global Government Income Fund and GT Global
Variable U.S. Government Income Fund); and GT Global Floating Rate Fund, Inc.
(b) Directors and Officers of A I M Distributors, Inc.
The business address of each person listed is 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100,
Houston, Texas 77046-1173.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH
BUSINESS ADDRESS PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
- -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Charles T. Bauer Chairman of the Board of Directors
Michael J. Cemo President & Director
Gary T. Crum Director
Robert H. Graham Senior Vice President & Director
William G. Littlepage Senior Vice President & Director
John J. Caldwell Senior Vice President
Marilyn M. Miller Senior Vice President
James L. Salners Senior Vice President
Gordon J. Sprague Senior Vice President
Michael C. Vessels Senior Vice President
B.J. Thompson First Vice President
James R. Anderson Vice President
</TABLE>
C-4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH
BUSINESS ADDRESS PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
- -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John J. Arthur Vice President & Treasurer
Mary K. Coleman Vice President
Melville B. Cox Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer
Charles R. Dewey Vice President
Sidney M. Dilgren Vice President
Tony D. Green Vice President
William H. Kleh Vice President
Ofelia M. Mayo Vice President, General Counsel & Assistant Secretary
Terri L. Ransdell Vice President
Carol F. Relihan Vice President
Kamala C. Sachidanandan Vice President
Frank V. Serebrin Vice President
Christopher T. Simutis Vice President
Robert D. Van Sant, Jr. Vice President
Gary K. Wendler Vice President
David E. Hessel Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer & Controller
Kathleen J. Pflueger Secretary
Luke P. Beausoleil Assistant Vice President
Tisha B. Christopher Assistant Vice President
Glenda A. Dayton Assistant Vice President
Kathleen M. Douglas Assistant Vice President
Terri N. Fiedler Assistant Vice President
Mary E. Gentempo Assistant Vice President
Jeffrey L. Horne Assistant Vice President
Melissa E. Hudson Assistant Vice President
Jodie L. Johnson Assistant Vice President
</TABLE>
C-5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITIONS AND OFFICES WITH
BUSINESS ADDRESS PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
- -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Kathryn A. Jordan Assistant Vice President
Wayne W. LaPlante Assistant Vice President
Kim T. Lankford Assistant Vice President
Ivy B. McLemore Assistant Vice President
David B. O'Neil Assistant Vice President
Patricia M. Shyman Assistant Vice President
Nicholas D. White Assistant Vice President
Norman W. Woodson Assistant Vice President
Nancy L. Martin Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary
Samuel D. Sirko Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary
Stephen I. Winer Assistant Secretary
</TABLE>
(c) None.
ITEM 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
Accounts, books and other records required by Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are maintained and held in the
offices of the Registrant and its sub-adviser, INVESCO (NY), Inc., 50 California
Street, 27th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111, and its custodian, State Street
Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110.
Records covering shareholder accounts are maintained and kept by the
Registrant's transfer agent, GT Global Investor Services, Inc., 2121 N.
California Boulevard, Suite 450, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, and records of
portfolio transactions are maintained and kept by the Registrant's custodian,
State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110.
ITEM 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Not applicable.
ITEM 32. UNDERTAKINGS
Not applicable.
C-6
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant hereby certifies
that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment
pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused
this Post-Effective Amendment to this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of San
Francisco, and the State of California, on the 28th day of May, 1998.
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
By: William J. Guilfoyle*
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the 28th day of May, 1998.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
William J. Guilfoyle* President, Director and
Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ KENNETH W. CHANCEY Vice President and
- ------------------------------------------- Principal Accounting Officer
Kenneth W. Chancey
C. Derek Anderson* Director
Arthur C. Patterson* Director
Frank S. Bayley* Director
Ruth H. Quigley* Director
Robert G. Wade, Jr.* Director
*By: /s/ MICHAEL A. SILVER
- ------------------------------------------
Michael A. Silver
Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to
Power of Attorney previously filed
</TABLE>
C-7
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION CONTRACT
BETWEEN
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS
AND
A I M ADVISORS, INC.
Contract made as of May 29, 1998, between AIM Investment Portfolios,
Inc., a Maryland Corporation ("Company"), and A I M Advisors, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS the Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), as an open-end management investment company,
and offers for public sale shares of AIM Dollar Fund, a series of the
Company's shares of common stock; and
WHEREAS the Company hereafter may establish additional series of its
shares of common stock (any such additional series, together with the
series named in the paragraph immediately preceding, are collectively
referred to herein as the "Funds," and singly may be referred to as a
"Fund"); and
WHEREAS the Company desires to retain Adviser as investment manager and
administrator to furnish certain investment advisory, portfolio management
and administration services to the Company and the Funds, and Adviser is
willing to furnish such services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as
follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. The Company hereby appoints Adviser as investment manager
and administrator of each Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in
this Contract. Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the
services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. DUTIES AS INVESTMENT MANAGER.
(a) Subject to the supervision of the Company's Board of Directors
("Board"), Adviser will provide a continuous investment program for each
Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all
securities and investments and cash equivalents of the Fund. Adviser will
determine from time to time what securities and other investments will be
purchased, retained or sold by each Fund, and the brokers and dealers through
whom trades will be executed.
(b) Adviser agrees that in placing orders with brokers and dealers it
will attempt to obtain the best net results in terms of price and execution.
Consistent with this
<PAGE>
obligation Adviser may, in its discretion, purchase and sell portfolio
securities to and from brokers and dealers who sell shares of the Funds or
provide the Funds or Adviser's other clients with research, analysis, advice
and similar services. Adviser may pay to brokers and dealers, in return for
research and analysis, a higher commission or spread than may be charged by
other brokers and dealers, subject to Adviser's determining in good faith
that such commission or spread is reasonable in terms either of the
particular transaction or of the overall responsibility of Adviser to the
Funds and its other clients and that the total commissions or spreads paid by
each Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund over the
long term. In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold
to Adviser or any affiliated person thereof except in accordance with the
federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder and any
exemptive orders currently in effect. Whenever Adviser simultaneously places
orders to purchase or sell the same security on behalf of a Fund and one or
more other accounts advised by Adviser, such orders will be allocated as to
price and amount among all such accounts in a manner believed to be equitable
to each account. The Company recognizes that in some cases this procedure may
adversely affect the results obtained for each Fund.
(c) Adviser will oversee the maintenance of all books and records with
respect to the securities transactions of the Funds, and will furnish the
Board with such periodic and special reports as the Board reasonably may
request. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940
Act, Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the
Company are the property of the Company, agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records which it maintains
for the Company and which are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under
the 1940 Act, and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Company any
records which it maintains for the Company upon request by the Company.
3. DUTIES AS ADMINISTRATOR. Adviser will administer the affairs of each
Fund subject to the supervision of the Board and the following understandings:
(a) Adviser will supervise all aspects of the operations of each Fund,
including the oversight of transfer agency and custodial services, except as
hereinafter set forth; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall
be deemed to relieve or deprive the Board of its responsibility for control
of the conduct of the affairs of the Funds.
(b) At Adviser's expense, Adviser will provide the Company and the
Funds with such corporate, administrative and clerical personnel (including
officers of the Company) and services as are reasonably deemed necessary or
advisable by the Board.
(c) Adviser will arrange, but not pay, for the periodic preparation,
updating, filing and dissemination (as applicable) of each Fund's prospectus,
statement of additional information, proxy material, tax returns and required
reports with or to the Fund's shareholders, the Securities and Exchange
Commission and other appropriate federal or state regulatory authorities.
<PAGE>
(d) Adviser will provide the Company and the Funds with, or obtain for
them, adequate office space and all necessary office equipment and services,
including telephone service, heat, utilities, stationery supplies and similar
items.
4. FURTHER DUTIES. In all matters relating to the performance of this
Contract, Adviser will act in conformity with the Articles of Incorporation,
By-Laws and Registration Statement of the Company and with the instructions
and directions of the Board and will comply with the requirements of the 1940
Act, the rules thereunder, and all other applicable federal and state laws
and regulations.
5. DELEGATION OF ADVISER'S DUTIES AS INVESTMENT MANAGER AND ADMINISTRATOR.
With respect to one or more of the Funds, Adviser may enter into one or more
contracts ("Sub-Advisory or Sub-Administration Contract") with a sub-adviser
or sub-administrator in which Adviser delegates to such sub-adviser or
sub-administrator the performance of any or all of the services specified in
Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Contract, provided that: (i) each Sub-Advisory and
Sub-Administration Contract imposes on the sub-adviser or sub-administrator
bound thereby all the duties and conditions to which Adviser is subject with
respect to the services under Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Contract; (ii)
each Sub-Advisory and Sub-Administration Contract meets all requirements of
the 1940 Act and rules thereunder, and (iii) Adviser shall not enter into a
Sub-Advisory or Sub-Administration Contract unless it is approved by the
Board prior to implementation.
6. SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. The services furnished by Adviser hereunder are
not to be deemed exclusive and Adviser shall be free to furnish similar
services to others so long as its services under this Contract are not
impaired thereby. Nothing in this Contract shall limit or restrict the right
of any director, officer or employee of Adviser, who may also be a Director,
officer or employee of the Company, to engage in any other business or to
devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other
aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar
nature.
7. EXPENSES.
(a) During the term of this Contract, each Fund will bear all expenses,
not specifically assumed by Adviser, incurred in its operations and the
offering of its shares.
(b) Expenses borne by each Fund will include but not be limited to the
following: (i) all direct charges relating to the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities, including the cost (including brokerage commissions, if
any) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in
connection therewith; (ii) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of
the Fund by Adviser under this Contract; (iii) investment consulting fees and
related costs; (iv) expenses of organizing the Company and the Fund; (v)
expenses of preparing filing reports and other documents with governmental
and regulatory agencies; (vi) filing fees and expenses relating to the
registration and qualification of the Fund's shares and the Company under
federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and
qualifications; (vii) costs incurred in
<PAGE>
connection with the issuance, sale or repurchase of the Fund's shares of
common stock; (viii) fees and salaries payable to the Company's
Directors who are not parties to this Contract or interested persons of any
such party ("Independent Directors"); (ix) all expenses incurred in connection
with the Independent Directors' services, including travel expenses; (x) taxes
(including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (xi) costs
of any liability, uncollectible items of deposit and other insurance and
fidelity bonds; (xii) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a
liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the
Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (xiii) interest charges; (xiv)
legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special
counsel for the Independent Directors; (xv) charges of custodians, transfer
agents, pricing agents and other agents; (xvi) expenses of disbursing
dividends and distributions; (xvii) costs of preparing share certificates;
(xviii) expenses of setting in type, printing and mailing prospectuses and
supplements thereto, statements of additional information and supplements
thereto, reports, notices and proxy materials for existing shareholders;
(xix) any extraordinary expenses (including fees and disbursements of
counsel, costs of actions, suits or proceedings to which the Company is a
party and the expenses the Company may incur as a result of its legal
obligation to provide indemnification to its officers, Directors, employees
and agents) incurred by the Company or the Fund; (xx) fees, voluntary
assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in
investment company organizations; (xxi) costs of mailing and tabulating
proxies and costs of meetings of shareholders, the Board and any committees
thereof; (xxii) the cost of investment company literature and other
publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers; and
(xxiii) costs of mailing, stationery and communications equipment.
(c) All general expenses of the Company and joint expenses of the Funds
shall be allocated among each Fund on a basis deemed fair and equitable by
Adviser, subject to the Board's supervision.
(d) Adviser will assume the cost of any compensation for services
provided to the Company received by the officers of the Company and by the
Directors of the Company who are not Independent Directors.
(e) The payment or assumption by Adviser of any expense of the Company
or any Fund that Adviser is not required by this Contract to pay or assume
shall not obligate Adviser to pay or assume the same or any similar expense
of the Company or any Fund on any subsequent occasion.
8. COMPENSATION.
(a) For the services provided to a Fund under this Contract, the
Company shall pay the Adviser an annual fee, payable monthly, based upon the
average daily net assets of such Fund as forth in Appendix A attached hereto.
Such compensation shall be paid solely from the assets of such Fund.
<PAGE>
(b) For the services provided under this Contract, each Fund as
hereafter may be established will pay to Adviser a fee in an amount to be
agreed upon in a written Appendix to this Contract executed by the Company on
behalf of such Fund and by Adviser.
(c) The fee shall be computed daily and paid monthly to Adviser on or
before the last business day of the next succeeding calendar month.
(d) If this Contract becomes effective or terminates before the end of
any month, the fee for the period from the effective date to the end of the
month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as the
case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period
bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs.
9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF ADVISER AND INDEMNIFICATION. Adviser shall
not be liable and each Fund shall indemnify Adviser and its directors,
officers and employees, for any costs or liabilities arising from any error
of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Fund or the Company
in connection with the matters to which this Contract relates except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part
of Adviser in the performance by Adviser of its duties or from reckless
disregard by Adviser of its obligations and duties under this Contract. Any
person, even though also an officer, partner, employee, or agent of Adviser,
who may be or become an officer, Director, employee or agent of the Company
shall be deemed, when rendering services to a Fund or the Company or acting
with respect to any business of a Fund or the Company, to be rendering such
service to or acting solely for the Fund or the Company and not as an
officer, partner, employee, or agent or one under the control or direction of
Adviser even though paid by it.
10. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
(a) This Contract shall become effective upon the date hereabove
written, provided that this Contract shall not take effect with respect to
any Fund unless it has first been approved (i) by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Directors, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and (ii) by vote of a majority of that Fund's
outstanding voting securities.
(b) Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Contract shall
continue in effect for two years from the above written date. Thereafter, if
not terminated, with respect to each Fund this Contract shall continue
automatically for successive periods not to exceed twelve months each,
provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i)
by a vote of a majority of the Independent Directors, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by the
Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that
Fund.
<PAGE>
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Fund this
Contract may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty,
by vote of the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund on sixty days' written notice to Adviser or by Adviser
at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on sixty days' written
notice to the Company. Termination of this Contract with respect to one Fund
shall not affect the continued effectiveness of this Contract with respect to
any other Fund. This Contract will automatically terminate in the event of
its assignment.
11. AMENDMENT OF THIS CONTRACT. No provision of this Contract may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument
in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change,
waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Contract
shall be effective until approved by vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities, when required by the 1940 Act.
12. GOVERNING LAW. This Contract shall be construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to Delaware conflict or choice
of law provisions) and the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws
of the State of Delaware conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940
Act, the latter shall control.
13. LICENSE AGREEMENT. The Company shall have the non-exclusive right to
use the name "AIM" to designate any current or future series of shares only
so long as A I M Advisors, Inc. serves as investment manager or adviser to
the Company with respect to such series of shares.
14. MISCELLANEOUS. The captions in this Contract are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any
provision of this Contract shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Contract shall not be
affected thereby. This Contract shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors. As used in
this Contract, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"interested person," "assignment," "broker," "dealer," "investment adviser,"
"national securities exchange," "net assets," "prospectus," "sale," "sell"
and "security" shall have the same meaning as such terms have
<PAGE>
in the 1940 Act, subject to such exemption as may be granted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation or order. Where
the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of
this Contract is made less restrictive by a rule, regulation or order of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, whether of special or general
application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such
rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their officers designated as of the day and year first above
written.
Attest: AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
Michael A. Silver By:
Assistant Secretary Name: Helge K. Lee
Title: Vice President and Secretary
Attest: A I M ADVISORS, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
TO
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION CONTRACT
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
The Company shall pay the Adviser, out of the assets of a Fund, as full
compensation for all services rendered and all facilities furnished
hereunder, a management fee for such Fund set forth below. Such fee shall be
calculated by applying the following annual rates to the average daily net
assets of such Fund for the calendar year computed in the manner used for the
determination of the net asset value of shares of such Fund.
AIM DOLLAR FUND
ANNUAL RATE
-----------
0.50%
<PAGE>
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
SUB-ADVISORY AND SUB-ADMINISTRATION CONTRACT
BETWEEN
A I M ADVISORS, INC.
AND
INVESCO (NY) INC.
Contract made as of May 29, 1998, between A I M Advisors, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Adviser"), and INVESCO (NY) Inc., a California
corporation ("Sub-Adviser").
WHEREAS Adviser has entered into an Investment Management and
Administration Contract with AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc. ("Company"), an
open-end management investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), with respect to AIM Dollar
Fund, a series of the Company's shares of common stock; and
WHEREAS Adviser desires to retain Sub-Adviser as sub-adviser and
sub-administrator to furnish certain advisory and administrative services to
the Funds, and Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. Adviser hereby appoints Sub-Adviser as sub-adviser and
sub-administrator of each Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in
this Contract. Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the
services herein set forth, for the compensation herein provided.
2. DUTIES AS SUB-ADVISER.
(a) Subject to the supervision of the Company's Board of Directors
("Board") and Adviser, the Sub-Adviser will provide a continuous investment
program for each Fund, including investment research and management, with
respect to all securities and investments and cash equivalents of the Fund.
The Sub-Adviser will determine from time to time what securities and other
investments will be purchased, retained or sold by each Fund, and the brokers
and dealers through whom trades will be executed.
(b) The Sub-Adviser agrees that, in placing orders with brokers and
dealers, it will attempt to obtain the best net result in terms of price and
execution. Consistent with this obligation, the Sub-Adviser may, in its
discretion, purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers and
dealers who sell shares of the Funds or provide the Funds, Adviser's other
clients, or Sub-Adviser's other clients with research, analysis, advice and
similar services. The Sub-Adviser may pay to brokers and dealers, in return
for such research and analysis, a higher commission or spread than may be
charged by other
<PAGE>
brokers and dealers, subject to the Sub-Adviser determining in good faith
that such commission or spread is reasonable in terms either of the
particular transaction or of the overall responsibility of the Adviser and
the Sub-Adviser to the Funds and their other clients and that the total
commissions or spreads paid by each Fund will be reasonable in relation to
the benefits to the Fund over the long term. In no instance will portfolio
securities be purchased from or sold to the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated
person thereof, except in accordance with the federal securities laws and the
rules and regulations thereunder and any exemptive orders currently in
effect. Whenever the Sub-Adviser simultaneously places orders to purchase or
sell the same security on behalf of a Fund and one or more other accounts
advised by the Sub-Adviser, such orders will be allocated as to price and
amount among all such accounts in a manner believed to be equitable to each
account.
(c) The Sub-Adviser will maintain all books and records with respect to
the securities transactions of the Funds, and will furnish the Board and
Adviser with such periodic and special reports as the Board or Adviser
reasonably may request. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3
under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records which it
maintains for the Company are the property of the Company, agrees to preserve
for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any records which
it maintains for the Company and which are required to be maintained by Rule
31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and further agrees to surrender promptly to the
Company any records which it maintains for the Company upon request by the
Company.
3. DUTIES AS SUB-ADMINISTRATOR. Sub-Adviser will administer the affairs of
each Fund subject to the supervision of the Company's Board of Directors
("Board"), the Adviser and the following understandings:
(a) Sub-Adviser will supervise all aspects of the operations of each
Fund, including the oversight of transfer agency and custodial services
except as hereinafter set forth; provided, however, that nothing herein
contained shall be deemed to relieve or deprive the Board of its
responsibility for control of the conduct of the affairs of the Funds.
(b) At Sub-Adviser's expense, Sub-Adviser will provide the Company and
the Funds with such corporate, administrative and clerical personnel
(including officers of the Company) and services as are reasonably deemed
necessary or advisable by the Board.
(c) Sub-Adviser will arrange, but not pay, for the periodic
preparation, updating, filing and dissemination (as applicable) of each
Fund's prospectus, statement of additional information, proxy material, tax
returns and required reports with or to the Fund's shareholders, the
Securities and Exchange Commission and other appropriate federal or state
regulatory authorities.
<PAGE>
(d) Sub-Adviser will provide the Company and the Funds with, or obtain
for them, adequate office space and all necessary office equipment and
services, including telephone service, heat, utilities, stationery supplies
and similar items.
4. FURTHER DUTIES. In all matters relating to the performance of this
Contract, Sub-Adviser will act in conformity with the Articles of
Incorporation, By-Laws and Registration Statement of the Company and
with the instructions and directions of the Board and will comply with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and all other applicable
federal and state laws and regulations.
5. SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. The services furnished by Sub-Adviser hereunder
are not to be deemed exclusive and Sub-Adviser shall be free to furnish
similar services to others so long as its services under this Contract are
not impaired thereby. Nothing in this Contract shall limit or restrict the
right of any director, officer or employee of Sub-Adviser, who may also be a
Director, officer or employee of the Company, to engage in any other business
or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other
aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar
nature.
6. EXPENSES.
(a) During the term of this Contract, each Fund will bear all expenses,
not specifically assumed by Adviser and Sub-Adviser, incurred in its
operations and the offering of its shares.
(b) Expenses borne by each Fund will include but not be limited to the
following: (i) all direct charges relating to the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities, including the cost (including brokerage commissions, if
any) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in
connection therewith; (ii) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of
the Fund by Sub-Adviser under this Contract; (iii) investment consulting fees
and related costs; (iv) expenses of organizing the Company and the Fund; (v)
expenses of preparing and filing reports and other documents with
governmental and regulatory agencies; (vi) filing fees and expenses relating
to the registration and qualification of the Fund's shares and the Company
under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations
and qualifications; (vii) costs incurred in connection with the issuance,
sale or repurchase of the Fund's shares of common stock; (viii) fees
and salaries payable to the Company's Directors who are not parties to this
Contract or interested persons of any such party ("Independent Directors");
(ix) all expenses incurred in connection with the Independent Directors'
services, including travel expenses; (x) taxes (including any income or
franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (xi) costs of any liability,
uncollectible items of deposit and other insurance and fidelity bonds; (xii)
any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for
damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for
violation of any law; (xiii) interest charges; (xiv) legal, accounting and
auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the
Independent Directors; (xv) charges of custodians, transfer agents, pricing
agents and other agents; (xvi) expenses of disbursing dividends and
distributions;
<PAGE>
(xvii) costs of preparing share certificates; (xviii) expenses of setting in
type, printing and mailing prospectuses and supplements thereto, statements
of additional information, reports, notices and proxy materials for existing
shareholders; (xix) any extraordinary expenses (including fees and
disbursements of counsel, costs of actions, suits or proceedings to which the
Company is a party and the expenses the Company may incur as a result of its
legal obligation to provide indemnification to its officers, Directors,
employees and agents) incurred by the Company; (xx) fees, voluntary
assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in
investment company organizations; (xxi) costs of mailing and tabulating
proxies and costs of meetings of shareholders, the Board and any committees
thereof; (xxii) the cost of investment company literature and other
publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers; and
(xxiii) costs of mailing, stationery and communications equipment.
(c) Sub-Adviser will assume the cost of any compensation for services
provided to the Company received by the officers of the Company and by the
Directors of the Company who are not Independent Directors.
(d) The payment or assumption by Sub-Adviser of any expense of the
Company or any Fund that Sub-Adviser is not required by this Contract to pay
or assume shall not obligate Sub-Adviser to pay or assume the same or any
similar expense of the Company or any Fund on any subsequent occasion.
7. COMPENSATION.
(a) For the services provided to a Fund under this Contract, Adviser
will pay Sub-Adviser a fee, computed weekly and paid monthly, as set forth in
Appendix A hereto.
(b) For the services provided under this Contract to each Fund as
hereafter may be established, Adviser will pay to Sub-Adviser a fee in an
amount to be agreed upon in a written Appendix to this Contract executed by
Adviser and by Sub-Adviser.
(c) The fee shall be computed weekly and paid monthly to Sub-Adviser on
or before the last business day of the next succeeding calendar month.
(d) If this Contract becomes effective or terminates before the end of
any month, the fee for the period from the effective date to the end of the
month or from the beginning of such month to the date of termination, as the
case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period
bears to the full month in which such effectiveness or termination occurs.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF SUB-ADVISER AND INDEMNIFICATION. Sub-Adviser
shall not be liable for any costs or liabilities arising from any error of
judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Fund or the Company in
connection with the matters to which this Contract relates except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part
of Sub-Adviser in the performance by Sub-Adviser of its duties or
<PAGE>
from reckless disregard by Sub-Adviser of its obligations and duties under
this Contract. Any person, even though also an officer, partner, employee, or
agent of Sub-Adviser, who may be or become a Director, officer, employee or
agent of the Company, shall be deemed, when rendering services to a Fund or
the Company or acting with respect to any business of a Fund or the Company
to be rendering such service to or acting solely for the Fund or the Company
and not as an officer, partner, employee, or agent or one under the control
or direction of Sub-Adviser even though paid by it.
9. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
(a) This Contract shall become effective upon the date hereabove
written, provided that this Contract shall not take effect with respect to
any Fund unless it has first been approved (i) by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Directors, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and (ii) by vote of a majority of that Fund's
outstanding voting securities.
(b) Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Contract shall
continue in effect for two years from the above written date. Thereafter, if
not terminated, with respect to each Fund, this Contract shall continue
automatically for successive periods not to exceed twelve months each,
provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i)
by a vote of a majority of the Independent Directors, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by the
Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that
Fund.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Fund this
Contract may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty,
by vote of the Board or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund on sixty days' written notice to Sub-Adviser or by
Sub-Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on sixty days'
written notice to the Company. Termination of this Contract with respect to
one Fund shall not affect the continued effectiveness of this Contract with
respect to any other Fund. This Contract will automatically terminate in the
event of its assignment.
10. AMENDMENT. No provision of this Contract may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed
by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or
termination is sought, and no amendment of this Contract shall be effective
until approved by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities, when required by the 1940 Act.
11. GOVERNING LAW. This Contract shall be construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to Delaware conflict or choice
of law provisions) and the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws
of the State of Delaware conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940
Act, the latter shall control.
12. MISCELLANEOUS. The captions in this Contract are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise
<PAGE>
affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this Contract shall
be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the
remainder of this Contract shall not be affected thereby. This Contract shall
be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors. As used in this Contract, the terms "majority of
the outstanding voting securities," "interested person," "assignment,"
"broker," "dealer," "investment adviser," "national securities exchange,"
"net assets," "prospectus," "sale," "sell" and "security" shall have the same
meaning as such terms have in the 1940 Act, subject to such exemption as may
be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission by any rule, regulation
or order. Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any
provision of this Contract is made less restrictive by a rule, regulation or
order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whether of special or
general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect
of such rule, regulation or order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their officers designated as of the day and year first above
written.
Attest: A I M ADVISORS, INC.
By:
Michael A. Silver Name:
Title:
Attest: INVESCO (NY) INC.
By:
Name: Helge K. Lee
Title: Chief Legal and Compliance
Officer and Secretary
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
TO
SUB-ADVISORY AND SUB-ADMINISTRATION CONTRACT
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
AIM DOLLAR FUND
ANNUAL RATE
-----------
0.20%
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
AND
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
CLASS A SHARES
THIS AGREEMENT made this 29th day of May, 1998, by and between AIM
Investment Portfolios, Inc. a Maryland Corporation (the "Company"), with
respect to the series of common stock set forth on Appendix A to this
Agreement, and any applicable classes thereof, (the "Portfolios"), and A I M
Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
FIRST: The Company on behalf of the Portfolios hereby appoints the
Distributor as its exclusive agent for the sale of shares of the Portfolios
to the public directly and through investment dealers and financial
institutions in the United States and throughout the world.
SECOND: The Company shall not sell any shares of the Portfolios
except through the Distributor and under the terms and conditions set forth
in paragraph FOURTH below. Notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing
sentence, however:
(A) the Company may issue shares of the Portfolios to any other
investment company or personal holding company, or to the shareholders
thereof, in exchange for all or a majority of the shares or assets of any
such company; and
(B) the Company may issue shares of the Portfolios at their net
asset value in connection with certain classes of transactions or to certain
classes of persons, in accordance with Rule 22d-1 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), provided that any such
class is specified in the then current prospectus of the applicable Portfolio.
THIRD: The Distributor hereby accepts appointment as exclusive
agent for the sale of the shares of the Portfolios and agrees that it will
use its best efforts to sell such shares; provided, however, that:
(A) the Distributor may, and when requested by the Company on
behalf of a Portfolio shall, suspend its efforts to effectuate such sales at
any time when, in the opinion of the Distributor or of the
<PAGE>
Company, no sales should be made because of market or other economic
considerations or abnormal circumstances of any kind; and
(B) the Company may withdraw the offering of the shares of a
Portfolio (i) at any time with the consent of the Distributor, or (ii)
without such consent when so required by the provisions of any statute or of
any order, rule or regulation of any governmental body having jurisdiction.
It is mutually understood and agreed that the Distributor does not undertake
to sell any specific amount of the shares of the Portfolios. The Company
shall have the right to specify minimum amounts for initial and subsequent
orders for the purchase of shares of any Portfolio.
FOURTH:
(A) The public offering price of Class A shares of a Portfolio
(the "offering price") shall be the net asset value per share of the
applicable Portfolio plus a sales charge, if any. Net asset value per share
shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the then current
prospectus and statement of additional information of the applicable
Portfolio. The sales charge shall be established by the Distributor, may
reflect scheduled variations in, or the elimination of, sales charges on
sales of a Portfolio's Class A shares either generally to the public, or to
any specified class of investors or in connection with any specified class of
transactions, in accordance with Rule 22d-1 and as set forth in the then
current prospectus and statement of additional information of the applicable
Portfolio. The Distributor shall apply any scheduled variation in, or
elimination of, the selling commission uniformly to all offerees in the class
specified. The Distributor shall be entitled to receive the amount of any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge that has been subtracted from
gross redemption proceeds (the "CDSC"), provided that the Shares being
redeemed were (i) issued by a Portfolio during the term of this Agreement and
any predecessor Agreement between the Company and the Distributor or
Distributor's predecessor, GT Global, Inc. ("GT Global"), or (ii) issued by a
Portfolio during or after the term of this Agreement or any predecessor
Agreement between the Company and the Distributor or GT Global in one or a
series of free exchanges of Shares for shares of the same class of another
portfolio, which can be traced to Shares or shares of the same class of
another portfolio initially issued by a Portfolio or such other portfolio
during the term of this Agreement, any predecessor Agreement or any other
distribution agreement with the Distributor or GT Global with respect to such
other portfolio (the "Distributor's Earned CDSC"). The Company shall pay or
cause the Company's transfer agent to pay the Distributor's Earned CDSC to
the Distributor on the date net redemption proceeds are payable to the
redeeming shareholder.
(B) The Company shall allow directly to investment dealers and
other financial institutions through whom Class A shares of the Portfolios
are sold such portion of the sales charge as may be payable to them and
specified by the Distributor, up to but not exceeding the amount of the total
sales charge. The difference between any commissions so payable and the
total sales charges included in the offering price shall be paid to the
Distributor.
(C) No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit
any payments by a Portfolio to the Distributor or by a Portfolio or the
Distributor to investment dealers, financial institutions and 401(k) plan
service providers where such payments are made under a distribution plan
adopted by the Company on behalf of a Portfolio pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act.
FIFTH: The Distributor shall act as agent of the Company on behalf
of the Portfolios in connection with the sale and repurchase of shares of the
Portfolios. Except with respect to such sales and repurchases, the
Distributor shall act as principal in all matters relating to the promotion
of the sale of shares of the Portfolios and shall enter into all of its own
engagements, agreements and contracts as
2
<PAGE>
principal on its own account. The Distributor shall enter into agreements
with investment dealers and financial institutions selected by the
Distributor, authorizing such investment dealers and financial institutions
to offer and sell shares of the Portfolios to the public upon the terms and
conditions set forth therein, which shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement. Each agreement shall provide that the
investment dealer and financial institution shall act as a principal, and not
as an agent, of the Company on behalf of the Portfolios.
SIXTH: The Portfolios shall bear:
(A) the expenses of qualification of shares of the Portfolios
for sale in connection with such public offerings in such states as shall be
selected by the Distributor, and of continuing the qualification therein
until the Distributor notifies the Company that it does not wish such
qualification continued; and
(B) all legal expenses in connection with the foregoing.
SEVENTH:
(A) The Distributor shall bear the expenses of printing from
the final proof and distributing the Portfolios' prospectuses and statements
of additional inforrnation (including supplements thereto) relating to public
offerings made by the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement (which shall not
include those prospectuses and statements of additional information, and
supplements thereto, to be distributed to shareholders of the Portfolios),
and any other promotional or sales literature used by the Distributor or
furnished by the Distributor to dealers in connection with such public
offerings, and expenses of advertising in connection with such public
offerings.
(B) The Distributor may be reimbursed for all or a portion of
such expenses, or may receive reasonable compensation for distribution
related services, to the extent permitted by a distribution plan adopted by
the Company on behalf of a Portfolio pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940
Act.
EIGHTH: The Distributor will accept orders for the purchase of
shares of the Portfolios only to the extent of purchase orders actually
received and not in excess of such orders, and it will not avail itself of
any opportunity of making a profit by expediting or withholding orders. It
is mutually understood and agreed that the Company may reject purchase orders
where, in the judgment of the Company, such rejection is in the best interest
of the Company.
NINTH: The Company, on behalf of the Portfolios, and the
Distributor shall each comply with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act,
the Securities Act of 1933 and all other federal and state laws, rules and
regulations governing the issuance and sale of shares of the Portfolios.
TENTH:
(A) In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the
part of the Distributor, the Company on behalf of the Portfolios agrees to
indemnify the Distributor against any and all claims, demands, liabilities
and expenses which the Distributor may incur under the Securities Act of
1933, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement
or prospectus of a Portfolio, or any omission to state a material fact
therein, the omission of which makes any statement contained therein
misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and
in conformity with, information furnished to the Company or a Portfolio in
connection therewith by or on
3
<PAGE>
behalf of the Distributor. The Distributor agrees to indemnify the Company
and the Portfolios against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and
expenses which the Company or a Portfolio may incur arising out of or based
upon any act or deed of the Distributor or its sales representatives which
has not been authorized by the Company or a Portfolio in its prospectus or in
this Agreement.
(B) The Distributor agrees to indemnify the Company and the
Portfolios against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses
which the Company or the Portfolios may incur under the Securities Act of
1933, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement
or prospectus of a Portfolio, or any omission to state a material fact
therein if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Company or a Portfolio in
connection therewith by or on behalf of the Distributor.
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Distributor shall not be liable for any errors of the Portfolios' transfer
agent(s), or for any failure of any such transfer agent to perform its duties.
ELEVENTH: Nothing herein contained shall require the Company to
take any action contrary to any provision of its Articles of Incorporation,
or to any applicable statute or regulation.
TWELFTH: This Agreement shall become effective with respect to
each Portfolio as of the date hereof, shall continue in force and effect
until two years from the date hereof, and shall continue in force and effect
from year to year thereafter, provided, that such continuance is specifically
approved with respect to such Portfolio at least annually (a)(i) by the Board
of Directors of the Company or (ii) by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940
Act), and (b) by vote of a majority of the Company's Directors who are not
parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement cast in person at a
meeting called for such purpose.
THIRTEENTH:
(A) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to any
Portfolio at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the
Board of Directors of the Company or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the applicable Portfolio, or by the Distributor, on
sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party.
(B) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event
of its assignment, the term "assignment" having the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act.
FOURTEENTH: Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing,
addressed and delivered, or mailed postage prepaid, to the other party at
such address as the other party may designate for the receipt of notices.
Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the addresses of
both the Company and the Distributor shall be 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100,
Houston, Texas 77046.
4
<PAGE>
FIFTEENTH: This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made in
the State of Delaware and governed by, construed in accordance with and
enforced pursuant to the internal laws of the State of Delaware without
reference to its conflicts of laws rules.
5
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed in duplicate on the day and year first above written.
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
By:
-------------------------------
Name: William J. Guilfoyle
Title: President
Attest:
- ----------------------------------
Name: Michael A. Silver
Title: Assistant Secretary
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name: Michael J. Cemo
Title: President
Attest:
- ----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
6
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
TO
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
CLASS A SHARES
AIM Dollar Fund
7
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
AND
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
CLASS B SHARES
THIS AGREEMENT made this 29th day of May, 1998, by and between AIM
Investment Portfolios, Inc. a Maryland Corporation (the "Company"), with
respect to each of the Class B shares (the "Shares") of each series of shares
of common stock set forth on Schedule A to this agreement (the "Portfolios"),
and A I M Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
FIRST: The Company hereby appoints the Distributor as its exclusive
agent for the sale of the Shares to the public directly and through
investment dealers in the United States and throughout the world. If
subsequent to the termination of the Distributor's services to the Company
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company retains the services of another
distributor, the distribution agreement with such distributor shall contain
provisions comparable to Clauses FOURTH and SEVENTH hereof and Exhibit A
hereto, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, will require
such distributor to maintain and make available to the Distributor records
regarding sales, redemptions and reinvestments of Shares necessary to
implement the terms of Clauses FOURTH, SEVENTH and EIGHTH hereof.
SECOND: The Company shall not sell any Shares except through the
Distributor and under the terms and conditions set forth in paragraph FOURTH
below. Notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing sentence, however:
(A) the Company may issue Shares to any other investment company or
personal holding company, or to the shareholders thereof, in exchange for all
or a majority of the shares or assets of any such company;
(B) the Company may issue Shares at their net asset value in
connection with certain classes of transactions or to certain classes of
persons, in accordance with Rule 22d-1 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), provided that any such class is
specified in the then current prospectus of the applicable Shares; and
(C) the Company shall have the right to specify minimum amounts for
initial and subsequent orders for the purchase of Shares.
<PAGE>
THIRD: The Distributor hereby accepts appointment as exclusive agent
for the sale of the Shares and agrees that it will use its best efforts to
sell such Shares; provided, however, that:
(A) the Distributor may, and when requested by the Company on behalf
of the Shares shall, suspend its efforts to effectuate such sales at any time
when, in the opinion of the Distributor or of the Company, no sales should be
made because of market or other economic considerations or abnormal
circumstances of any kind;
(B) the Company may withdraw the offering of the Shares (i) at any
time with the consent of the Distributor, or (ii) without such consent when
so required by the provisions of any statute or of any order, rule or
regulation of any governmental body having jurisdiction; and
(C) the Distributor, as agent, does not undertake to sell any
specific amount of the Shares.
FOURTH:
(A) The public offering price of the Shares shall be the net asset
value per share of the applicable Shares. Net asset value per share shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of the then current prospectus
and statement of additional information of the applicable Portfolio. The
Distributor may establish a schedule of contingent deferred sales charges to
be imposed at the time of redemption of the Shares, and such schedule shall
be disclosed in the current prospectus of each Portfolio. Such schedule of
contingent deferred sales charges may reflect variations in or waivers of
such charges on redemptions of Shares, either generally to the public or to
any specified class of shareholders and/or in connection with any specified
class of transactions, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations
and exemptive relief granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
as set forth in the Portfolios' current prospectus(es). The Distributor and
the Company shall apply any then applicable scheduled variation in or waiver
of contingent deferred sales charges uniformly to all shareholders and/or all
transactions belonging to a specified class.
(B) The Distributor may pay to investment dealers and other
financial institutions through whom Shares are sold, such sales commission as
the Distributor may specify from time to time. Payment of any such sales
commissions shall be the sole obligation of the Distributor.
(C) No provision of this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit any
payments by the Company to the Distributor or by the Company or the
Distributor to investment dealers, financial institutions and 401(k) plan
service providers where such payments are made under a distribution plan
adopted by the Company pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
(D) The Company shall redeem the Shares from shareholders in
accordance with the terms set forth from time to time in the current
prospectus and statement of additional information of each Portfolio. The
price to be paid to a shareholder to redeem the Shares shall be equal to the
net asset value of the Shares being redeemed ("gross redemption proceeds"),
less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge, calculated pursuant to
the then applicable schedule of contingent deferred sales charges ("net
redemption proceeds"). The Distributor shall be entitled to receive the
amount of the contingent deferred sales charge that has been subtracted from
gross redemption proceeds (the "CDSC"), provided that the Shares being
redeemed were (i) issued by a Portfolio during the term of this Agreement and
any predecessor Agreement between the Company and the Distributor or
Distributor's predecessor, GT Global, Inc. ("GT Global"), or (ii) issued by
a Portfolio during or after the term of this Agreement or any predecessor
Agreement between the Company and the Distributor or GT Global in one or a
series of free exchanges of Shares for Class B
2
<PAGE>
shares of another portfolio, which can be traced to Shares or Class B shares
of another portfolio initially issued by a Portfolio or such other portfolio
during the term of this Agreement, any predecessor Agreement or any other
distribution agreement with the Distributor or GT Global with respect to such
other portfolio (the "Distributor's Earned CDSC"). The Company shall pay
or cause the Company's transfer agent to pay the Distributor's Earned CDSC to
the Distributor on the date net redemption proceeds are payable to the
redeeming shareholder.
(E) The Distributor shall maintain adequate books and records to
identify Shares (i) issued by a Portfolio during the term of this Agreement
and any predecessor Agreement between the Company and the Distributor or GT
Global or (ii) issued by a Portfolio during or after the term of this
Agreement or any predecessor Agreement between the Company and the
Distributor or GT Global in one or a series of free exchanges of Shares for
class B shares of another portfolio, which can be traced to Shares or class B
shares of another portfolio initially issued by a Portfolio or such other
portfolio during the term of this Agreement, any predecessor Agreement or any
other distribution agreement with the Distributor or GT Global with respect
to such other portfolio and shall calculate the Distributor's Earned CDSC, if
any, with respect to such Shares, upon their redemption. The Company shall
be entitled to rely on Distributor's books, records and calculations with
respect to Distributor's Earned CDSC.
FIFTH: The Distributor shall act as an agent of the Company in
connection with the sale and redemption of Shares. Except with respect to
such sales and redemptions, the Distributor shall act as principal in all
matters relating to the promotion of the sale of Shares and shall enter into
all of its own engagements, agreements and contracts as principal on its own
account. The Distributor shall enter into agreements with investment dealers
and financial institutions selected by the Distributor, authorizing such
investment dealers and financial institutions to offer and sell the Shares to
the public upon the terms and conditions set forth therein, which shall not
be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. Each agreement shall
provide that the investment dealer or financial institution shall act as a
principal, and not as an agent, of the Company.
SIXTH: The Shares shall bear:
(A) the expenses of qualification of Shares for sale in connection
with such public offerings in such states as shall be selected by the
Distributor, and of continuing the qualification therein until the
Distributor notifies the Company that it does not wish such qualification
continued; and
(B) all legal expenses in connection with the foregoing.
SEVENTH:
(A) The Distributor shall bear the expenses of printing from the
final proof and distributing the prospectuses and statements of additional
information for the Shares (including supplements thereto) relating to public
offerings made by the Company pursuant to such prospectuses (which shall not
include those prospectuses and statements of additional information, and
supplements thereto, to be distributed to existing shareholders of the
Shares), and any other promotional or sales literature used by the
Distributor or furnished by the Distributor to dealers in connection with
such public offerings, and expenses of advertising in connection with such
public offerings.
(B) Subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law including
the NASD Conduct Rules (formerly, the NASD Rules of Fair Practice) regarding
asset-based sales charges, the Company shall pay to the Distributor as a
reimbursement for all or a portion of such expenses, or as reasonable
compensation for
3
<PAGE>
distribution of the Shares, an asset-based sales charge in an amount equal to
0.75% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Shares of each
Portfolio from time to time (the "Distributor's 12b-1 Share"), such sales
charge to be payable pursuant to the distribution plan adopted pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the "Plan"). The Distributor's 12b-1 Share
shall be a percentage, which shall be recomputed periodically (but not less
than monthly) in accordance with Exhibit A to this Agreement. The
Distributor's 12b-1 Share shall accrue daily and be paid to the Distributor
as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar month within which it
accrues but in any event within 10 business days after the end of each such
calendar month (unless the Distributor shall specify a later date in written
instructions to the Company) provided, however, that any notices and
calculation required by Section EIGHTH: (B) and (C) have been received by the
Company.
(C) The Distributor shall maintain adequate books and records to permit
calculations periodically (but not less than monthly) of, and shall calculate on
a monthly basis, the Distributor's 12b-1 Share to be paid to the Distributor.
The Company shall be entitled to rely on Distributor's books, records and
calculations relating to Distributor's 12b-1 Share.
EIGHTH:
(A) The Distributor may, from time to time, assign, transfer or
pledge ("Transfer") to one or more designees (each an "Assignee"), its
rights to all or a designated portion of (i) the Distributor's 12b-1 Share
(but not the Distributor's duties and obligations pursuant hereto or pursuant
to the Plan), and (ii) the Distributor's Earned CDSC, free and clear of any
offsets or claims the Company may have against the Distributor. Each such
Assignee's ownership interest in a Transfer of a designated portion of a
Distributor's 12b-1 Share and a Distributor's Earned CDSC is hereinafter
referred to as an "Assignee's 12b-1 Portion" and an "Assignee's CDSC
Portion," respectively. A Transfer pursuant to this Section EIGHTH: (A)
shall not reduce or extinguish any claim of the Company against the
Distributor.
(B) The Distributor shall promptly notify the Company in writing of
each Transfer pursuant to Section EIGHTH: (A) by providing the Company with
the name and address of each such Assignee.
(C) The Distributor may direct the Company to pay directly to an
Assignee such Assignee's 12b-1 Portion and Assignee's CDSC Portion. In such
event, Distributor shall provide the Company with a monthly calculation of
(i) the Distributor's Earned CDSC and Distributor's 12b-1 Share and (ii) each
Assignee's 12b-1 Portion and Assignee's CDSC Portion, if any, for such month
(the "Monthly Calculation"). The Monthly Calculation shall be provided to
the Company by the Distributor promptly after the close of each month or such
other time as agreed to by the Company and the Distributor which allows
timely payment of the Distributor's 12b-1 Share and Distributor's Earned CDSC
and/or the Assignee's 12b-1 Portion and Assignee's CDSC Portion. The Company
shall not be liable for any interest on such payments occasioned by delayed
delivery of the Monthly Calculation by the Distributor. In such event
following receipt from the Distributor of (i) notice of Transfer referred to
in Section EIGHTH: (B) and (ii) each Monthly Calculation, the Company shall
make all payments directly to the Assignee or Assignees in accordance with
the information provided in such notice and Monthly Calculation, on the same
terms and conditions as if such payments were to be paid directly to the
Distributor. The Company shall be entitled to rely on Distributor's notices,
and Monthly Calculations in respect of amounts to be paid pursuant to this
Section EIGHTH: (B).
(D) Alternatively, in connection with a Transfer the Distributor may
direct the Company to pay all of such Distributor's 12b-1 Share and
Distributor's Earned CDSC from time to time to a depository or collection
agent designated by any Assignee, which depository or collection agent may be
4
<PAGE>
delegated the duty of dividing such Distributor's 12b-1 Share and
Distributor's Earned CDSC between the Assignee's 12b-1 Portion and Assignee's
CDSC Portion and the balance of the Distributor's 12b-1 Share (such balance,
when distributed to the Distributor by the depository or collection agent,
the "Distributor's 12b-1 Portion") and of the Distributor's Earned CDSC
(such balance, when distributed to the Distributor by the depository or
collection agent, the "Distributor's Earned CDSC Portion"), in which case
only the Distributor's 12b-1 Portion and Distributor's Earned CDSC Portion
may be subject to offsets or claims the Company may have against the
Distributor.
(E) The Company shall not amend the Plan to reduce the amount
payable to the Distributor or any Assignee under Section SEVENTH: (B) hereof
with respect to the Shares for any Shares which have been issued prior to the
date of such amendment.
NINTH: The Distributor will accept orders for the purchase of Shares
only to the extent of purchase orders actually received and not in excess of
such orders, and it will not avail itself of any opportunity of making a
profit by expediting or withholding orders.
TENTH:
(A) Pursuant to the Plan and this Agreement, the Distributor, as
agent, shall enter into Shareholder Service Agreements with investment
dealers, financial institutions and certain 401(K) plan service providers
(collectively "Service Providers") selected by the Distributor for the
provision of certain continuing personal services to customers of such
Service Providers who have purchased Shares. Such agreements shall authorize
Service Providers to provide continuing personal shareholder services to
their customers upon the terms and conditions set forth therein, which shall
not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement. Each Shareholder
Service Agreement shall provide that the Service Provider shall act as
principal, and not as an agent of the Company.
(B) Shareholder Service Agreements may provide that the Service
Providers may receive a service fee in the amount of 0.25% of the average
daily net assets of the Shares held by customers of such Service Providers
provided that such Service Providers furnish continuing personal shareholder
services to their customers in respect of such Shares. The continuing
personal services to be rendered by Service Providers under the Shareholder
Service Agreements may include, but shall not be limited to, some or all of
the following: distributing sales literature; answering routine customer
inquiries concerning the Company; assisting customers in changing dividend
elections, options, account designations and addresses, and in enrolling in
any of several special investment plans offered in connection with the
purchase of Shares; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of or
establishing and maintaining customer accounts and records and the processing
of purchase and redemption transactions; performing subaccounting; investing
dividends and any capital gains distributions automatically in the Company's
shares; providing periodic statements showing a customer's account balance
and the integration of such statements with those of other transactions and
balances in the customer's account serviced by the Service Provider;
forwarding applicable prospectus, proxy statements, reports and notices to
customers who hold Shares and providing such other information and services
as the Company or the customers may reasonably request.
(C) The Distributor may advance service fees payable to Service
Providers pursuant to the Plan or any other distribution plan adopted by the
Company with respect to Shares of one or more of the Portfolios pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and thereafter the Distributor may be
reimbursed for such advances through retention of service fee payments during
the period for which the service fees were advanced.
5
<PAGE>
ELEVENTH: The Company and the Distributor shall each comply with all
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and of all other federal and state laws, rules and regulations
governing the issuance and sale of the Shares.
TWELFTH:
(A) In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the
part of the Distributor, the Company shall indemnify the Distributor against
any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which the Distributor
may incur under the Securities Act of 1933, or common law or otherwise,
arising out of or based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any registration statement or prospectus of the Shares, or any
omission to state a material fact therein, the omission of which makes any
statement contained therein misleading, unless such statement or omission was
made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the
Company in connection therewith by or on behalf of the Distributor. The
Distributor shall indemnify the Company and the Shares against any and all
claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which the Company or the Shares may
incur arising out of or based upon (i) any act or deed of the Distributor or
its sales representatives which has not been authorized by the Company in its
prospectus or in this Agreement and (ii) the Company's reliance on the
Distributor's books, records, calculations and notices in Sections FOURTH:
(E), SEVENTH: (C), EIGHTH: (B), EIGHTH: (C) and EIGHTH: (D).
(B) The Distributor shall indemnify the Company and the Shares
against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which the
Company or the Shares may incur under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement or
prospectus of the Shares, or any omission to state a material fact therein if
such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
information furnished to the Company in connection therewith by or on behalf
of the Distributor.
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Distributor shall not be liable for any errors of the transfer agent(s) of
the Shares, or for any failure of any such transfer agent to perform its
duties.
THIRTEENTH: Nothing herein contained shall require the Company to take
any action contrary to any provision of its Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, or to any applicable statute or regulation.
FOURTEENTH: This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the
Shares of each Portfolio upon its approval by the Board of Directors of the
Company and by vote of a majority of the Company's Directors who are not
interested parties to this Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement cast in
person at a meeting called for such purpose, shall continue in force and
effect until two years from the date hereof, and from year to year
thereafter, provided, that such continuance is specifically approved with
respect to the Shares of each Portfolio at least annually (a)(i) by the Board
of Directors of the Company or (ii) by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding Shares of such class of such Portfolio, and (b) by vote of a
majority of the Company's Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or
"interested persons" (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of any
party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose.
FIFTEENTH:
6
<PAGE>
(A) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Shares of
any Portfolio, at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of
the Board of Directors of the Company or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding Shares of such Portfolio, or by the Distributor, on sixty (60)
days' written notice to the other party; and
(B) This Agreement shall also automatically terminate in the event
of its assignment, the term "assignment" having the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act; provided, that, subject to the provisions of
the following sentence, if this Agreement is terminated for any reason, the
obligations of the Company and the Distributor pursuant to Sections FOURTH:
(D), FOURTH: (E), SEVENTH: (B), SEVENTH: (C), EIGHTH: (A) through (E) and
TWELFTH: (A) of this Agreement will continue and survive any such
termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon Complete Termination of the
Plan (as such term is defined in Section 8 of the Plan in effect at the date
of this Agreement), the obligations of the Company pursuant to the terms of
Sections SEVENTH: (B), EIGHTH: (A), EIGHTH: (C), EIGHTH: (D) and EIGHTH: (E)
(with respect to payments of Distributor's 12b-1 Share and Assignee's 12b-1
Portion) of this Agreement shall terminate. A termination of the Plan with
respect to any or all Shares of any or all Portfolios shall not affect the
obligations of the Company pursuant to Sections FOURTH: (D), EIGHTH: (A),
EIGHTH: (C), EIGHTH: (D) and EIGHTH: (E) (with respect to payments of
Distributor's Earned CDSC or Assignee's CDSC Portion) hereof or of the
obligations of the Distributor pursuant to Section FOURTH: (E) or EIGHTH: (B)
hereof.
(C) The Transfer of the Distributor's rights to Distributor's 12b-1
Share or Distributor's Earned CDSC shall not cause a termination of this
Agreement or be deemed to be an assignment for purposes of Section FIFTEENTH:
(B) above.
SIXTEENTH: Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing,
addressed and delivered, or mailed postage prepaid, to the other party at
such address as the other party may designate for the receipt of notices.
Until further notice to the other party, the addresses of both the Company
and the Distributor shall be 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100, Houston. Texas
77046-1173.
SEVENTEENTH: This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made in the
State of Delaware and governed by, construed in accordance with and enforced
pursuant to the internal laws of the State of Delaware without reference to
its conflicts of laws rules.
7
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed in duplicate on the day and year first above written.
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name: William J. Guilfoyle
Title: President
Attest:
- ---------------------------------
Name: Michael A. Silver
Title: Assistant Secretary
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:
----------------------------------
Name: Michael J. Cemo
Title: President
Attest:
- ---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
8
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
TO
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
CLASS B SHARES
AIM Dollar Fund
9
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
The Distributor's 12b-1 Share in respect of each Portfolio shall be 100
percent until such time as the Distributor shall cease to serve as exclusive
distributor of the Shares of such Portfolio and thereafter shall be a
percentage, recomputed first on the date of any termination of the
Distributor's services as exclusive distributor of Shares of any Portfolio
and thereafter periodically (but not less than monthly), representing the
percentage of Shares of such Portfolio outstanding on each such computation
date allocated to the Distributor in accordance with the following rules:
1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Exhibit A defined terms
used herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Distribution
Agreement and the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"COMMISSION SHARES" shall mean shares of the Portfolio or
another portfolio the redemption of which would, in the absence of the
application of some standard waiver provision, give rise to the payment of a
CDSC and shall include Commission Shares which due to the expiration of the
CDSC period no longer bear a CDSC.
"DISTRIBUTOR" shall mean the Distributor and the
Distributor's predecessor, GT Global, Inc.
"OTHER DISTRIBUTOR" shall mean each person appointed as the
exclusive distributor for the Shares of the Portfolio after the Distributor
ceases to serve in that capacity.
2. ALLOCATION RULES. In determining the Distributor's 12b-1
Share in respect of a particular Portfolio:
(a) There shall be allocated to the Distributor and each
Other Distributor all Commission Shares of such Portfolio which were sold
while such Distributor or such Other Distributor, as the case may be, was the
exclusive distributor for the Shares of the Portfolio, determined in
accordance with the transfer records maintained for such Portfolio.
(b) REINVESTED SHARES: On the date that any Shares are
issued by a Portfolio as a result of the reinvestment of dividends or other
distributions, whether ordinary income, capital gains or exempt-interest
dividend or distributions ("Reinvested Shares"), Reinvested Shares shall be
allocated to the Distributor and each Other Distributor in a number obtained
by multiplying the total number of Reinvested Shares issued on such date by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of all Shares
outstanding in such Fund as of the opening of business on such date and
allocated to the Distributor or Other Distributor as of such date of
determination pursuant to these allocation procedures and the denominator is
the total number of Shares outstanding as of the opening of business on such
date.
(c) EXCHANGE SHARES: There shall be allocated to the
Distributor and each Other Distributor, as the case may be, all Commission
Shares of such Portfolio which were issued during or after the period
referred to in (a) as a consequence of one or more free exchanges of
Commission Shares of the Portfolio or of another portfolio (other than Free
Appreciation Shares) (the "Exchange Shares"), which in accordance with the
transfer records maintained for such Portfolio can be traced to Commission
Shares of the Portfolio or another portfolio initially issued by the Company
or such other portfolio during
A-1
<PAGE>
the time the Distributor or such Other Distributor, as the case may be, was
the exclusive distributor for the Shares of the Portfolio or such other
portfolio.
(d) FREE APPRECIATION SHARES: Shares (other than
Exchange Shares) that were acquired by the holders of such Shares in a free
exchange of Shares of any other Portfolio, which represent the appreciated
value of the Shares of the exiting portfolio over the initial purchase price
paid for the Shares being redeemed and exchanged and for which the original
purchase date and the original purchase price are not identified on an
on-going basis, shall be allocated to the Distributor and each Other
Distributor ("Free Appreciation Shares") daily in a number obtained by
multiplying the total number of Free Appreciation Shares issued by the
exiting portfolio on such date by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
total number of all Shares outstanding as of the opening of business on such
date allocated to the Distributor or such Other Distributor as of such date
of determination pursuant to these allocation procedures and the denominator
is the total number of Shares outstanding as of the opening of business on
such date.
(e) REDEEMED SHARES: Shares (other than Reinvested
Shares and Free Appreciation Shares) that are redeemed will be allocated to
the Distributor and each Other Distributor to the extent such Share was
previously allocated to the Distributor or such Other Distributor in
accordance with the rules set forth in 2(a) or (c) above. Reinvested Shares
and Free Appreciation Shares that are redeemed will be allocated to the
Distributor and each Other Distributor daily in an amount equal to the number
of Free Appreciation Shares and Reinvested Shares of such Portfolio being
redeemed on such date, which amount is obtained by multiplying the total
number of Free Appreciation Shares and Reinvested Shares being redeemed by
such Portfolio on such date by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
total number of all Free Appreciation Shares and Reinvested Shares of such
Portfolio outstanding as of the opening of business on such date allocated to
the Distributor or to such Other Distributor as of such date of determination
and the denominator is the total number of Free Appreciation Shares and
Reinvested Shares of such Portfolio outstanding as of the opening of business
on such date.
The Fund shall use its best efforts to assure that the transfer agents
and sub-transfer agents for each Portfolio maintain the data necessary to
implement the foregoing rules. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the
transfer agents or sub-transfer agents for such Portfolio are unable to
maintain the data necessary to implement the foregoing rules as written, and
if the Distributor shall cease to serve as exclusive distributor of the
Shares of the Portfolio, the Distributor and the Portfolio agree to negotiate
in good faith with each other, with the transfer agents and sub-transfer
agents for such Portfolio and with any third party that has obtained an
interest in the Distributor's 12b-1 Share in respect of such Portfolio with a
view to arriving at mutually satisfactory modifications to the foregoing
rules designed to accomplish substantially identical results on the basis of
data which can be made available.
A-2
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
AND
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES
THIS AGREEMENT made this 29th day of May, 1998, by and between AIM
Investment Portfolios, Inc., a Maryland Corporation (the "Company"), with
respect to the Advisor Class shares (the "Shares") of each series of common
stock set forth on Appendix A to this Agreement (the "Portfolios"), and A I M
Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
FIRST: The Company on behalf of the Portfolios hereby appoints the
Distributor as its exclusive agent for the sale of Shares to the public directly
and through investment dealers and financial institutions in the United States
and throughout the world.
SECOND: The Company shall not sell any Shares except through the
Distributor and under the terms and conditions set forth in paragraph FOURTH
below. Notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing sentence, however:
(A) the Company may issue Shares to any other investment company or
personal holding company, or to the shareholders thereof, in exchange for all or
a majority of the shares or assets of any such company; and
(B) the Company shall have the right to specify minimum amounts for
initial and subsequent orders for the purchase of Shares in connection with
certain classes of transactions or to certain classes of persons, in accordance
with Rule 22d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"), provided that any such class is specified in the then current prospectus
of the applicable Portfolio.
THIRD: The Distributor hereby accepts appointment as exclusive agent for
the sale of the Shares and agrees that it will use its best efforts to sell such
Shares; provided, however, that:
<PAGE>
(A) the Distributor may, and when requested by the Company on behalf of
the Shares shall, suspend its efforts to effectuate such sales at any time when,
in the opinion of the Distributor or of the Company, no sales should be made
because of market or other economic considerations or abnormal circumstances of
any kind;
(B) the Company may withdraw the offering of the Shares (i) at any time
with the consent of the Distributor, or (ii) without such consent when so
required by the provisions of any statute or of any order, rule or regulation of
any governmental body having jurisdiction; and
(C) the Distributor, as agent, does not undertake to sell any specific
amount of the Shares.
FOURTH:
(A) The public offering price of Shares (the "offering price") shall be
the net asset value per share of the applicable Portfolio. Net asset value per
share shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the then current
prospectus and statement of additional information of the applicable Portfolio.
FIFTH: The Distributor shall act as agent of the Company in connection
with the sale and repurchase of Shares. Except with respect to such sales and
repurchases, the Distributor shall act as principal in all matters relating to
the promotion of the sale of Shares and shall enter into all of its own
engagements, agreements and contracts as principal on its own account. The
Distributor shall enter into agreements with investment dealers and financial
institutions selected by the Distributor, authorizing such investment dealers
and financial institutions to offer and sell the Shares to the public upon the
terms and conditions set forth therein, which shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement. Each agreement shall provide that the investment
dealer and financial institution shall act as a principal, and not as an agent,
of the Company.
SIXTH: The Shares shall bear:
(A) the expenses of qualification of Shares for sale in connection with
such public offerings in such states as shall be selected by the Distributor,
and of continuing the qualification therein until the Distributor notifies the
Company that it does not wish such qualification continued; and
(B) all legal expenses in connection with the foregoing.
SEVENTH: The Distributor shall bear the expenses of printing from the
final proof and distributing the prospectuses and statements of additional
information for the Shares (including supplements thereto) relating to public
offerings made by the Company pursuant to such prospectuses (which shall not
include those prospectuses and statements of additional information, and
supplements thereto, to be distributed to existing shareholders of the Shares),
and any other promotional or sales literature used by the Distributor or
furnished by the
2
<PAGE>
Distributor to dealers in connection with such public offerings, and expenses of
advertising in connection with such public offerings.
EIGHTH: The Distributor will accept orders for the purchase of Shares only
to the extent of purchase orders actually received and not in excess of such
orders, and it will not avail itself of any opportunity of making a profit by
expediting or withholding orders. It is mutually understood and agreed that the
Company may reject purchase orders where, in the judgment of the Company, such
rejection is in the best interest of the Company.
NINTH: The Company, on behalf of the Portfolios, and the Distributor shall
each comply with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the Securities Act
of 1933 and all other federal and state laws, rules and regulations governing
the issuance and sale of Shares.
TENTH:
(A) In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the
Distributor, the Company on behalf of the Portfolios agrees to indemnify the
Distributor against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which
the Distributor may incur under the Securities Act of 1933, or common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon any alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any registration statement or prospectus of a
Portfolio, or any omission to state a material fact therein, the omission of
which makes any statement contained therein misleading, unless such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information
furnished to the Company or a Portfolio in connection therewith by or on behalf
of the Distributor. The Distributor agrees to indemnify the Company and the
Portfolios against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which
the Company or a Portfolio may incur arising out of or based upon any act or
deed of the Distributor or its sales representatives which has not been
authorized by the Company or a Portfolio in its prospectus or in this Agreement.
(B) The Distributor agrees to indemnify the Company and the Portfolios
against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which the Company
or the Portfolios may incur under the Securities Act of 1933, or common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon any alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any registration statement or prospectus of a
Portfolio, or any omission to state a material fact therein if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information
furnished to the Company or a Portfolio in connection therewith by or on behalf
of the Distributor.
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Distributor
shall not be liable for any errors of the Portfolios' transfer agent(s), or for
any failure of any such transfer agent to perform its duties.
ELEVENTH: Nothing herein contained shall require the Company to take any
action contrary to any provision of its Agreement and Declaration of Trust, or
to any applicable statute or regulation.
3
<PAGE>
TWELFTH: This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the Shares
of each Portfolio as of the date hereof, shall continue in force and effect for
two years from the date hereof, and shall continue in force and effect from year
to year thereafter, provided, that such continuance is specifically approved
with respect to such Portfolio at least annually (a)(i) by the Board of Trustees
of the Company or (ii) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act), and (b) by vote of
a majority of the Company's trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or
"interested persons" (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of any
party to this Agreement cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose.
THIRTEENTH:
(A) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Shares of any
Portfolio at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Board
of Trustees of the Company or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the applicable Portfolio, or by the Distributor, on sixty (60)
days' written notice to the other party.
(B) This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment, the term "assignment" having the meaning set forth in Section
2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act.
FOURTEENTH: Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed
and delivered, or mailed postage prepaid, to the other party at such address as
the other party may designate for the receipt of notices. Until further notice
to the other party, it is agreed that the addresses of both the Company and the
Distributor shall be 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77046.
FIFTEENTH: This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made in the
State of Delaware and governed by, construed in accordance with and enforced
pursuant to the internal laws of the State of Delaware without reference to its
conflicts of laws rules.
4
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
in duplicate on the day and year first above written.
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name: William J. Guilfoyle
Title: President
Attest:
- --------------------------------
Name: Michael A. Silver
Title: Assistant Secretary
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name: Michael J. Cemo
Title: President
Attest:
- --------------------------------
Name:
Title:
5
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
TO
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
ADVISOR CLASS SHARES
- --------------------
AIM Dollar Fund
6
<PAGE>
[GRAPHIC]
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT
FOR INVESTMENT COMPANIES MANAGED
BY A I M ADVISORS, INC.
To the Undersigned Selected Dealer:
Gentlemen:
A I M Distributors, Inc., as the exclusive national distributor of shares (the
"Shares") of the registered investment companies for which we now or in the
future act as underwriter, as disclosed in each Fund's prospectus, which may be
amended from time to time by us (the "Funds"), understands that you are a member
in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD'), or, if a foreign dealer, that you agree to abide by all of the rules
and regulations of the NASD for purposes of this Agreement (which you confirm by
your signature below). In consideration of the mutual covenants stated below,
you and we hereby agree as follows:
1. Sales of Shares through you will be at the public offering price of such
Shares (the net asset value of the Shares plus any sales charge applicable
to such Shares (the "Sales Charge")), as determined in accordance with the
then effective prospectus or Statement of Additional Information used in
connection with the offer and sale of Shares (collectively, the
"Prospectus"), which public offering price may reflect scheduled variations
in, or the elimination of, the Sales Charge on sales of the Funds' Shares
either generally to the public or in connection with special purchase
plans, as described in the Prospectus. You agree that you will apply any
scheduled variation in, or elimination of, the Sales Charge uniformly to
all offerees in the class specified in the Prospectus.
2. You agree to purchase Shares solely through us and only for the purpose of
covering purchase orders already received from customers or for your own
bona fide investment. You agree not to purchase for any other securities
dealer unless you have an agreement with such other dealer or broker to
handle clearing arrangements and then only in the ordinary course of
business for such purpose and only if such other dealer has executed a
Selected Dealer Agreement with us. You also agree not to withhold any
customer order so as to profit therefrom.
3. The procedures relating to the handling of orders shall be subject to
instructions which we will forward from time to time to all selected
dealers with whom we have entered into a Selected Dealer Agreement. The
minimum initial order shall be specified in the Funds' then current
Prospectuses. All purchase orders are subject to receipt of Shares by us
from the Funds concerned and to acceptance of such orders by us. We reserve
the right in our sole discretion to reject any order.
4. With respect to the Funds the Shares of which are indicated in that Fund's
Prospectus as being sold with a Sales Charge (the "Load Funds"), you will
be allowed the concessions from the public offering price provided in the
Load Funds' Prospectus and/or periodic instruction from us. With respect to
the Funds, the Shares of which are indicated in that
<PAGE>
Page 2
Fund's Prospectus as being sold with a contingent deferred sales charge or
early withdrawal charge (the "CDSC Funds"), you will be paid a commission
as disclosed in the CDSC Fund's Prospectus and/or periodic instructions
from us. With respect to the Funds whose Shares are indicated as being
sold without a Sales Charge or a contingent deferred sales charge (the
"No-Load Funds"), you may charge a reasonable administrative fee. For the
purposes of this Agreement the term Dealer Commission means commissions or
concessions payable to you as disclosed in the Funds' Prospectuses and the
terms "Sales Charge" and "Dealer Commission" apply only to the Load Funds
and the CDSC Funds. All Dealer Commissions are subject to change without
notice by us and will comply with any changes in regulatory requirements.
You agree that you will not combine customer orders to reach breakpoints in
commissions for any purpose whatsoever unless authorized by the Prospectus
or by us in writing.
5. You agree that your transactions in Shares of the Funds will be limited to
(a) the purchase of Shares from us for resale to your customers at the
public offering price then in effect or for your own bona fide investment,
(b) exchanges of Shares between Funds, as permitted by the Funds' then
current registration statement (which includes the Prospectus) and in
accordance with procedures as they may be modified by us from time to time,
and (c) transactions involving the redemption of Shares by a Fund or the
repurchase of Shares by us as an accommodation to shareholders or where
applicable, through tender offers. Redemptions by a Fund and repurchases
by us will be effected in the manner and upon the terms described in the
Prospectus. We will, upon your request, assist you in processing such
orders for redemptions or repurchases. To facilitate prompt payment
following a redemption or repurchase of Shares, the owner's signature shall
appear as registered on the Funds' records and, as described in the
Prospectus, it may be required to be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust
company or a member of a national securities exchange.
6. Sales and exchanges of Shares may only be made in those states and
jurisdictions where the Shares are registered or qualified for sale to the
public. We agree to advise you currently of the identity of those states
and jurisdictions in which the Shares are registered or qualified for sale,
and you agree to indemnify us and/or the Funds for any claim, liability,
expense or loss in any way arising out of a sale of Shares in any state or
jurisdiction in which such Shares are not so registered or qualified.
7. We shall accept orders only on the basis of the then current offering
price. You agree to place orders in respect of Shares immediately upon the
receipt of orders from your customers for the same number of Shares. Orders
which you receive from your customers shall be deemed to be placed with us
when received by us. Orders which you receive prior to the close of
business, as defined in the Prospectus, and placed with us within the time
frame set forth in the Prospectus shall be priced at the offering price
next computed after they are received by you. We will not accept from you a
conditional order on any basis. All orders shall be subject to confirmation
by us.
<PAGE>
Page 3
8. Your customer will be entitled to a reduction in the Sales Charge on
purchases made under a Letter of Intent or Right of Accumulation described
in the Prospectus. In such case, your Dealer Commission will be based upon
such reduced Sales Charge; however, in the case of a Letter of Intent
signed by your customer, an adjustment to a higher Dealer Commission will
thereafter be made to reflect actual purchases by your customer if he
should fail to fulfill his Letter of Intent. When placing wire trades, you
agree to advise us of any Letter of Intent signed by your customer or of
any Right of Accumulation available to him of which he has made you aware.
If you fail to so advise us, you will be liable to us for the return of any
Dealer Commission plus interest thereon.
9. You and we agree to abide by the Conduct Rules of the NASD and all other
federal and state rules and regulations that are now or may become
applicable to transactions hereunder. Your expulsion from the NASD will
automatically terminate this Agreement without notice. Your suspension from
the NASD or a violation by you of applicable state and federal laws and
rules and regulations of authorized regulatory agencies will terminate this
Agreement effective upon notice received by you from us. You agree that it
is your responsibility to determine the suitability of any Shares as
investments for your customers, and that AIM Distributors has no
responsibility for such determination.
10. With respect to the Load Funds and the CDSC Funds, and unless otherwise
agreed, settlement shall be made at the offices of the Funds' transfer
agent within three (3) business days after our acceptance of the order.
With respect to the No-Load Funds, settlement will be made only upon
receipt by the Fund of payment in the form of federal funds. If payment is
not so received or made within ten (10) business days of our acceptance of
the order, we reserve the right to cancel the sale or, at our option, to
sell the Shares to the Funds at the then prevailing net asset value. In
this event, or in the event that you cancel the trade for any reason, you
agree to be responsible for any loss resulting to the Funds or to us from
your failure to make payments as aforesaid. You shall not be entitled to
any gains generated thereby.
11. If any Shares of any of the Load Funds sold to you under the terms of this
Agreement are redeemed by the Fund or repurchased for the account of the
Funds or are tendered to the Funds for redemption or repurchase within
seven (7) business days after the date of our confirmation to you of your
original purchase order therefore, you agree to pay forthwith to us the
full amount of the Dealer Commission allowed to you on the original sale
and we agree to pay such amount to the Fund when received by us. We also
agree to pay to the Fund the amount of our share of the Sales Charge on the
original sale of such Shares.
12. Any order placed by you for the repurchase of Shares of a Fund is subject
to the timely receipt by the Fund's transfer agent of all required
documents in good order. If such documents are not received within a
reasonable time after the order is placed, the order is subject to
cancellation, in which case you agree to be responsible for any loss
resulting
<PAGE>
Page 4
to the Fund or to us from such cancellation.
13. We reserve the right in our discretion without notice to you to suspend
sales or withdraw any offering of Shares entirely, to change the offering
prices as provided in the Prospectus or, upon notice to you, to amend or
cancel this Agreement. You agree that any order to purchase Shares of the
Funds placed by you after notice of any amendment to this Agreement has
been sent to you shall constitute your agreement to any such amendment.
14. In every transaction, we will act as agent for the Fund and you will act as
principal for your own account. You have no authority whatsoever to act as
our agent or as agent for the Funds, any other Selected Dealer or the
Funds' transfer agent and nothing in this Agreement shall serve to appoint
you as an agent of any of the foregoing in connection with transactions
with your customers or otherwise.
15. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning the Funds or
their Shares except those contained in the Prospectus and any such
information as may be released by us as information supplemental to the
Prospectus. If you should make such unauthorized representation, you agree
to indemnify the Funds and us from and against any and all claims,
liability, expense or loss in any way arising out of or in any way
connected with such representation.
16. We will supply you with copies of the Prospectuses of the Funds (including
any amendments thereto) in reasonable quantities upon request. You will
provide all customers with a prospectus prior to or at the time such
customer purchases Shares. You will provide any customer who so requests a
copy of the Statement of Additional Information within the time dictated by
regulatory requirements, as they may be amended from time to time.
17. You shall be solely responsible for the accuracy, timeliness and
completeness of any orders transmitted by you on behalf of your customers
by wire or telephone for purchases, exchanges or redemptions, and shall
indemnify us against any claims by your customers as a result of your
failure to properly transmit their instructions.
18. No advertising or sales literature, as such terms are defined by the NASD,
of any kind whatsoever will be used by you with respect to the Funds or us
unless first provided to you by us or unless you have obtained our prior
written approval.
19. All expenses incurred in connection with your activities under this
Agreement shall be borne by you.
20. This Agreement shall not be assignable by you. This Agreement shall be
constructed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
<PAGE>
Page 5
21. Any notice to you shall be duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at
your address as registered from time to time with the NASD.
22. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the undersigned and
supersedes all prior oral or written agreements between the parties hereto.
<PAGE>
Page 6
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Date: By: X
------------------------ --------------------------
The undersigned accepts your invitation to become a Selected Dealer
and agrees to abide by the foregoing terms and conditions.
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of Prospectuses for use in
connection with offers and sales of the Funds.
Date By: X
------------------------ --------------------------
Signature
--------------------------
Print Name Title
--------------------------
Dealer's Name
--------------------------
Address
--------------------------
City State Zip
--------------------------
Telephone
Please sign both copies and return one copy of each to:
A I M Distributors, Inc.
11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77046-1173
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
BANK ACTING AS AGENT
FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
Agreement Relating to shares
OF THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS-Registered Trademark-
(CONFIRMATION AND PROSPECTUS TO BE SENT BY A I M
DISTRIBUTORS, INC. TO CUSTOMER)
A I M Distributors, Inc. is the exclusive national distributor of the shares of
the registered investment companies for which we now or in the future act as
underwriter, as disclosed in each Fund's prospectus, which may be amended from
time to time (the "Funds"). As exclusive agent for the Funds, we are offering to
make available shares of the Funds (the "Shares") for purchase by your customers
on the following terms:
1. In all sales of Shares you shall act as agent for your customers, and in no
transaction shall you have any authority to act as agent for any Fund or
for us.
2. The customers in question are, for all purposes, your customers and not
customers of A I M Distributors, Inc. In receiving orders from your
customers who purchase Shares, A I M Distributors, Inc. is not soliciting
such customers and, therefore, has no responsibility for determining
whether Shares are suitable investments for such customers.
3. It is hereby understood that in all cases in which you place orders with us
for the purchase of Shares (a) you are acting as agent for the customer;
(b) the transactions are without recourse against you by the customer; (c)
as between you and the customer, the customer will have full beneficial
ownership of the securities; (d) each such transaction is initiated solely
upon the order of the customer; and (e) each such transaction is for the
account of the customer and not for your account.
4. Orders received from you will be accepted by us only at the public offering
price applicable to each order, as established by the then current
prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, (collectively, the
"Prospectus") of the appropriate Fund, subject to the discounts (defined
below) provided in such Prospectus. Following receipt from you of any order
to purchase Shares for the account of a customer, we shall confirm such
order to you in writing. We shall be responsible for sending your customer
a written confirmation of the order with a copy of the appropriate Fund's
current Prospectus. We shall send you a copy of such confirmation.
Additional instructions may be forwarded to you from time to time. All
orders are subject to acceptance or rejection by us in our sole discretion.
5. Members of the general public, including your customers, may purchase
Shares only at the public offering price determined in the manner described
in the current Prospectus of the appropriate Fund. With respect to the
Funds, the Shares of which are indicated in
<PAGE>
Bank Acting as Agent for its Customers Page 2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
that Fund's Prospectus as being sold with a sales charge (i.e. the "Load
Funds"), you will be allowed to retain a commission or concession from the
public offering price provided in such Load Funds' current Prospectus
and/or periodic instructions from us. With respect to the Funds, the
Shares of which are indicated in that Fund's Prospectus as being sold with
a contingent deferred sales charge or early withdrawal charge (the "CDSC
Funds"), you will be paid a commission or concession as disclosed in the
CDSC Fund's then current Prospectus and/or periodic instructions from us.
With respect to the Funds whose Shares are indicated on the attached
Schedule as being sold without a sales charge or a contingent deferred
sales charge, (i.e. the "No-Load Funds"), you will not be allowed to retain
any commission or concession. All commissions or concessions set forth in
any of the Load Funds' or CDSC Funds' Prospectus are subject to change
without notice by us and will comply with any changes in regulatory
requirements.
6. The tables of sales charges and discounts set forth in the current
Prospectus of each Fund are applicable to all purchases made at any one
time by any "purchaser", as defined in the current Prospectus. For this
purpose, a purchaser may aggregate concurrent purchases of securities of
any of the Funds.
7. Reduced sales charges may also be available as a result of quantity
discounts, rights of accumulation or letters of intent. Further
information as to such reduced sales charges, if any, is set forth in the
appropriate Fund Prospectus. In such case, your discount will be based
upon such reduced sales charge; however, in the case of a letter of intent
signed by your customer, an adjustment to a higher discount will thereafter
be made to reflect actual purchases by your customer if he should fail to
fulfill his letter of intent. You agree to advise us promptly as to the
amounts of any sales made by you to your customers qualifying for reduced
sales charges. If you fail to so advise us of any letter of intent signed
by your customer or of any right of accumulation available to him of which
he has made you aware, you will be liable to us for the return of any
discount plus interest thereon.
8. By accepting this Agreement you agree:
a. that you will purchase Shares only from us;
b. that you will purchase Shares from us only to cover purchase orders
already received from your customers; and
c. that you will not withhold placing with us orders received from your
customers so as to profit yourself as a result of such withholdings.
9. We will not accept from you a conditional order for Shares on any basis.
10. Payment for Shares ordered from us shall be in the form of a wire transfer
or a cashiers check mailed to us. Payment shall be made within three (3)
business days after our acceptance of the order placed on behalf of your
customer. Payment shall be equal to the public offering price less the
discount retained by you hereunder.
<PAGE>
Bank Acting as Agent for its Customers Page 3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. If payment is not received within ten (10) business days of our acceptance
of the order, we reserve the right to cancel the sale or, at our option, to
sell Shares to the Fund at the then prevailing net asset value. In this
event you agree to be responsible for any loss resulting to the Fund from
the failure to make payment as aforesaid.
12. Shares sold hereunder shall be available in book-entry form on the books of
the Funds' Transfer Agent unless other instructions have been given.
13. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning Shares of
any Fund except those contained in the applicable current Prospectus and
printed information subsequently issued by the appropriate Fund or by us as
information supplemental to such Prospectus. You agree that you will not
make Shares available to your customers except under circumstances that
will result in compliance with the applicable Federal and State Securities
and Banking Laws and that you will not furnish to any person any
information contained in the then current Prospectus or cause any
advertisement to be published in any newspaper or posted in any public
place without our consent and the consent of the appropriate Fund.
14. Sales and exchanges of Shares may only be made in those states and
jurisdictions where Shares are registered or qualified for sale to the
public. We agree to advise you currently of the identity of those states
and jurisdictions in which the Shares are registered or qualified for
sales, and you agree to indemnify us and/or the Funds for any claim,
liability, expense or loss in any way arising out of a sale of Shares in
any state or jurisdiction not identified by us as a state or jurisdiction
in which such Shares are so registered or qualified. We agree to indemnify
you for any claim, liability, expense or loss in any way arising out of a
sale of shares in any state or jurisdiction identified by us as a state or
jurisdiction in which shares are so registered or qualified.
15. You shall be solely responsible for the accuracy, timeliness and
completeness of any orders transmitted by you on behalf of your customers
by wire or telephone for purchases, exchanges or redemptions, and shall
indemnify us against any claims by your customers as a result of your
failure to properly transmit their instructions.
16. All sales will be made subject to our receipt of Shares from the
appropriate Fund. We reserve the right, in our discretion, without notice,
to modify, suspend or withdraw entirely the offering of any Shares and,
upon notice, to change the sales charge or discount or to modify, cancel or
change the terms of this Agreement. You agree that any order to purchase
Shares of the Funds placed by you after any notice of amendment to this
Agreement has been sent to you shall constitute your agreement to any such
agreement.
17. The names of your customers shall remain your sole property and shall not
be used by us for any purpose except for servicing and information mailings
in the normal course of
<PAGE>
Bank Acting as Agent for its Customers Page 4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
business to Fund Shareholders.
18. Your acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation that you are
a "Bank" as defined in Section 3 (a) (6) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and are duly authorized to engage in the transactions to
be performed hereunder.
All communications to us should be sent to A I M Distributors, Inc., Eleven
Greenway Plaza, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77046. Any notice to you shall be
duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at the address specified by you
below or to such other address as you shall have designated in writing to
us. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas.
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Date: By: X
------------------------- ---------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to abide by the foregoing terms and conditions.
Date: By: X
------------------------- ---------------------------------
Signature
---------------------------------
Print Name Title
---------------------------------
Dealer's Name
---------------------------------
Address
---------------------------------
City State Zip
Please sign both copies and return one copy of each to:
<PAGE>
Bank Acting as Agent for its Customers Page 5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A I M Distributors, Inc.
11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77046-1173
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE AGREEMENT
FOR SALE OF SHARES
OF THE AIM MUTUAL FUNDS
This Shareholder Service Agreement (the "Agreement") has been adopted pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, by each of the
AIM-managed mutual funds (or designated classes of such funds) listed in
Schedule A, which may be amended from time to time by AIM Distributors, Inc.
("Distributors") to this Agreement (the "Funds"), under a Distribution Plan (the
"Plan") adopted pursuant to said Rule. This Agreement, being made between
Distributors, solely as agent for such funds (the "Funds") and the undersigned
authorized dealer, defines the services to be provided by the authorized dealer
for which it is to receive payments pursuant to the Plan adopted by each of the
Funds. The Plan and the Agreement have been approved by a majority of the
directors of each of the Funds, including a majority of the directors who are
not interested persons of such Funds, and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Plan or related agreements (the
"Dis-interested Directors"), by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on the Plan. Such approval included a determination that in
the exercise of their reasonable business judgement and in light of their
fiduciary duties, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit
such Fund and its shareholders.
1. To the extent that you provide distribution-related and continuing personal
shareholder services to customers who may, from time to time, directly or
beneficially own shares of the Funds, including but not limited to,
distributing sales literature, answering routine customer inquiries
regarding the Funds, assisting customers in changing dividend options,
account designations and addresses, and in enrolling into any of several
special investment plans offered in connection with the purchase of the
Funds' shares, assisting in the establishment and maintenance of customer
accounts and records and in the processing of purchase and redemption
transactions, investing dividends and capital gains distributions
automatically in shares and providing such other services as the Funds or
the customer may reasonably request, we, solely as agent for the Funds,
shall pay you a fee periodically or arrange for such fee to be paid to you.
2. The fee paid with respect to each Fund will be calculated at the end of
each payment period (as indicated in Schedule A) for each business day of
the Fund during such payment period at the annual rate set forth in
Schedule A as applied to the average net asset value of the shares of such
Fund purchased or acquired through exchange on or after the Plan
Calculation Date shown for such Fund on Schedule A. Fees calculated in
this manner shall be paid to you only if your firm is the dealer of record
at the close of business on the last business day of the applicable payment
period, for the account in which such shares are held (the "Subject
Shares"). In cases where Distributors has advanced payment to you of the
first year's fee for shares sold at net asset value and subject to a
contingent
<PAGE>
deferred sales charge, no additional payments will be made to you during
the first year the Subject Shares are held.
3. The total of the fees calculated for all of the Funds listed on Schedule A
for any period with respect to which calculations are made shall be paid to
you within 45 days after the close of such period.
4. We reserve the right to withhold payment with respect to the Subject Shares
purchased by you and redeemed or repurchased by the Fund or by us as Agent
within seven (7) business days after the date of our confirmation of such
purchase. We reserve the right at any time to impose minimum fee payment
requirements before any periodic payments will be made to you hereunder.
5. This Agreement and Schedule A does not require any broker-dealer to provide
transfer agency and recordkeeping related services as nominee for its
customers.
6. You shall furnish us and the Funds with such information as shall
reasonably be requested either by the directors of the Funds or by us with
respect to the fees paid to you pursuant to this Agreement.
7. We shall furnish the directors of the Funds, for their review on a
quarterly basis, a written report of the amounts expended under the Plan by
us and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
8. Neither you nor any of your employees or agents are authorized to make any
representation concerning shares of the Funds except those contained in the
then current Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information for the
Funds, and you shall have no authority to act as agent for the Funds or for
Distributors.
9. We may enter into other similar Shareholder Service Agreements with any
other person without your consent.
10. This Agreement may be amended at any time without your consent by
Distributors mailing a copy of an amendment to you at address set forth
below. Such amendment shall become effective on the date specified in such
amendment unless you elect to terminate this Agreement within thirty (30)
days of your receipt of such amendment.
11. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Fund at any time
without payment of any penalty by the vote of a majority of the directors
of such Fund who are Dis-interested Directors or by a vote of a majority of
the Fund's outstanding shares, on sixty (60) days' written notice. It will
be terminated by any act which terminates either the Selected Dealer
Agreement between your firm and us or the Fund's Distribution Plan, and in
any event, it shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment
as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.
12. The provisions of the Distribution Agreement between any Fund and us,
insofar as they relate to the Plan, are incorporated herein by reference.
This Agreement
<PAGE>
shall become effective upon execution and delivery hereof and shall
continue in full force and effect as long as the continuance of the Plan
and this related Agreement are approved at least annually by a
vote of the directors, including a majority of the Dis-interested
Directors, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
thereon. All communications to us should be sent to the address of
Distributors as shown at the bottom of this Agreement. Any notice to you
shall be duly given if mailed or telegraphed to you at the address
specified by you below.
13. You represent that you provide to your customers who own shares of the
Funds personal services as defined from time to time in applicable
regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and
that you will continue to accept payments under this Agreement only so long
as you provide such services.
14. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of Texas.
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Date: By:
----------------------- ------------------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to abide by the foregoing terms and conditions.
Date: By:
----------------------- ------------------------------------------
Signature
------------------------------------------
Print Name Title
------------------------------------------
Dealer's Name
------------------------------------------
Address
------------------------------------------
City State Zip
------------------------------------------
Telephone
Please sign both copies and return one copy of each to:
<PAGE>
A I M Distributors, Inc.
11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77046-1173
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE "A" TO
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE AGREEMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fund Fee Rate* Plan Calculation
Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
AIM America Value Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM America Value Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Developing Markets Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Developing Markets Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Dollar Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Dollar Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Emerging Markets Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Emerging Markets Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Europe Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Europe Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Consumer Products and
Services Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Consumer Products and
Services Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Financial Services Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Financial Services Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Government Income Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Government Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Growth and Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Growth and Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Health Care Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Health Care Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global High Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global High Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Infrastructure Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Infrastructure Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Resources Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Resources Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Telecommunications Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Telecommunications Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Growth & Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Growth & Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM International Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM International Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Japan Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Japan Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Latin American Growth Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Latin American Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Mid Cap Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Mid Cap Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM New Dimension Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM New Dimension Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
AIM New Dimension Fund C Shares 1.00** May 29, 1998
<CAPTION>
Fund Fee Rate* Plan Calculation
Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
AIM New Pacific Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM New Pacific Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Small Cap Equity Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Small Cap Equity Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Strategic Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Strategic Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Worldwide Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Worldwide Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
</TABLE>
*Frequency of Payments:
EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 1998: Class A and B share payments commence
immediately and are paid quarterly. Class C share payments commence after an
initial twelve month holding period and are paid quarterly.
**Of this amount, 0.25% is paid as a shareholder servicing fee and the remainder
is paid as an asset-based sales charge, as those terms are defined under the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1998: B share payments, like C share payments, will begin
after an initial 12 month holding period and are paid quarterly. Where the
broker dealer or financial institution waives the 1% up-front commission on
Class C shares, payments commence immediately.
**Of this amount, 0.25% is paid as a shareholder servicing fee and the remainder
is paid as an asset-based sales charge, as those terms are defined under the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Minimum Payments: $50 (with respect to all funds in the aggregate.)
No payment pursuant to this Schedule is payable to a dealer, bank or other
service provider for the first year with respect to sales of $1 million or more,
at no load, in cases where A I M Distributors, Inc. has advanced the service fee
to the dealer, bank or other service provider.
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
BANK SHAREHOLDER
SERVICE AGREEMENT
We desire to enter into an Agreement with A I M Distributors, Inc. (the
"Company") acting as agent for the "AIM Funds", for servicing of our agency
clients who are shareholders of, and the administration of such shareholder
accounts in the shares of the AIM Funds (hereinafter referred to as the
"Shares"). Subject to the Company's acceptance of this Agreement, the terms and
conditions of this Agreement shall be as follows:
1. We shall provide continuing personal shareholder and administration
services for holders of the Shares who are also our clients. Such services
to our clients may include, without limitation, some or all of the
following: answering shareholder inquires regarding the Shares and the AIM
Funds; performing subaccounting; establishing and maintaining shareholder
accounts and records; processing and bunching customer purchase and
redemption transactions; providing periodic statements showing a
shareholder's account balance and the integration of such statements with
those of other transactions and balances in the shareholder's other
accounts serviced by us; forwarding applicable AIM Funds prospectuses,
proxy statements, reports and notices to our clients who are holders of
Shares; and such other administrative services as you reasonably may
request, to the extent we are permitted by applicable statute, rule or
regulations to provide such services. We represent that we shall accept
fees hereunder only so long as we continue to provide personal shareholder
services to our clients.
2. Shares purchased by us as agents for our clients will be registered (choose
one) (in our name or in the name of our nominee) (in the names of our
clients). The client will be the beneficial owner of the Shares purchased
and held by us in accordance with the client's instructions and the client
may exercise all applicable rights of a holder of such Shares. We agree to
transmit to the AIM Funds' transfer agent in a timely manner, all purchase
orders and redemption requests of our clients and to forward to each client
any proxy statements, periodic shareholder reports and other communications
received form the Company by us on behalf of our clients. The Company
agrees to pay all out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by us in
connection with the transfer by us of such proxy statements and reports to
our clients as required by applicable law or regulation. We agree to
transfer record ownership of a client's Shares to the client promptly upon
the request of a client. In addition, record ownership will be promptly
transferred to the client in the event that the person or entity ceases to
be our client.
3. Within three (3) business days of placing a purchase order we agree to send
(i) a cashiers check to the Company, or (ii) a wire transfer to the AIM
Funds' transfer agent, in an amount equal to the amount of all purchase
orders placed by us on behalf of our
<PAGE>
clients and accepted by the Company.
4. We agree to make available to the Company, upon the Company's request, such
information relating to our clients who are beneficial owners of Shares and
their transactions in such Shares as may be required by applicable laws and
regulations or as may be reasonably requested by the Company. The names of
our customers shall remain our sole property and shall not be used by the
Company for any other purpose except as needed for servicing and
information mailings in the normal course of business to holders of the
Shares.
5. We shall provide such facilities and personnel (which may be all or any
part of the facilities currently used in our business, or all or any
personnel employed by us) as may be necessary or beneficial in carrying out
the purposes of this Agreement.
6. Except as may be provided in a separate written agreement between the
Company and us, neither we nor any of our employees or agents are
authorized to assist in distribution of any of the AIM Funds' shares except
those contained in the then current Prospectus applicable to the Shares;
and we shall have no authority to act as agent for the Company or the AIM
Funds. Neither the AIM Funds, A I M Advisors, Inc. nor A I M Distributors,
Inc. will be a party, nor will they be represented as a party, to any
agreement that we may enter into with our clients.
7. In consideration of the services and facilities described herein, we shall
receive from the Company on behalf of the AIM Funds an annual service fee,
payable at such intervals as may be set forth in Schedule A hereto, of a
percentage of the aggregate average net asset value of the Shares owned
beneficially by our clients during each payment period, as set forth in
Schedule A hereto, which may be amended from time to time by the Company.
We understand that this Agreement and the payment of such service fees has
been authorized and approved by the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the AIM
Funds, and is subject to limitations imposed by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. In cases where the Company has advanced payments
to us of the first year's fee for shares sold with a contingent deferred
sales charge, no payments will be made to us during the first year the
subject Shares are held.
8. The AIM Funds reserve the right, at their discretion and without notice, to
suspend the sale of any Shares or withdraw the sale of Shares.
9. We understand that the Company reserves the right to amend this Agreement
or Schedule A hereto at any time without our consent by mailing a copy of
an amendment to us at the address set forth below. Such amendment shall
become effective on the date specified in such amendment unless we elect to
terminate this Agreement within thirty (30) days of our receipt of such
amendment.
10. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Company on not less
than 15 days' written notice to us at our principal place of business. We,
on 15 days' written
<PAGE>
Bank Shareholder Service Agreement Page 3
notice addressed to the Company at its principal place of business, may
terminate this Agreement, said termination to become effective on the date
of mailing notice to Company of such termination. The Company's failure to
terminate for any cause shall not constitute a waiver of the Company's
right to terminate at a later date for any such cause. This Agreement
shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, the term
"assignment" for this purpose having the meaning defined in Section 2(a)(4)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
11. All communications to the Company shall be sent to it at Eleven Greenway
Plaza, Suite 100, Houston, Texas, 77046-1173. Any notice to us shall be
duly given if mailed or telegraphed to us at this address shown on this
Agreement.
12. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date when it is executed
and dated below by the Company. This Agreement and all rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of Texas.
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Date: By: X
------------------- ----------------------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to abide by the foregoing terms and conditions.
Date: By: X
------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Signature
----------------------------------------
Print Name Title
----------------------------------------
Dealer's Name
----------------------------------------
Address
----------------------------------------
City State Zip
Please sign both copies and return one copy of each to:
<PAGE>
Bank Shareholder Service Agreement Page 4
A I M Distributors, Inc.
11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77046-1173
SCHEDULE "A" TO BANK
SHAREHOLDER SERVICE AGREEMENT
Fund Fee Rate* Plan Calculation
Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM America Value Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM America Value Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Developing Markets Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Developing Markets Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Dollar Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Dollar Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Emerging Markets Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Emerging Markets Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Europe Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Europe Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Consumer Products and
Services Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Consumer Products and
Services Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Financial Services Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Financial Services Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Government Income Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Government Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Growth and Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Growth and Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Health Care Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Health Care Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global High Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global High Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Infrastructure Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Infrastructure Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Global Resources Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Resources Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
<PAGE>
Bank Shareholder Service Agreement Page 5
AIM Global Telecommunications Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Global Telecommunications Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Growth & Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Growth & Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM International Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM International Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Japan Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Japan Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Latin American Growth Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM Latin American Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
Fund Fee Rate* Plan Calculation
Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM Mid Cap Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Mid Cap Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM New Dimension Fund A Shares 0.40** May 29, 1998
AIM New Dimension Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM New Dimension Fund C Shares 1.00** May 29, 1998
AIM New Pacific Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM New Pacific Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Small Cap Equity Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Small Cap Equity Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Strategic Income Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Strategic Income Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Worldwide Growth Fund A Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
AIM Worldwide Growth Fund B Shares 0.25 May 29, 1998
*Frequency of Payments:
EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 1998: Class A and B share payments commence
immediately and are paid quarterly. Class C share payments commence after an
initial twelve month holding period and are paid quarterly.
**Of this amount, 0.25% is paid as a shareholder servicing fee and the remainder
is paid as an asset-based sales charge, as those terms are defined under the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1998: B share payments, like C share payments, will begin
after an initial 12 month holding period and are paid quarterly. Where the
broker dealer or financial institution waives the 1% up-front commission on
Class C shares, payments commence immediately.
<PAGE>
Bank Shareholder Service Agreement Page 6
**Of this amount, 0.25% is paid as a shareholder servicing fee and the remainder
is paid as an asset-based sales charge, as those terms are defined under the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Minimum Payments: $50 (with respect to all funds in the aggregate.)
No payment pursuant to this Schedule is payable to a dealer, bank or other
service provider for the first year with respect to sales of $1 million or more,
at no load, in cases where A I M Distributors, Inc. has advanced the service fee
to the dealer, bank or other service provider.
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Trustees of AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc. (formerly, G.T.
Investment Portfolios, Inc.).
We hereby consent to the inclusion of our report dated February 17,
1998 on our audit of the financial statements and financial highlights of AIM
Dollar Fund (formerly, GT Global Dollar Fund) as of December 31, 1997 in the
Statement of Additional Information with respect to the Post-Effective
Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, of AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc. We further consent to
the reference to our Firm under the captions "Financial Highlights" and
"Other Information" in the Prospectus and "Independent Accountants" in the
Statement of Additional Information.
COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
Boston, Massachusetts
June 1, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 14(a)
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
IRA APPLICATION
To open your AIM IRA account.
Complete Sections 1-11.
Return completed application and check to: A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box
4739, Houston, TX 77210-4739. Phone: 800-959-4246.
Make check payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
Please Note: To establish an IRA for your spouse, please copy and submit a
separate application.
Minors cannot open an AIM IRA account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. INVESTOR INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Middle Last Name
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
Social Security Number Birth Date / /
---------------------- -------------------
(Required to Open Account) Month Day Year
Home Telephone ( ) Work Telephone ( )
--- ----------------- --- -----------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. DEALER INFORMATION (To be completed by securities dealer.)
Name of Broker/Dealer Firm
-------------------------------------------------
Main Office Address
--------------------------------------------------------
Representative Name and Number
---------------------------------------------
Authorized Signature of Dealer
---------------------------------------------
Branch Address
-------------------------------------------------------------
Branch Telephone
-----------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Investor is authorized for NAV purchase. (If authorized for NAV
purchase, other than the Broker, please attach NAV Certification
Form.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. ACCOUNT TYPE (Choose one only.)
[ ] IRA [ ] Rollover IRA [ ] SEP IRA* [ ] SARSEP IRA* (No new
SARSEP plans after
12/31/96)
*Employer (for SEP & SARSEP plans only)
-------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CONTRIBUTION (Indicate type of contribution.)
[ ] REGULAR - Contribution for tax year 19___.
[ ] ROLLOVER - Represents a rollover from an employer's pension, profit
sharing or 401(k) plan, another IRA or a 403(b) custodial account or
annuity. Please complete a Direct Rollover Form, unless coming from
another IRA.
[ ] TRANSFER - Transfer from another IRA account. Please complete an IRA
Asset-Transfer Form.
[ ] SEP - Employer sponsored. Complete separate application for each
employee.
[ ] SARSEP - Employee salary-reduction SEP. Complete separate application
for each employee. (No new SARSEP plans after 12/31/96.)
13
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. FUND INVESTMENT
Indicate Fund(s) and contribution amount(s).
MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO INVESCO TRUST COMPANY. Minimum purchase to open an
IRA is $250.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fund $ or % of Assets Class of Shares (Check one)
<S> <C> <C>
[ ]AIM Advisor Flex Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Advisor International Value Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Advisor Large Cap Value Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Advisor MultiFlex Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Advisor Real Estate Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Balanced Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Blue Chip Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Capital Development Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Cash Reserve Shares $ [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Charter Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Constellation Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Global Aggressive Growth Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Global Growth Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Global Income Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Global Utilities Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Intermediate Government Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Growth Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM High Yield Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Income Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM International Equity Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Limited Maturity Treasury Shares $ [ ]Class A
------------------------
[ ]AIM Money Market Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B
------------------------
[ ]AIM Value Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
[ ]AIM Weingarten Fund $ [ ]Class A [ ]Class B [ ]Class C
------------------------
Total $
------------------------
</TABLE>
If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be purchased, except
in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, AIM Cash Reserve Shares will be
purchased. If you are funding your retirement account through a transfer,
please indicate the contribution amounts both in this section and in Section
3 of the Asset-Transfer Form.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. ACCOUNT OPTIONS
Please indicate options you desire:
TELEPHONE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Unless indicated below, I authorize the Transfer Agent to accept
instructions from any person to exchange shares in my account(s) by
telephone in accordance with the procedures and conditions set forth in the
Fund's current prospectus.
[ ] I DO NOT want the Telephone Exchange Privilege.
DOLLAR-COST AVERAGING PLAN (Must be under the same registration and class of
shares.)
I have at least $5,000 in shares in my __________________________ Fund, for
which no certificates have been issued, and I would like to exchange:
$ into the Fund, Account #
---------------- ------------ -----------------
($50 minimum)
$ into the Fund, Account #
---------------- ------------ -----------------
($50 minimum)
$ into the Fund, Account #
---------------- ------------ -----------------
($50 minimum)
on a [ ] monthly [ ] quarterly basis starting in the month of_____________
on the [ ] 10th or [ ] 25th of the month.
14
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS (For clients over 59 1/2)
All distributions are subject to income tax.
[ ] Reinvest dividends and capital gains (Automatic for clients under
59 1/2.)
[ ] Mail dividends and capital gains to home address
[ ] Mail dividends to my bank
Name of Bank
---------------------------------------------------------------
Address Account #
-------------------------------------- ---------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. WITHHOLDING ELECTION
Distributions from your IRA will be subject to an automatic federal income
tax withholding of 10%, unless otherwise noted below:
[ ] I do not want any federal income tax withheld from my distribution.
[ ] Withhold federal income tax at a rate of _________% (NOTE: The
percentage indicated must be a whole percentage and higher than 10%).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. REDUCED SALES CHARGE (optional)
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION (This option is for Class A shares only.)
I apply for Right of Accumulation reduced sales charges based on the
following accounts in The AIM Family of Funds--Registered Trademark--:
Fund(s) Account No(s).
------------------------------ ------------------------
------------------------------ ------------------------
------------------------------ ------------------------
LETTER OF INTENT
I agree to the Letter of Intent provisions in the Application Instructions. I
plan to invest during a 13-month period a dollar amount of at least: [ ]$25,000
[ ]$50,000 [ ]$100,000 [ ]$250,000 [ ]$500,000 [ ]$1,000,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. BENEFICIARY INFORMATION
I hereby designate the following beneficiary(ies) to receive the balance in
my IRA custodial account upon my death. To be effective, the designation of
beneficiary and any subsequent change in designation of beneficiary must be
filed with the Custodian prior to my death. The balance of my account shall
be distributed in equal amounts to the beneficiary(ies) who survives me. If
no beneficiary is designated or no designated beneficiary or contingent
beneficiary survives me, the balance in my IRA will be distributed to the
legal representatives of my estate. This designation revokes any prior
designations. I retain the right to revoke this designation at any time. I
hereby certify that there is no legal impediment to the designation of this
beneficiary.
PRIMARY BENEFICIARY(IES)
Name % Relationship
------------------------------------- --------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
-------------- -- -- --
Month Day Year
Name % Relationship
------------------------------ ------ --------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
-------------- -- -- --
Month Day Year
15
<PAGE>
CONTINGENT BENEFICIARIES
In the event that I die and no primary beneficiary listed above is alive,
distribute all Fund accounts in my IRA to the following contingent
beneficiary(ies) who survives me, in equal amounts unless otherwise
indicated.
Name % Relationship
------------------------------ ------ --------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
-------------- -- -- ----
Month Day Year
Name % Relationship
------------------------------ ------ --------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
-------------- -- -- ----
Month Day Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I hereby establish the A I M Distributors, Inc. Individual Retirement
Account (IRA) appointing INVESCO Trust Company as Custodian. I have
received and read the current prospectus of the investment company(ies)
selected in this agreement and have read and understand the IRA custodial
agreement and disclosure statement and consent to the custodial account
fees as specified. I understand that a $10 annual AIM Fund IRA Maintenance
Fee will be deducted in early December from my AIM IRA.
WITHHOLDING INFORMATION (SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9)
Under the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983, the Fund
is required to have the following certification: Under the penalties
of perjury I certify by signing this Application as provided below
that:
1. The number shown in Section 1 of this Application is my correct
Social Security (or Tax Identification) Number, and
2. I am not subject to backup withholding either because (a) I have
not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") that I
am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report
all interest or dividends or (b) the IRS has notified me that I am no
longer subject to backup withholding. (This paragraph (2) does not
apply to real estate transactions, mortgage interest paid, the
acquisition or abandonment of secured property, contributions to an
individual retirement arrangement and payments other than interest and
dividends.)
You must cross out paragraph (2) above if you have been notified by
the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because
of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return.
In addition, the Fund hereby incorporates by reference into this
section of the Application either the IRS instructions for Form W-9 or
the substance of those instructions whichever is attached to this
Application.
SIGNATURE PROVISIONS
I, the undersigned Depositor, have read and understand the foregoing
Application and the attached material included herein by reference. In
addition, I certify that the information which I have provided and the
information which is included within the Application and the attached
material included herein by reference is accurate including but not limited
to the representations contained in the Withholding Information section of
this Application above. (The Internal Revenue Service does not require your
consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications to
avoid backup withholding.)
Dated / /
--- --- ---
Signature of IRA Shareholder
-----------------------------------------------
16
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. MAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Make check payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
Return Application to:
REGULAR MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERIES ONLY
AIM Fund Services, Inc. AIM Fund Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 4739 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 763
Houston, TX 77210-4739 Houston, TX 77046
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. SERVICE ASSISTANCE
Our knowledgeable Client Service Representatives are available to assist you
between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Central time at 800-959-4246.
17 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS FOR IRA ASSET-TRANSFER FORM
The IRA Asset-Transfer Form is used to transfer assets from an
existing IRA to an AIM Prototype IRA.
NOTE: It is not necessary to complete this form if the check
representing the transfer of assets has been attached to the
application.
1. Complete Sections 1 through 6 of the IRA Asset Transfer Form (on
pages 19 through 20 of this booklet).
2. Be sure that you have included your bank account or mutual fund
account number in Section 2 of the form, as well as the complete
mailing address for your existing custodian. You should contact
your existing custodian to verify that firm's proper mailing
address.
3. Be sure that your AIM account number is in Section 3 of the
form. If you do not have an AIM IRA, please complete the IRA
Application included on pages 13 through 16 of this booklet.
NOTE: If you currently hold AIM shares through a brokerage firm,
check with your investment representative to determine if you
should establish your IRA with the brokerage firm or directly
with AIM. If you decide to establish your IRA directly with AIM,
you must complete the AIM IRA Application.
4. Contact your existing custodian to determine whether a signature
guarantee is required in Section 5 of the IRA Asset Transfer
Form. Signature guarantees can be obtained at your bank or
brokerage firm.
5. You may wish to attach a current account statement for your
existing IRA to the IRA Asset Transfer Form.
6. Please mail any insurance or annuity policies and contracts
directly to the company which issued them. Do not attach them to
the IRA Application or IRA Asset Transfer Form.
7. Please mail the completed IRA Asset Transfer Form, along with
the completed IRA Application (if establishing a new AIM IRA)
to:
REGULAR MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERIES ONLY
AIM Fund Services, Inc. AIM Fund Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 4739 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 763
Houston, TX 77210-4739 Houston, TX 77046
NOTE: If your existing account is a qualified plan, such as a
profit sharing, 401(k) or 403(b) plan, please complete the
Direct Rollover Form on page 23. Refer to the Instructions for
Direct Rollover Form to complete that form.
18
<PAGE>
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
IRA ASSET-TRANSFER FORM
Use this form only when transferring assets from an existing IRA to an AIM IRA.
Note: Use this form ONLY if you want AIM to request the money directly from
another custodian. Complete Sections 1-5.
If you do not already have an AIM IRA, you must also submit an AIM IRA
Application. AIM will arrange the transfer for you.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. INVESTOR INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE.)
Name
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Middle Last Name
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
Social Security Number Birth Date / /
---------------------- -- -- --
Month Day Year
Home Telephone ( ) Work Telephone ( )
--- ----------------- --- -----------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CURRENT TRUSTEE/CUSTODIAN
Name of Resigning Trustee
--------------------------------------------------
Account Number of Resigning Trustee
----------------------------------------
Address of Resigning Trustee
-----------------------------------------------
Street
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
Attention Telephone
---------------------------------- -----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. IRA ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Please deposit proceeds in my [ ]New* [ ]Existing
Existing AIM Account Number
------------------
[ ]IRA Account [ ]Rollover IRA Account
[ ]SEP IRA Account [ ]SARSEP IRA Account
INVESTMENT ALLOCATION:
Fund Name Class %
--------------------------- --------------------- ------------
Fund Name Class %
--------------------------- --------------------- ------------
Fund Name Class %
--------------------------- --------------------- ------------
*If this is a new AIM IRA account, you must attach a completed AIM IRA
Application. If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be
purchased, except in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, where AIM Cash
Reserve Shares will be purchased.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
OPTION 1: Please liquidate from the account(s) listed in Section 2 and
issue a check to my IRA with INVESCO Trust Company.
Amount to liquidate: [ ] All [ ] Partial amount of $_______________
When to liquidate: [ ] Immediately [ ] At maturity ____ /___ /___
OPTION 2: (If the account listed in Section 2 contains shares of an AIM
Fund, you may choose to transfer them "in kind.") Please deposit "in kind"
the shares of the AIM Fund held in my account to INVESCO Trust Company.
NOTE: ONLY AIM FAMILY OF FUND SHARES MAY BE TRANSFERRED IN KIND. TO
TRANSFER ALL OTHER ASSETS, THEY MUST BE LIQUIDATED.
Amount to transfer "in kind" immediately:[ ]all [ ] partial amount of
shares_____________
19
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I have established an Individual Retirement Account with the AIM Funds and
have appointed INVESCO Trust Company as the successor Custodian. Please
accept this as your authorization and instruction to liquidate or transfer
in kind the assets noted above, which your company holds for me.
Your Signature Date / /
---------------------------------- ----- ----- -----
Note: Your resigning trustee or custodian may require your signature to be
guaranteed. Call that institution for requirements.
Name of Bank or Brokerage Firm
---------------------------------------------
Signature Guaranteed by
---------------------------------------------------
(Name and title)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. DISTRIBUTION ELECTION INFORMATION SECTION 6 OF FORM TO BE COMPLETED BY
PRIOR CUSTODIAN
If this participant is age 70 1/2 or older this year, the resigning
Trustee/Custodian must complete this section. Election made by the
participant as of the required beginning date:
1. Method of calculation [ ] declining years [ ] recalculation
[ ] annuitization [ ] amortization
2. Life expectancy [ ] single life payout [ ] joint life expectancy
factor-Joint birth date and relationship________________
3. The amount withheld from this rollover to satisfy this year's required
distribution $____________________
The life-expectancy ages used to calculate this required payment
was _________________________________________
Signature of Current Custodian/Trustee
------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMAINDER OF FORM TO BE COMPLETED BY AIM
7. CUSTODIAN ACCEPTANCE
This is to advise you that INVESCO Trust Company, as custodian, will accept
the account identified above for:
Depositor's Name Account Number
-------------------- ---------------------
This transfer of assets is to be executed from fiduciary to fiduciary and
will not place the participant in actual receipt of all or any of the plan
assets. No federal income tax is to be withheld from this transfer of
assets.
Authorized Signature Mailing Date / /
------------------------ ---- ---- ----
(INVESCO Trust Company)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
Please attach a copy of this form to the check and return to:
INVESCO Trust Company, c/o A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 4739,
Houston, TX 77210-4739.
Make check payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
Indicate the AIM account number and the social security number of the IRA
holder on all documents.
20 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
DIRECT ROLLOVER FORM
To directly roll over distributions from your employer's qualified plan to your
AIM IRA.
Note: Use this form ONLY if you want AIM to request the money directly from
another custodian. Effective January 1, 1993, the Unemployment Compensation
Amendments of 1992 require that certain distributions from 403(b) accounts and
employer qualified plans (Keogh, money purchase pension, profit sharing and
401(k) plans) are subject to 20% withholding tax, unless the distribution is
"directly rolled over" to a new employer's qualified plan, a 403(b) account or
an IRA. Your employer will inform you what portion of your distribution is
eligible for rollover.
Please use this form to request a "direct rollover" to your AIM IRA. If you
currently do not have an IRA, you must also submit an AIM IRA Application with
this request. You may also use your former employer's direct rollover form.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR EMPLOYER TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL FORMS ARE REQUIRED.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 PLAN TYPE Indicate type of retirement plan to be rolled over. [ ] 403(b) Plan
[ ] Employer's Qualified Retirement Plan
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 INVESTOR INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Middle Last Name
Address
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Social Security Number Birth Date / /
-------------------- ---- ---- ----
Day Phone ( ) Month Day Year
---- ------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 CURRENT PLAN CUSTODIAN OR FORMER EMPLOYER INFORMATION
Name of Resigning Custodian or Former Employer
------------------------------
Former Employer Plan Name or Fund Account Number
------------------- --------
Address of Releasing Institution
--------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
----------------------- ------------- ---------
Attention Telephone
------------------------------ ---------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 ROLLOVER INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
OPTION 1: Please liquidate from the account(s) listed in Section 3 and
issue a check to my IRA with INVESCO Trust Company.
Amount to liquidate: [ ] All [ ] Partial amount of $_______________
When to liquidate: [ ] Immediately [ ] At maturity_____ /_____ /_____
OPTION 2: (If the account listed in Section 2 contains shares of an AIM Fund,
you may choose to roll them over "in kind.")
NOTE: ONLY AIM FAMILY OF FUND SHARES MAY BE ROLLED OVER IN KIND.
Amount to roll over "in kind" immediately: [ ] all
[ ] partial amount of shares_____________
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 IRA ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Please deposit proceeds in my [ ] New* [ ] Existing
Existing AIM Account Number
----------------
[ ] IRA Account [ ] Rollover IRA Account
INVESTMENT ALLOCATION:
Fund Name Class %
---------------------- ------------------------- ---------
Fund Name Class %
---------------------- ------------------------- ---------
Fund Name Class %
--------------------- ------------------------- ---------
*If this is a new AIM IRA account, you must attach a completed AIM IRA
application. If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be
purchased, except in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, where AIM Cash
Reserve Shares will be purchased.
23
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I have established an Individual Retirement Account with the AIM Funds and
have appointed INVESCO Trust Company as the successor Custodian. Please
accept this as your authorization and instruction to liquidate or transfer
in kind the assets noted above, which your company holds for me.
Your Signature Date / /
-------------------------------- ---- ---- ----
Note: Your resigning trustee or custodian may require your signature to be
guaranteed. Call that institution for requirements.
Name of Bank or Brokerage Firm
---------------------------------------------
Signature Guaranteed by
---------------------------------------------------
(Name and title)
NOTE: SOME CUSTODIANS OF RETIREMENT PLANS REQUIRE THE COMPLETION OF THEIR
OWN FORM BEFORE SENDING A CHECK TO AIM.
[ ] Yes, I have [ ] No, I have not filed the necessary completed forms
with the current custodian.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 DISTRIBUTION ELECTION INFORMATION SECTION 7 OF FORM TO BE COMPLETED BY
PRIOR CUSTODIAN
If this participant is age 70 1/2 or older this year, the resigning
Trustee/Custodian must complete this section. Election made by the
participant as of the required beginning date:
1. Method of calculation [ ] declining years [ ] recalculation
[ ] annuitization [ ] amortization
2. Life expectancy [ ] single life payout
[ ] joint life expectancy factor-Joint birth date and relationship______
3. The amount withheld from this rollover to satisfy this year's required
distribution $____________________
The life-expectancy ages used to calculate this required payment was _______
Signature of Current Custodian/Trustee
-------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMAINDER OF FORM TO BE COMPLETED BY AIM
8 CUSTODIAN ACCEPTANCE
This is to advise you that INVESCO Trust Company, as custodian, will accept
the account identified above for:
Depositor's Name Account Number
--------------------- ----------------------
This direct rollover is to be executed from fiduciary to fiduciary and will
not place the participant in actual receipt of all or any of the plan
assets.
No federal income tax is to be withheld from this direct rollover.
Authorized Signature Mailing Date / /
------------------------- ---- ---- ----
(INVESCO Trust Company)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
Please attach a copy of this form to the check and return to:
INVESCO Trust Company, c/o A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 4739,
Houston, TX 77210-4739.
Make check payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
Indicate the AIM account number and the social security number of the IRA
holder on all documents.
24 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
AUTOMATIC BANK DRAFT
To establish regular, monthly purchases of Fund shares.
The Automatic Bank Draft is a service available to shareholders of The AIM
Family of Funds--Registered Trademark--, making possible regular, monthly
purchases of Funds to allow dollar-cost averaging. Each month, A I M Fund
Services,Inc. will arrange for an amount of money selected by you ($50 minimum
per Fund) to be deducted from your checking account and used to purchase shares
of a specified AIM Fund. You will receive confirmations from A I M Fund
Services, Inc., and your bank statement will reflect the amount of the draft.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 DRAFT AMOUNT
I authorize you to withdraw a total of $ __________________ ($50 minimum
per Fund) from my checking account at the bank shown below, beginning in
__________________________________ and invest this amount in shares of the
AIM Fund listed below. You have the option of selecting the 10th, 25th or
both dates each month for the automatic bank draft. Please refer to Section
2 for this selection. ALL DRAFTS WILL BE CONSIDERED CURRENT-YEAR IRA
CONTRIBUTIONS.
I agree that if the check is not honored by my bank upon presentation, AIM
Fund Services, Inc. may discontinue this service. I also authorize AIM Fund
Services, Inc. to liquidate sufficient shares of the Fund to make up any
deficiency resulting from a dishonored check. I understand that this program
may be discontinued at any time by the Fund or by myself by written notice to
AIM Fund Services, Inc. received no later than ten business days prior to the
above designated investment date.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 FUND ACCOUNT INFORMATION (Please enter information exactly as your account is
registered.)
Name(s) AIM Account #
--------------------------------- -----------------------
---------------------------------
Fund $
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------
$50 Minimum per draft. Draft date: [ ]10th [ ]25th
Fund $
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------
$50 Minimum per draft. Draft date: [ ]10th [ ]25th
Fund $
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------
$50 Minimum per draft. Draft date: [ ]10th [ ]25th
Fund $
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------
$50 Minimum per draft. Draft date: [ ]10th [ ]25th
Fund $
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------
$50 Minimum per draft. Draft date: [ ]10th [ ]25th
*Total $
--------------------------------
Signature Signature
-------------------------- ------------------------------
(All registered owners must sign.) (All registered owners must sign.)
*Please note that each draft (per Fund account) will be treated as a
separate item by your bank.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 BANK AUTHORIZATION
Name of Bank
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Address of Bank
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bank Account # ABA Routing #
---------------------- ---------------------------
Please honor checks on my account by The Shareholders Services Group, Inc.
(TSSG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Data Corporation. Your authority
to do so shall continue until you receive further notice from me revoking
this authority. You may terminate your participation in this arrangement by
written notice either to TSSG or me. I agree that your rights with respect to
each check shall be the same as if it were drawn by me. I further agree that
should any check be dishonored, with or without cause, intentionally or
inadvertently, you shall be under no liability whatsoever.
------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Depositor's Name (please print) Signature (exactly as appearing on bank
records)
------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Depositor's Name (please print) Signature (exactly as appearing on bank
records)
25
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 VOIDED CHECK
ATTACH YOUR VOIDED CHECK HERE.
AIM Fund Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 4739
Houston, Texas 77210-4739
Phone: 800-959-4246
[Voided Check Graphic]
26 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
Form 5305-A (Rev. October 1992) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue
Service
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
(under Section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code)
Please fill out and retain with your tax records. Do NOT file with Internal
Revenue Service or AIM.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of depositor
---------------------------------------------------------------
Date of birth of depositor / / Social Security Number
----- ----- ----- -----------
Month Day Year
Address of depositor [ ] Check if Amendment
-------------------------------------
Name of Custodian INVESCO Trust Company
Address or principal place of business of custodian The State of Colorado
The Depositor whose name appears above is establishing an individual retirement
account under section 408(a) to provide for his or her retirement and for the
support of his or her beneficiaries after death.
The Custodian named above has given the Depositor the disclosure statement
required under Regulations section 1.408-6.
The Depositor assigned the custodial account ________ dollars ($______) in cash.
The Depositor and the Custodian make the following agreement:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC. CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I
The Custodian may accept additional cash contributions on behalf of the
Depositor for a tax year of the Depositor. The total cash contributions are
limited to $2,000 for the tax year unless the contribution is a rollover
contribution described in section 402(c) (but only after December 31, 1992),
403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), or an employer contribution to a simplified
employee pension plan as described in section 408(k). Rollover contributions
before January 1, 1993, include rollovers described in section 402(a)(5),
402(a)(6), 402(a)(7), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), or an employer
contribution to a simplified employee pension plan as described in section
408(k).
ARTICLE II
The Depositor's interest in the balance in the custodial account is
nonforfeitable.
ARTICLE III
1. NO PART OF THE CUSTODIAL FUNDS may be invested in life insurance
contracts, nor may the assets of the custodial account be commingled with other
property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund (within the
meaning of section 408(a)(5)).
2. NO PART OF THE CUSTODIAL FUNDS may be invested in collectibles (within the
meaning of section 408(m)) except as otherwise permitted by section 408(m)(3)
which provides an exception for certain gold and silver coins and coins issued
under the laws of any state.
ARTICLE IV
1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION of this agreement to the contrary, the
distribution of the Depositor's interest in the custodial account shall be made
in accordance with the following requirements and shall otherwise comply with
section 408(a)(6) and Proposed Regulations section 1.408-8, including the
incidental death benefit provisions of Proposed Regulations section
1.401(a)(9)-2, the provisions of which are incorporated by reference.
2. UNLESS OTHERWISE ELECTED by the time distributions are required to begin
to the Depositor under paragraph 3, or to the surviving spouse under paragraph
4, other than in the case of a life annuity, life expectancies shall be
recalculated annually. Such election shall be irrevocable as to the Depositor
and the surviving spouse and shall apply to all subsequent years. The life
expectancy of a nonspouse beneficiary may not be recalculated.
3. THE DEPOSITOR'S ENTIRE INTEREST in the custodial account must be, or begin
to be, distributed by the Depositor's required beginning date (April 1 following
the calendar year end in which the Depositor reaches age 70 1/2. By that date,
the Depositor may elect, in a manner acceptable to the Custodian, to have the
balance in the custodial account distributed in:
(a) A single-sum payment.
(b) An annuity contract that provides equal or substantially equal monthly,
quarterly, or annual payments over the life of the Depositor.
(c) An annuity contract that provides equal or substantially equal monthly,
quarterly, or annual payments over the joint and last survivor lives of the
Depositor and his or her designated beneficiary.
(d) Equal or substantially equal annual payments over a specified period
that may not be longer than the Depositor's life expectancy.
(e) Equal or substantially equal annual payments over a specified period
that may not be longer than the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the
Depositor and his or her designated beneficiary.
4. IF THE DEPOSITOR DIES before his or her entire interest is distributed to
him or her, the entire remaining interest will be distributed as follows:
(a) If the Depositor dies on or after distribution of his or her interest
has begun, distribution must continue to be made in accordance with paragraph 3.
(b) If the Depositor dies before distribution of his or her interest has
begun, the entire remaining interest will, at the election of the Depositor or,
if the Depositor has not so elected, at the election of the beneficiary or
beneficiaries, either
(i) Be distributed by the December 31 of the year containing the fifth
anniversary of the Depositor's death, or
(ii) Be distributed in equal or substantially equal payments over the
life expectancy of the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries starting by
December 31 of the year following the year of the Depositor's death. If,
however, the beneficiary is the Depositor's surviving spouse, then this
distribution is not required to begin before December 31 of the year in which
the Depositor would have turned age 70 1/2.
(c) Except where distribution in the form of an annuity meeting the
requirements of section 408(b)(3) and its related regulations has irrevocably
commenced distributions are treated as having begun on the Depositor's required
beginning date, even though payments may actually have been made before that
date.
(d) If the Depositor dies before his or her entire interest has been
distributed and if the beneficiary is other than the surviving spouse, no
additional cash contributions or rollover contributions may be accepted in the
account.
5. IN THE CASE OF DISTRIBUTION over life expectancy in equal or substantially
equal annual payments, to determine the minimum annual payment for each year,
divide the Depositor's entire interest in the Custodial account as of the close
of business on December 31 of the preceding year by the life expectancy of the
Depositor (or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the Depositor and
the Depositor's designated beneficiary, or the life expectancy of the designated
beneficiary, whichever applies). In the case of distributions under paragraph 3,
determine the initial life expectancy (or joint life and last survivor
expectancy) using the attained ages of the Depositor and designated beneficiary
as of their birthdays in the year the Depositor reaches age 70 1/2. In the case
of distribution in accordance with paragraph 4(b)(ii), determine life expectancy
using the attained age of the designated beneficiary as of the beneficiary's
birthday in the year distributions are required to commence.
27
<PAGE>
6. THE OWNER OF TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS may use the
"alternative method" described in Notice 88-38, 1988-1 C.B. 524 to satisfy the
minimum distribution requirements described above. This method permits an
individual to satisfy these requirements by taking from one individual
retirement account the amount required to satisfy the requirement for another.
ARTICLE V
1. THE DEPOSITOR AGREES to provide the Custodian with information necessary
for the Custodian to prepare any reports required under section 408(i) and
Regulations sections 1.408-5 and 1.408.6.
2. THE CUSTODIAN AGREES to submit reports to the Internal Revenue Service and
the Depositor prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service.
ARTICLE VI
Notwithstanding any other articles which may be added or incorporated, the
provisions of Articles I through III and this sentence will be controlling. Any
additional articles that are not consistent with section 408(a) and the related
regulations will be invalid.
ARTICLE VII
This agreement will be amended from time to time to comply with the
provisions of the Code and related regulations. Other amendments may be made
with the consent of the persons whose signatures appear below.
ARTICLE VIII
1. PURSUANT TO THE TERMS of this A I M Distributors, Inc. Individual
Retirement Custodial Account Agreement and the related IRA Account Application
(referred to herein as the "IRA Adoption Agreement") (such Agreements being
collectively referred to herein as the "Agreement"), the Depositor directs the
Custodian to invest all custodial account funds after deductions for sales
charges and Custodian fees, in shares issued by the investment company or
companies selected by the Depositor on the related IRA Adoption Agreement, until
the Depositor hereafter gives the Custodian contrary instructions pursuant to
Article XIII below. The investment companies from which the Depositor may select
are enumerated on the applicable list prepared by A I M Distributors, Inc. (the
"Distributor"), a copy of which accompanies the Adoption Agreement. Such
investment companies are part of "The AIM Family of Funds--Registered
Trademark--," which are managed or advised by subsidiaries of A I M Management
Group Inc., and any such investment company will hereafter be referred to as
"Investment Company."
2. (i) ANNUAL CASH CONTRIBUTIONS:
The Depositor may make annual cash contributions to the account within the
limits specified in Article I. All contributions shall be hand delivered or
mailed to the Custodian by the Depositor, with an indication of the taxable year
to which such contribution relates. Additionally, if the Depositor's employer
maintains a qualified simplified employee pension (SEP), such employer may
contribute on behalf of the Depositor, the lesser of 15% of the Depositor's
compensation from such employer or $30,000.
(ii) ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS:
In addition to any annual contributions referred to in Paragraph (i) above,
but subject to this Paragraph (ii), the Depositor may contribute to the account,
at any time, a rollover contribution of such cash or other property as shall
constitute a rollover amount or contribution under section 402(a)(5), 402(a)(7),
403(a)(4), 403(b)(8) or 408(d)(3) of the Code. The Custodian will accept for the
account all rollover contributions which consist of cash, and it may, but shall
be under no obligation to, accept any other rollover contribution. In the case
of rollover contributions composed of assets other than cash, the prospective
Depositor shall provide the Custodian with a description of such assets and such
other information as the Custodian may reasonably require. The Custodian may
accept all or any part of such a rollover contribution if it determines that the
assets of which such contribution consists are either in a medium proper for
investment hereunder or that the assets can be promptly liquidated for cash.
The Depositor warrants that any rollover contribution to the account consists
of cash, the same property received in the distribution or, in the case of
amounts distributed to the Depositor from a qualified employer's plan or
annuity, the proceeds from the sale of the same property received in the
distribution. The Depositor also warrants that in the case of a rollover into
the account of amounts distributed to the Depositor from a qualified employer's
plan or annuity, only amounts in excess of the amounts considered to be the
Depositor's employee contributions included in such distribution constitute the
contribution to this account. Additionally, the Depositor affirms that the
contribution to the account does not consist of amounts received from an
inherited individual retirement account or annuity. An individual retirement
account or annuity shall be treated as inherited if it was acquired by reason of
the death of an individual other than the Depositor's spouse. The Depositor also
affirms that in the case of a rollover into the account of amounts distributed
from an individual retirement account or annuity or retirement bond, he has not
during the one year period ending on the date of the distribution received any
other distribution from an individual retirement account or annuity or
retirement bond which constituted a rollover contribution (as described in
section 408(d)(3) of the Code).
3. THE DEPOSITOR SHALL BE FULLY AND SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for all taxes,
interest and penalties which might accrue or be assessed by reason of any excess
deposit, and interest, if any, earned thereon. Any contributions made by or on
behalf of the Depositor in respect of a taxable year of the Depositor shall be
made by or on behalf of the Depositor to the Custodian for deposit in the
custodial account within the time period for claiming any income tax deduction
for such taxable year. It shall be the sole responsibility of the Depositor to
determine the amount of the contributions made hereunder. The Depositor shall
execute such forms as the Custodian may require in connection with any
contribution hereunder.
ARTICLE IX
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL from time to time, subject to the provisions of
Articles IV and V, make distributions out of the custodial account to the
Depositor, in such manner and amounts as may be specified in written
instructions of the Depositor. All such instructions shall be deemed to
constitute a certification by the Depositor that the distribution so directed is
one that the Depositor is permitted to receive. A declaration of the Depositor's
intention as to the disposition of an amount distributed pursuant to Article V
hereof shall be in writing and given to the Custodian. The Custodian shall have
no liability with respect to any contribution to the custodial account, any
investment of assets in the custodial account or any distribution therefrom
pursuant to instructions received from the Depositor or pursuant to this
Agreement, or for any consequences to the Depositor arising from such
contributions, investments or distributions including, but not limited to,
excise and other taxes and penalties which might accrue or be assessed by reason
thereof, nor shall the Custodian be under any duty to make any inquiry or
investigation with respect thereto.
2. IF THE DEPOSITOR IS DISABLED (as defined in Section 72(m) of the Code),
all or a portion of the balance in the custodial account may be distributed to
him/her as soon as practicable after the Custodian receives written notice of
the Depositor's disability and a written request for distribution. The Custodian
may require such proof of disability as it deems necessary prior to the time
that amounts are distributed to the Depositor due to such disability.
3. THE DEPOSITOR SHALL BE fully and solely responsible for all taxes and
penalties which might accrue or be assessed for having failed to make the annual
minimum withdrawal required in any year.
ARTICLE X
A Depositor shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries
to receive any amounts remaining in his account in the event of his death. Any
prior beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked at any time by a
Depositor by written designation signed by the Depositor on a form acceptable
to, and filed with, the Custodian; provided, however, that such designation, or
change or revocation of a prior designation shall not become effective until it
has been received by the Custodian, nor shall it be effective unless received by
the Custodian no later than thirty days before the death of the Depositor, and
provided further that the last such designation of beneficiary or change or
revocation of beneficiary executed by the Depositor, if received by the
Custodian within the time specified, shall control. Unless otherwise provided in
the beneficiary designation, amounts payable by reason of the Depositor's death
will be paid in equal shares only to the primary beneficiary or beneficiaries
who survive the Depositor, or, if no primary beneficiary survives the Depositor,
to the contingent beneficiary or beneficiaries who survive the Depositor. If the
Depositor had not, by the date of his death, properly designated a beneficiary
in accordance with the preceding sentences, or if no designated beneficiary
survives the Depositor, then the Depositor's beneficiary shall be the
Depositor's estate.
ARTICLE XI
1. ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OR OTHER FEES of the Custodian and its agents for
performing duties pursuant to this Agreement shall be in such amount as shall be
established from time to time. The Depositor agrees to pay the Custodian the
fees specified in its current fee schedule and authorizes the Custodian to
charge the Depositor's custodian account for the amount of such fees.
2. UPON THIRTY DAYS' PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE, the Custodian may substitute a new
fee schedule. The Custodian's fees, any income, gift, estate and inheritance
taxes and other taxes of any kind whatsoever, including transfer taxes incurred
in connection with the investment or reinvestment of the assets of the custodial
account, that may be levied or assessed in respect of such assets, and all other
administrative expenses incurred by the Custodian in the performance of its
duties including fees for legal services rendered to the Custodian, may be
charged to the custodial account with the right to liquidate Investment Company
shares for this purpose, or at the Custodian's option, shall be billed to the
Depositor directly.
28
<PAGE>
ARTICLE XII
1. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL take effect only when accepted and signed by the
Custodian. As directed, the Custodian shall then open and maintain a separate
custodial account for Depositor and invest the initial contribution hereunder in
shares of the Investment Company. Where the IRA Adoption Agreement is checked
for spousal accounts, separate custodial accounts will be opened and maintained
in each spouse's name. The amounts specified in the IRA Adoption Agreement shall
be credited to each spouse's separate custodial account except that no more than
$2,000 shall be credited to either custodial account.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL invest subsequent contributions as directed. If any
such written instructions are not received as required however, or if received,
are in the opinion of the Custodian unclear, or if the accompanying contribution
exceeds $2,000 for the Depositor and/or $2,000 for the Depositor's spouse, the
Custodian may hold or return all or a portion of the contribution uninvested
without liability for loss of income or appreciation, and without liability for
interest, pending receipt of written instructions or clarification.
3. ALL DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS, less charges, received on
Investment Company shares held in the custodial account shall (unless received
in additional such shares) be reinvested in shares of the Investment Company,
which shall be credited to the custodial account. If any distribution on such
shares may be received at the election of the Depositor in additional such
shares or in cash or other property, the Custodian shall elect to receive it in
additional Investment Company shares.
4. ALL INVESTMENT COMPANY SHARES ACQUIRED by the Custodian hereunder shall be
registered in the name of the Custodian (with or without identifying the
Depositor) or of its nominees. The Custodian shall deliver, or cause to be
executed and delivered, to the Depositor all notices, prospectuses, financial
statements, proxies and proxy solicitation materials relating to such Investment
Company shares held in the custodial account. The Custodian shall not vote any
Investment Company shares except in accordance with the written instructions
received from the Depositor.
ARTICLE XIII
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL keep adequate records of transactions it is required
to perform hereunder. Not later than six months after the close of each calendar
year or after the Custodian's registration or removal pursuant to Article XV
below, the Custodian shall render to the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative a written report or reports reflecting the transactions effected
by it during such period and the assets and liabilities of the custodial account
at the close of the period. Sixty days after rendering such report(s), the
Custodian shall (to the extent permitted by law) be forever released and
discharged from all liability and accountability to anyone with respect to its
acts and transactions shown in or reflected by such report(s), except with
respect to those as to which the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative shall have filed written objections with the Custodian within the
latter such sixty-day period.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL receive and invest contributions as directed by the
Depositor, hold and distribute such investments, and keep adequate records and
reports thereon, all in accordance with this Agreement. The parties do not
intend to confer any other fiduciary duties of the Custodian, and none shall be
implied. The Custodian shall not be liable (and assumes no responsibility) for
the collection of contributions, the deductibility or propriety of any
contribution under this Agreement, or the purposes or propriety of any
distribution from the account, which matters are the responsibility of the
Depositor or the Depositor's legal representative.
3. THE DEPOSITOR, to the extent permitted by law, shall always fully
indemnify the Custodian and save it harmless from any and all liability
whatsoever which may arise in connection with this Agreement and matters which
it contemplates, except that which arises due to the Custodian's negligence and
willful misconduct. The Custodian shall not be obligated or expected to commence
or defend any legal action or preceding in connection with this Agreement or
such matters unless agreed upon by the Custodian and Depositor or said legal
representative, and unless fully indemnified for so doing to the Custodian's
satisfaction.
4. THE CUSTODIAN MAY conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in acting
upon any written order from the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative or any other notice, request, consent, certificate or other
instruments or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly
executed, and as long as it acts in good faith in taking or omitting to take any
other action in reliance thereon.
ARTICLE XIV
1. THE CUSTODIAN MAY resign at any time upon thirty days' notice in writing
to the Depositor, and may be removed by the Depositor at any time upon thirty
days' notice in writing to the Custodian. Upon such resignation or removal, the
Depositor shall appoint a successor custodian to serve under this Agreement.
Upon receipt by the Custodian of written acceptance of such appointment by the
successor custodian, the Custodian shall transfer to such successor the assets
of the custodial account and all necessary records (or copies thereof)
pertaining thereto, provided that (at the Custodian's request) any successor
custodian shall agree not to dispose of any such records without the Custodian's
consent. The Custodian is authorized, however, to reserve such assets as it may
deem advisable for payment of any other liabilities constituting a charge on or
against the assets of the custodial account or on or against the Custodian, with
any balance of such reserve remaining after the payment of all such items to be
paid over to the successor custodian.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL NOT be liable for the acts or omissions of such
successor custodian.
3. THE CUSTODIAN, AND EVERY SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN appointed to serve under this
Agreement, must be a bank (as defined in Section 408(n) of the Code) or such
other person who qualifies with the Internal Revenue Service to serve in the
manner prescribed by Code section 408(a)(2) and satisfies the Custodian, upon
request, as to such qualification.
4. AFTER THE CUSTODIAN HAS transferred the custodial account assets
(including any reserve balance as contemplated above) to the successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be relieved of all further liability with respect
to this Agreement, the custodial account and the assets thereof.
ARTICLE XV
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL terminate the custodial account and pay the
proceeds of the account to the depositor if within thirty days after the
resignation or removal of the Custodian pursuant to Article XV above, the
Depositor has not appointed a successor custodian which has accepted such
appointment unless within that time the Distributor appoints such successor and
gives written notice thereof to the Depositor and the Custodian. The Distributor
shall have the right, but not the duty, to appoint such a successor. Termination
of the custodial account shall be effected by distributing all of the assets
therein in cash or in kind to the Depositor in a lump sum, subject to the
Custodian's right to reserve funds as provided in said Article XV.
2. UPON TERMINATION of the custodial account in any manner provided for in
this Article XVI, this Agreement shall terminate and have no further force and
effect, and the Custodian shall be relieved from all further liability with
respect to this Agreement, the custodial account and all assets thereof so
distributed.
ARTICLE XVI
1. ANY NOTICE FROM THE CUSTODIAN TO THE DEPOSITOR provided for in this
Agreement shall be effective when mailed if sent by first class mail to the
Depositor at the Depositor's last known address as shown on the Custodian's
records. Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Custodian, shall
become effective upon actual receipt by the Custodian at such address as the
Custodian shall provide the Depositor from time to time in writing.
2. THIS AGREEMENT IS accepted by the Custodian and shall be construed and
administered in accordance with the laws of The State of Colorado. The Custodian
and the Depositor hereby waive and agree to waive right to trial by jury in an
action or proceeding instituted in respect to this custodial account. The
Depositor further agrees that the venue of any litigation between him and the
Custodian with respect to the custodial account shall be in the State of
Colorado.
3. THIS AGREEMENT is intended to qualify under section 408 of the Code as an
Individual Retirement Account and to entitle the Depositor to any retirement
savings deduction which he may qualify for under section 219 of the Code, and if
any provision hereof is subject to more than one interpretation or any term used
herein is subject to more than one construction, such ambiguity shall be
resolved in favor of that interpretation or construction which is consistent
with that intent.
4. ALL PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE subject to the Code and to
regulations promulgated thereunder. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement.
5. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL have no duties whatsoever except such duties as it
specifically agrees to in writing, and no implied covenants or obligations shall
be read into this Agreement against the Custodian. The Custodian shall not be
liable under this Agreement, except for its own bad faith, gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
6. NO INTEREST, RIGHT OR CLAIM IN OR TO ANY PART of the custodial account or
any payment therefrom shall be assignable, transferable, or subject to sale,
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, communication, anticipation, garnishment,
attachment, execution, or levy of any kind and the Custodian shall not recognize
any attempt to assign, transfer, sell, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, commute or
anticipate the same, except as required by law.
7. THE DEPOSITOR HEREBY DELEGATES to the Custodian the power to amend this
Agreement from time to time as it deems appropriate, and hereby consents to all
such amendments, provided, however, that all such amendments are in compliance
with the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. All
such amendments shall be effective as of the date specified in a written notice
of amendment which will be sent to the Depositor.
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INSTRUCTIONS
(Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.)
PURPOSE OF FORM
This model custodial account agreement may be used by an individual who
wishes to adopt an individual retirement account under section 408(a). When
fully executed by the Depositor and the Custodian not later than the time
prescribed by law for filing the Federal income tax return for the Depositor's
tax year (not including any extensions thereof), a Depositor will have an
individual retirement account (IRA) custodial account which meets the
requirements of section 408(a). This account must be created in the United
States for the exclusive benefit of the Depositor or his/her beneficiaries.
DEFINITIONS
Custodian. -- The Custodian must be a bank or savings and loan association,
as defined in section 408(n), or other person who has the approval of the
Internal Revenue Service to act as custodian.
DEPOSITOR. -- The Depositor is the person who establishes the custodial
account.
IRA FOR NON-WORKING SPOUSES
Contributions to an IRA custodial account for a non-working spouse must be
made to a separate IRA custodial account established by the non-working spouse.
This form may be used to establish the IRA custodial account for the
non-working spouse.
An individual's social security number will serve as the identification
number of his or her individual retirement account.
For more information, obtain a copy of the required disclosure statement from
your custodian or get Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements.
(IRAs).
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
Article IV -- Distribution made under this Article may be made in a single
sum, periodic payment, or a combination of both. The distribution option should
be reviewed in the year the Depositor reaches age 70 1/2 to make sure the
requirements of section 408(a)(6) have been met.
Article IX -- This article and any that follow it may incorporate additional
provisions that are agreed upon by the Depositor and the Custodian to complete
the agreement. These may include, for example: definitions, investment powers,
voting rights, exculpatory provisions, amendment and termination, removal of
Custodian, Custodian's fees, state law requirements, beginning date of
distributions, accepting only cash, treatment of excess contributions,
prohibited transactions with the Depositor, etc. Use additional pages if
necessary and attach them to this form.
Note: This form may be reproduced and reduced in size for adoption to
passbook or card purposes.
THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS--Registered Trademark--
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Under applicable federal regulations, a custodian of an individual
retirement account is required to furnish each depositor who has established or
is establishing an individual retirement account with a statement which
discloses certain information regarding the account. INVESCO Trust Company
(hereinafter referred to as the "Custodian") is providing this Disclosure
Statement to you in accordance with that requirement, and this Disclosure
Statement contains general information about the The AIM Family of
Funds--Registered Trademark-- Individual Retirement Custodial Account
(hereinafter referred to as "IRA"). This Disclosure Statement should be reviewed
in conjunction with both the Individual Retirement Custodial Account agreement
(From 5305-A and any attachments thereto, hereinafter referred to as the
"Custodial Agreement") and the Adoption Agreement for your IRA. You should
review this Disclosure Statement and the IRA documents with your attorney or tax
advisor. The Custodian cannot give tax advice or determine whether or not the
IRA is appropriate for you.
A. SEVEN DAY RIGHT TO REVOKE YOUR IRA.
You may revoke your IRA at any time within seven business days after the date
the IRA is established, by giving proper notice. For purposes of revocation, it
will be assumed that you received the Disclosure Statement no later than the
date of your check with which you opened your IRA. Written notice must be hand
delivered or sent by first class mail, in which case, the revocation will be
effective as of the date the notice is postmarked (or if sent by certified or
registered mail, the date of certification or registration). Notice of
revocation should be made to: A I M Distributors, Inc., Eleven Greenway Plaza,
Suite 763, P.O. Box 4739, Houston, Texas 77210-4739, Attention: Shareholder
Services Department, area code (800) 959-4246. If you revoke your IRA, you are
entitled to a refund of your entire contribution to the IRA, without adjustment
for such items as sales commissions, administrative expenses or fluctuation in
market value. If you do not revoke within seven business days after the
establishment of the IRA, you will be deemed to have accepted the terms and
conditions of the IRA and cannot later revoke the IRA without certain potential
penalties.
B. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
An IRA is a trust or custodial account created or organized in the United
States for your exclusive benefit or that of your beneficiaries. It must be
created by a written governing instrument that meets the following requirements:
(1) THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN MUST BE A BANK, federally insured credit union,
savings and loan association or another person eligible to act as trustee or
custodian;
(2) EXCEPT FOR ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS (as described in Part F below), no
contribution will be accepted unless it is in cash or cash equivalent,
including, but not by way of limitation, personal checks, cashier's checks, and
wire transfers;
(3) EXCEPT FOR ROLLOVERS and simplified employee pension ("SEP")
contributions, contributions of more than $2,000 for any tax year may not be
made;
(4) YOU WILL HAVE A NONFORFEITABLE INTEREST IN THE ACCOUNT;
(5) NO PART OF THE TRUST OR CUSTODIAL FUNDS will be invested in life
insurance contracts, nor may the assets be commingled with other property except
in a common trust fund or common investment fund. Furthermore, as provided in
section 408(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
your IRA may not be invested in "collectibles," such as art works, antiques,
metals, gems, stamps, coins (with an exception for certain U.S.-minted gold and
silver coins), and certain other types of tangible personal property. An
investment in a collectible would be treated as a distribution from your IRA
which would be includible in your gross income, and, if you had not attained the
age of 59 1/2, the distribution would also be subject to the premature
distribution penalty as discussed in Part E(4) below;
(6) YOUR ENTIRE INTEREST IN THE ACCOUNT MUST BE, or begin to be, distributed
on or before April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which
you reach age 70 1/2. The distribution may be made in a single sum, or you may
receive periodic distributions, so long as your entire interest is distributed
in equal or substantially equal payments over any of the following periods:
(a) your life;
(b) the lives of you and your designated beneficiary;
(c) a period certain not extending beyond your life expectancy;
(d) a period certain not extending beyond the life expectancy of you and
your designated beneficiary.
If the distributions from your IRA are to be made over one of the foregoing
periods, the amount distributed each year must meet the minimum distribution
requirements set forth in your IRA Custodial Agreement, or you will incur a
penalty as described in Part E(8) below;
(7) IF YOU DIE AFTER DISTRIBUTIONS HAVE commenced but before your entire
interest has been distributed to you, payments must continue at least as rapidly
as under the method of distribution in effect, at your death. If you die before
distributions have commenced, generally your entire interest must be distributed
within five years of your death. However, if your interest is payable to a
designated beneficiary, payments may be made over the life or a period not
exceeding the life expectancy of the beneficiary; provided, however, that such
payments must commence within one year of your death unless your designated
beneficiary is your surviving spouse, in which case payments need not commence
until the date on which you would have attained age 70 1/2. You should advise
the Custodian as to your beneficiary and the method of distribution desired.
C. INVESTMENT OF YOUR IRA.
Under the terms of the Custodial Agreement, your contributions will be
invested by the Custodian in full and fractional shares of the investment
company or companies that you select. As provided in the Custodial Agreement,
you may only invest your IRA Funds in shares of investment companies which are
part of "The AIM Family of Funds--Registered Trademark--," which are managed
or advised by subsidiaries of A I M Management Group Inc. You will be provided
with a list of the investment companies from which you may choose to invest.
Subject to the foregoing and to any additional restrictions described in the
Custodial Agreement, you have complete control over the investment of your IRA
Funds. The Custodian will not provide any form of investment advice or make
investment recommendations of any type, so you will make all investment
decisions on the basis of information you obtain from other sources. When you
make a decision on how you wish to invest Funds held in your IRA, you should
provide the Custodian with specific
30
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instructions, detailing your investment decision so that the Custodian can
effectuate such investments as provided in your IRA Custodial Agreement. If you
fail to direct the Custodian as to the Investment of all or any portion of your
IRA account, the Custodian shall hold such uninvested amount in your account and
shall incur no liability for interest or earnings thereon. All dividends and
capital gain distributions received on shares of an investment company held in
your IRA will be reinvested in shares of that investment company, if available,
which shall be credited to the Custodian account. Detailed information about the
shares of the AIM fund(s) you select must be furnished to you in the form of
prospectuses governed by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
D. LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON IRA CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEDUCTIONS.
Except in the case of rollover contributions (see Part F below), generally
you may contribute up to the lesser of $2,000 or 100% of your compensation
(earned income) to your IRA for any taxable year. A non-working spouse may
contribute up to $2,000 to a separate IRA.
Section 219 of the Code contains special provisions governing whether amounts
contributed to your IRA will be deductible from gross income for federal income
tax purposes. To the extent you are not eligible or elect not to make deductible
IRA contributions, you may make nondeductible IRA contributions within the
aforementioned limits which are reduced by the amount of any deductible
contributions. The following is a summary of the rules regarding the
deductibility of contributions to your IRA. You should consult your tax advisor
to determine the specific application of such rules to your IRA contributions
for any particular taxable year.
(1) IF NEITHER YOU NOR YOUR SPOUSE IS an "active participant" (as
determined under section 219(g) of the Code and any regulations or rulings
thereunder) in a retirement plan during any part of the taxable year, you may
take a deduction for contributions to your IRA for such taxable year in an
amount equal to the lesser of $2,000 or 100% of your compensation (earned
income) for such taxable year.
(2) IF EITHER YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE (unless you file separate income tax returns
as noted below) is considered an "active participant" in a retirement plan for
any part of the taxable year, the extent, if any, to which contributions to your
IRA will be deductible depends on the amount of your adjusted gross income
("AGI"). The maximum IRA deduction as specified in Paragraph (1) above will be
reduced in the same ratio that the excess of your AGI over $25,000 (for a single
individual), $40,000 (for a married couple filing jointly) and zero (for a
married couple filing separately) bears to $10,000. Thus, if you are an active
participant in a retirement plan, no IRA deduction will be permitted if:
(a) You are a single individual with AGI in excess of $35,000,
(b) you are married and file a joint return with AGI in excess of $50,000,
or
(c) you are married, file separate returns and either you or your spouse
have AGI in excess of $10,000.
(3) IF YOU ARE MARRIED and your spouse has no compensation for the
taxable year, or elects to be treated as having no compensation for such year,
you are permitted an additional deduction in the amount of $2,000 for
contributions to an IRA for the benefit of your spouse provided that your spouse
has not attained age 70 1/2 and you file a joint income tax return for such
year, subject to the provisions of (1) or (2) above, whichever is applicable.
(see below)
You will be considered an "active participant" for any particular taxable
year if you are covered by a retirement plan for any part of such year.
Generally, you will be considered covered by a retirement plan for a year if
your employer or union has a retirement plan under which money is added to your
account or you are eligible to earn retirement credits for such year. For
example, if you are covered under a profit-sharing plan, certain government
plans, a salary reduction arrangement (such as a tax-sheltered annuity
arrangement or a 401(k) plan), a SEP or a plan which promises you a retirement
benefit which is based upon the number of years of service you have with the
employer, you are likely to be an active participant. Your Form W-2 for the
year should indicate your participation status. You are an active participant
for a year even if you are not yet vested in your retirement benefit. Also, if
you make required contributions or voluntary employee contributions to a
retirement plan, you are an active participant. In certain plans you may be an
active participant even if you were only with the employer for part of the
year. You should note that if you are married but file a separate tax return,
and you did not live with your spouse at any time during the taxable year, your
spouse's active participation does not affect your ability to make deductible
contributions.
No deduction will be allowed under (1) or (2) above for any contribution
which is made for the taxable year during which you attain age 70 1/2 or for any
subsequent year. You are permitted to contribute and deduct up to $4,000 for
contributions to your IRA and a spousal IRA, subject to the provisions of (1)
and (2) above. However, in no event shall the contribution to either IRA exceed
$2,000. It should be noted that if both you and your spouse work, each may
contribute up to $2,000 of compensation (earned income) to his or her own IRA.
If your employer maintains a SEP, your employer may contribute to your IRA up
to the lesser of 15% of your compensation from such employer or $30,000.
Since SEP contributions are excluded from your gross income, such contributions
are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
If contributions to your IRA are deductible as outlined above, you may claim
such deduction even if you do not itemize your deductions on your federal income
tax return. You must make contributions to your IRA during the taxable year for
which you claim the deduction or by the deadline for filing your federal income
tax return for such year (without regard to any filing deadline extension). For
example, if you are a calendar-year taxpayer, you must make contributions no
later than April 15th in order to take a deduction for the previous year.
If any portion of a contribution to your IRA is nondeductible as outlined
above, you must so designate on your federal income tax return, as required
under section 408(o)(4) of the Code and file From 8606 with your tax return.
E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS OF THE IRA AND CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS.
(1) IN GENERAL. Except as described below, your IRA and earnings thereon are
exempt from federal income tax until distributions are made from the IRA.
(2) TAX TREATMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS. If all contributions to your IRA (other
than rollover contributions) have been deductible for federal income tax
purposes then all distributions from your IRA will be taxable as ordinary
income. However, if you have made any nondeductible IRA contributions,
distributions from your IRA will be treated as partially a return of deductible
contributions, if any, (taxable), partially a return of nondeductible
contributions (nontaxable) and partially a distribution of earnings (taxable).
The portion of an IRA distribution which will be excludable from income will be
determined by multiplying the total amount distributed by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the aggregate of all your nondeductible IRA contributions,
and the denominator of which is the aggregate balance of all of your IRAs
(including rollover IRAs and SEPs). For purposes of the foregoing, (a) all of
your IRAs will be treated as a single IRA, (b) all distributions during a
taxable year will be treated as a single distribution and (c) the aggregate
balance of your IRAs will be determined as of the end of the calendar year with
or within which your taxable year ends, after adding back any distributions for
such year.
Distributions from your IRA are not eligible for any special tax treatment
such as five-or ten-year averaging or capital gains treatment.
(3) EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS. If contributions to your IRA are in excess of the
limits stated in Part D above, you will be assessed a 6% nondeductible excise
tax on such excess amounts. This tax is payable for each year the excess is
permitted to remain in your IRA. However, if the excess contribution has not
been taken as a deduction, and if the excess and all earnings thereon are
returned before the due date for filing your income tax return for the year in
which the excess contribution was made, the 6% excise tax will not be assessed.
The earnings on such excess contribution that are returned to you will be
taxable as ordinary income and will be deemed to have been earned and taxable in
the tax year during which the excess contribution was made. In addition, if you
are not disabled or have not reached age 59 1/2, the earnings will be subject to
the 10% premature withdrawal penalty discussed below. The 6% excess contribution
tax may be eliminated for future tax years by withdrawing the excess
contribution from your IRA before the due date for filing your tax return for
that year or by under-contributing for a subsequent year by an amount equal to
the excess contribution. If the total contributions for the year to your IRA are
$2,000 or less, and there are no employer contributions for the year, you may
withdraw any excess contributions after the due date for filing your tax return,
including extensions, and not include the amount withdrawn in your gross income.
This applies only to the part of the excess that you did not take a deduction
for. It is not necessary to withdraw the interest or other income earned on the
excess. You will have to pay the 6% tax on the excess amount for each year the
excess contribution was in the IRA.
If the contributions to your IRA for any year are more than $2,000, you must
include in your gross income any excess over $2,000, unless it is an excess
rollover contribution attributable to erroneous information. You may also have
to pay a 10% tax on premature distributions on the amount you withdraw, unless
you are age 59 1/2 or disabled.
If less than the maximum amount of contributions has been made in years
before the year you make an excess contribution, the prior year's difference may
not be used to reduce the excess contribution. Qualified rollover contributions,
as described in Part F below, are not considered excess contributions.
(4) PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS. In addition to any regular income tax that may
be payable, distributions from your IRA that occur before you reach age 59 1/2
(except in the event of disability, death, rollover, medical expenses in excess
of 7.5% of adjusted gross income, medical insurance premiums in the event of
unemployment or as a qualifying distribution of an excess contribution), will be
assessed a 10% additional income tax on the amount distributed which is
includible in your gross income. However, the additional 10% income tax will not
be imposed if the distribution is one of a scheduled series of level payments to
be made over your life or life expectancy or over the joint lives or joint life
expectancies of you and your beneficiary. Amounts treated as distributions from
the IRA because of pledging the IRA as described below, or prohibited
transactions as described below, will also be considered premature distributions
if they occur before you reach age 59 1/2 (assuming you are not disabled).
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(5) PLEDGING THE IRA. If you pledge your IRA as security for a loan, the
portion so pledged is treated as being distributed to you in that year. In
addition
to any regular income tax that may be payable on the distribution, the premature
distribution penalty as discussed above may also be applicable.
(6) PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS. If you or your beneficiary engages in a
prohibited transaction, as described in section 4975 of the Code with respect to
your IRA, your IRA will lose its exemption from tax and you must include the
fair market value of your IRA in your gross income for the year during which the
prohibited transaction occurred. In addition to any regular income tax that may
be payable, the premature distribution
penalty as discussed above may also be applicable.
(7) INSUFFICIENT OR LATE DISTRIBUTIONS. In addition to the regular income tax
that may be payable on distributions from your IRA, you will be assessed
penalties on certain accumulations if funds in your IRA are not distributed in
accordance with the rules described in Part B above. If the amount distributed
from your IRA during the year is less than the minimum amount required to be
distributed during such year, an excise tax will be imposed. The tax imposed is
equal to 50% of the amount by which the minimum required distribution exceeds
the amount actually distributed during the year.
(8) ESTATE AND GIFT TAX STATUS OF DISTRIBUTIONS. Generally, for estate tax
purposes, the value of your IRA will be fully includible in your gross estate in
the event of your death. For gift tax purposes, beneficiary designations will
not be treated as gifts. Also, contributions to an IRA on behalf of a spouse who
has no earned income or elects to be treated as having no earned income will
qualify for the annual present interest gift exclusion. You should consult your
tax advisor with respect to the application of community property laws on estate
and gift tax issues relating to your IRA.
(9) INHERITED IRAS. Your IRA will be treated as an inherited IRA if, upon
your death, it is acquired by a beneficiary other than your surviving spouse. An
inherited IRA may not be rolled over to a qualified plan or to another IRA, nor
may an inherited IRA accept any regular or rollover deposits. Only a beneficiary
who is your surviving spouse will be allowed to roll over the IRA funds into his
or her own IRA.
(10) FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING. The taxable portion of
distributions from your IRA is subject to federal income tax withholding unless
you elect not to have withholding applied. If you elect not to have withholding
applied to taxable distributions from your IRA, or if insufficient federal
income tax is withheld from any distribution, you may be responsible for payment
of estimated taxes, as well as for penalties under the estimated tax rules, if
withholding and estimated tax payments were not sufficient. Additional
information regarding withholding and the necessary election forms will be
provided no later than at the time a distribution is requested.
F. ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS.
A rollover is a tax-free distribution of cash or other assets from one
retirement program to another. There are two kinds of rollover contributions to
an IRA. In one, you contribute amounts distributed to you from one IRA to
another IRA. With the other, you contribute amounts distributed to you from your
employer's qualified plan or 403(b) plan to an IRA. A rollover is an allowable
IRA contribution which is not subject to the limits on regular contributions
discussed in Part D above. However, you may not deduct a rollover contribution
to your IRA on your tax return.
If you receive a distribution from the qualified plan of your employer or
former employer, the distribution must be an "eligible rollover distribution" in
order for you to be able to roll all or part of the distribution over to your
IRA. The portion you contribute to your IRA will not be taxable to you until you
withdraw it from the IRA. Your employer or former employer will give you the
opportunity to roll over the distribution directly from the plan to the IRA. If
you elect, instead, to receive the distribution, you must deposit it into the
IRA within 60 days after you receive it.
An "eligible rollover distribution" is any distribution from a qualified plan
that would be taxable other than (1) a distribution that is one of a series of
periodic payments for an employee's life or over a period of 10 years or more,
(2) a required distribution after you attain age 70 1/2 and (3) certain
corrective distributions.
If the entire amount in your IRA has been contributed in a tax-free rollover
from your employer's or former employer's qualified plan or 403(b) plan, you may
later roll over the IRA to a new employer's plan if such plan permits rollovers.
Your IRA would then serve as a conduit for those assets. However, you may later
roll those IRA funds into a new employer's plan only if you make no further
contributions to that IRA, or commingle the IRA rollover funds with existing IRA
assets.
G. AMENDMENTS.
The Custodian of your IRA may amend the agreements establishing your IRA at
any time. The Custodian will comply with the amendment procedures set forth in
your Custodial Agreement.
H. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
Because the value of assets held in your IRA is subject to market
fluctuation, the value of your IRA can neither be guaranteed nor projected.
There is no assurance of growth in the value of your IRA or guarantee of
investment results. You will, however, be provided with periodic statements of
your IRA, including current market values of investments. Certain fees will be
charged by the Custodian in connection with your IRA.
Such fees are disclosed on the Custodian's fee schedule, a copy of which
has been provided to you. Upon thirty days' prior written notice, the Custodian
may substitute a new fee schedule. Any fees or other expenses incurred in
connection with your IRA will be deducted from your IRA (with liquidation of
Fund Shares, if necessary), or at the Custodian's option, such fees or expenses
may be billed to you directly.
For its services to the various funds, in The AIM Family of
Funds--Registered Trademark--, INVESCO Trust Company receives a custodian fee.
This fee is in addition to fees it receives for acting as Custodian under the
IRA. INVESCO Trust Company and A I M Distributors, Inc. also will receive
additional fees for performing specific services with respect to the various
funds in the AIM Family of Funds. Any such fees will be fully disclosed to you.
Potential investors should obtain a copy of the current Prospectus relating to
the fund(s) selected for investment prior to making an investment. Also, copies
of the Statement of Additional Information relating to such fund(s) will be
provided upon your request to A I M Distributors, Inc.
I. MISCELLANEOUS.
Each year you will be provided a statement(s) of account which will give the
amount of contributions to the IRA, the year to which each contribution relates,
and the total value of the IRA as of the end of the year. Information relating
to contributions and distributions must be reported annually to the Internal
Revenue Service and to you. You must also file Form 5329 (Return for Individual
Retirement Savings Arrangement) with the Internal Revenue Service for each
taxable year during which you are assessed any penalty or tax as discussed in
Part E above.
Your IRA has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service. Such approval is
a determination as to the form of the IRA, and does not represent a
determination of the IRA's merits as an investment.
Further information about IRAs can be obtained from any district office of
the Internal Revenue Service or from the Custodian.
All provisions in this Disclosure Statement are subject to the Code and to
the regulations promulgated thereunder. This Disclosure Statement constitutes a
nontechnical restatement and summary of certain provisions of the Code which may
affect your IRA. This is not a legal document. Your legal rights and obligations
are governed by the federal tax laws and regulations and your Custodial
Agreement and Adoption Agreement with the Custodian.
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EXHIBIT 14(b)
SEP AND SARSEP IRA ADOPTION AGREEMENT [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
The undersigned Employer hereby establishes a Simplified Employee Pension Plan
(SEP) and/or a Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SARSEP) for
the exclusive benefit of Employees who are eligible to participate. The terms of
the Plan are set forth in this Adoption Agreement and the accompanying Plan
Document which is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. EMPLOYER AND PLAN INFORMATION
Employer's Name
-------------------------------------------------------------
Address
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax I.D. Number Telephone Number
---------------------------- --------------
Form of Business:
[ ] Sole Proprietor [ ] Partnership [ ] Corporation
[ ] Electing S Corporation
Name of individual authorized to issue instructions to AIM:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan Year: Plan Type:
[ ] Calendar year. [ ] SEP IRA only
[ ] Employer's Taxable Year ending on . [ ] SARSEP IRA only
------
[ ] Combined SEP and SARSEP IRA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. EFFECTIVE DATES
(a) New Plan: Effective as of .
------------------
(b) Amended and Restated Plan:
(i) Original Plan effective as of .
------------------------
(ii) Amended and Restated Plan effective as of .
----------------------
(c) Elective Deferrals effective as of .
-----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
(a) Age: [ ] No requirement. [ ] Minimum age _____________ (not over 21).
(b) Service:
Employees who have performed services for the Employer during at least
________ (maximum 3) of the immediately preceding 5 Plan Years.
(c) Excluded Classes of Employees (select all applicable options):
[ ] None.
[ ] Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement under which
retirement plan benefits have been the subject of good faith bargaining.
[ ] Employees whose Compensation as defined at Code Section 414(q)(7)
is less than $400 (as adjusted for inflation) during the Plan Year.
[ ] Non-resident aliens.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. EMPLOYER ALLOCATION FORMULA
[ ] (a) Proportionate Allocation described at paragraph 3.3(a) of the SEP
and SARSEP Plan Document, or
[ ] (b) Integrated Allocation described at paragraph 3.3(b) of the Plan
Document. This allocation formula may not be adopted if the Employer
maintains any other plan which is integrated with Social Security.
15
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. EMPLOYEE ELECTIVE DEFERRALS (FOR SARSEP ONLY)
% limit ________ (not to exceed 15%). Dollar limit $ _________________(not
to exceed $9,240 as indexed).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CASH BONUS OPTION
An Employee [ ] may [ ] may not defer a bonus.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. LIMITATIONS ON USE OF PROTOTYPE
An Employer may adopt this Plan even if such Employer maintains another
qualified defined contribution plan, provided that contributions are limited
in accordance with Code Section 415. An Employer may not participate in this
Plan if the Employer maintains currently or has ever maintained a defined
benefit plan which is now terminated. An Employer who participates in this
Plan and who adopts a qualified defined benefit plan, may no longer
participate in this Plan. Thereafter, such Employer shall be considered to
have an individually drafted plan.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. TOP-HEAVY MINIMUM CONTRIBUTIONS
The Top-Heavy Plan requirements under Code Section 416 shall be satisfied
by:
[ ] (a) this Plan.
[ ] (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of other qualified plan of the Employer).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. SPONSOR CONTACT
Employers should direct questions concerning the language contained in and
qualification of the prototype to:
A I M Distributors, Inc.
Retirement Plans Department
11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1919
P.O. Box 4333
Houston, Texas 77210-4739
(800) 998-4246 Ext. 5612
In the event that the Sponsor amends, discontinues or abandons this
prototype Plan, notification will be provided to the Employer's address
provided on the first page of this Agreement.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. SIGNATURES
(a) This Agreement was signed by the Employer the day of 19 .
------ --------- --
Signed for the Employer by
--------------------------------------------------
Title
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) This Agreement was signed by AIM Distributors, Inc. the day of 19 .
---- --- -
Signed for the Sponsor by
--------------------------------------------------
Title
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature
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[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] AIM Distributors, Inc. 43101-10/95
16
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SEP AND SARSEP IRA PLAN DOCUMENT [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
AIM Distributors, Inc. hereby establishes a Prototype Plan for use, in
conjunction with an Internal Revenue Service approved IRA, by Employers who wish
to establish a qualified Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP) and/or a Salary
Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan, sometimes called a SARSEP. If the
Employer executes an Adoption Agreement which is accepted by AIM Distributors,
Inc. and which incorporates this document by reference, the Boston Safe Deposit
& Trust will act as custodian or trustee of the IRA plans established by
Employees eligible to receive contributions under the terms of this Plan. The
salary reduction feature of this prototype SEP and SARSEP may not be used by an
Employer who: 1) at any time during the prior Plan Year had more than 25
Employees who would have been eligible to participate; 2) has any leased
employees within the meaning of Code Section 414(n)(2); 3) is a governmental or
tax-exempt entity; 4) has eligible Employees whose taxable year is not the
calendar year; 5) has less than 50% of the Employees that are eligible to make
Elective Deferrals elect to have Elective Deferrals made to the Plan. No part of
this prototype document may be used if the Employer currently maintains or has
ever maintained a defined benefit pension plan which is now terminated. The
Employer's SARSEP shall contain the following terms and conditions:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 ADOPTION AGREEMENT The document attached hereto by which the Employer
elects to establish a qualified Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension
Plan under the terms of this Prototype Plan.
1.2 CODE The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any amendment thereto.
1.3 COMPENSATION The total wages, salaries, fees (for professional services)
and other taxable remuneration (without regard to whether or not an amount is
paid in cash) paid to a Participant from the Employer which are includible in
the Participant's gross income for the taxable year, as defined within the
meaning of Code Section 415(c)(3). Compensation does not include:
(a) Contributions to this plan or any other plan of deferred
compensation; and
(b) Amounts realized from the exercise of a nonqualified stock option,
or when restricted stock becomes freely transferable or is no longer subject to
a substantial risk of forfeiture; and
(c) Amounts realized from the disposition of stock acquired under a
qualified stock option; and
(d) Amounts received as a pension or annuity.
When applicable to a Self-Employed Individual, Compensation shall mean
Earned Income. With respect to any Plan Year, Compensation will be limited to
the first $150,000 of Compensation [or such higher amount determined in
accordance with Code Section 408(k)(3)(C)]. If a Plan determines Compensation
on a period of time that contains fewer than 12 calendar months, then the annual
compensation limit is an amount equal to the annual compensation limit for the
calendar year in which the Compensation period begins multiplied by the ratio
obtained by dividing the number of full months in the period by 12.
1.4 CUSTODIAN BOSTON SAFE DEPOSIT & TRUST or any successor thereto.
1.5 DEFERRAL PERCENTAGE LIMITATION Deferral Percentage Limitation is the
maximum amount of Elective Deferrals, expressed as a percentage of Compensation,
that can be contributed on behalf of any Highly Compensated Employee for a
particular Plan Year. This limitation equals the product of the average of the
Elective Deferrals (expressed as a percentage of each such Employee's
Compensation) made on behalf of each non-highly compensated employee for the
same Plan Year, multiplied by 1.25.
In calculating this average, the percentage for an eligible non-highly
compensated Employee who chooses not to have Elective Deferrals made on his or
her behalf for a Plan Year, is zero. The determination of the deferral
percentage for any Employee is to be made in accordance with Code Section
408(k)(6) and such other requirements as may be provided by the Secretary of
the Treasury. In addition, for purposes of determining the deferral percentage
of a Highly Compensated Employee, the Elective Deferrals and Compensation of
the Employee will also include the Elective Deferrals and Compensation of
any Family Member. This special rule applies, however, only if the Highly
Compensated Employee owns more than 5% of the Employer or is one of the ten
most highly-paid employees. The Elective Deferrals and Compensation of Family
Members used in this special rule do not count in computing the average of the
deferral percentages of non-highly compensated Employees.
1.6 EARNED INCOME Net earnings from self-employment in the trade or business
with respect to which the Plan is established, determined without regard to
items not included in gross income and the deductions allocable to such items,
provided that personal services of the individual are a material income
producing factor. Earned Income shall be reduced by contributions made by an
Employer to a qualified plan, including this Plan, to the extent deductible
under Code Section 404. Earned Income shall also be reduced by one-half of the
self employed's social security taxes.
1.7 EFFECTIVE DATE The date on which the Employer's Plan commences or an
amendment becomes effective. The Effective Date of the Elective Deferral
provisions shall be designated by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
1.8 ELECTIVE DEFERRAL(s) Employer contributions made to the Plan at the
election of the Participant, in lieu of cash Compensation, pursuant to a Salary
Savings Agreement or other deferral mechanism, such as a cash option
contribution. With respect to any taxable year, a Participant's Elective
Deferral is the sum of all Employer contributions made on behalf of such
Participant pursuant to an election to defer under any of the following: a
qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Code Section 401(k);
this Plan or any other simplified employee pension cash or deferred
arrangement described in Code Section 402(h)(1)(B); an eligible deferred
compensation plan under Code Section 457; and a plan described in Code Section
501(c)(18). Also included are any Employer contributions made on the behalf of
Participant for the purchase of an annuity contract under Code Section 403(b)
pursuant to a Salary Savings Agreement.
1.9 EMPLOYEE Any person employed by the Employer (including Self-Employed
Individuals and partners), all Employees of a member of an affiliated service
group [as defined in Code Section 414(m)], Employees of a controlled group of
corporations [as defined in Code Section 414(b)], Employees of any incorporated
or unincorporated trade or business which is under common control [as defined in
Code Section 414(c)], and all leased Employees who are not Employees of the
Employer but are required to be treated as Employees of the Employer under
section 414(n), and all Employees required to be aggregated under section
414(o) of the Code. All such Employees shall be treated as employed by a
single Employer.
1.10 EMPLOYER Any corporation, partnership, or proprietorship which adopts
this prototype plan, including any entity which succeeds the Employer and adopts
this Plan.
1.11 FAMILY MEMBER An Employee who is related to a Highly Compensated
Employee as a spouse, or as a lineal ascendant (such as a parent or grandparent)
or descendant (such as a child or grandchild) or spouse of either of those, in
accordance with Code Section 414(q) and the regulations thereunder. Family
membership is only applicable to Highly Compensated Employees who either own
more than 5% of the Employer or are one of the ten most highly compensated
Employees.
1.12 HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE An individual described in Code Section
414(q) who, during the current or preceding Plan Year:
(a) Was a 5% owner as defined in Code Section 416(i)(1)(B)(i);
(b) Received Compensation in excess of $50,000, as adjusted pursuant to
Code Section 415(d), and was in the top-paid group (the top 20% of Employees
ranked by Compensation);
(c) Received Compensation in excess of $75,000, as adjusted pursuant to
Code Section 415(d); or
(d) Was an officer as defined in Code Section 416(i)(1)(A) and received
Compensation in excess of 50% of the dollar limit on annual benefits payable
under Code Section 415 for defined benefit plans.
1.13 INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT AIM Distributors, Inc. Individual
Retirement Account which meets the requirements of Code Section 408(a)
established in conjunction with the Employer's Plan (IRA), as the recipient
of the Employer's contributions for the benefit of a participating Employee.
1.14 KEY EMPLOYEE Any Employee or former Employee [and the beneficiaries of
these Employees] who, at any time during the current Plan Year and the four
preceding Plan Years, was:
(a) An officer of the Employer [if the Employee's Compensation exceeds
50% of the limit under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A)];
(b) An owner of one of the ten largest interests in the Employer [if the
Employee's Compensation exceeds 100% of the limit under Code Section
415(c)(1)(A) and the ownership interest exceeds 1/2% of the Employer];
(c) A 5% owner of the Employer as defined in Code Section
416(i)(1)(B)(i)]; or
(d) A 1% owner of the Employer [if the Employee has Compensation in
excess of $150,000].
1.15 OWNER-EMPLOYEE A sole proprietor or partner owning more than 10% of
either the capital or profits interest of the partnership.
17
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1.16 PARTICIPANT Any Employee of the Employer who is participating in the
Plan.
1.17 PLAN The Simplified Employee Pension Plan with salary reduction
provisions as embodied herein.
1.18 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR The Employer is the Plan's named fiduciary and Plan
Administrator.
1.19 PLAN YEAR The 12-consecutive month period designated by the Employer in
the Adoption Agreement.
1.20 SALARY SAVINGS AGREEMENT A written agreement between the Employer and a
participating Employee where the Employee authorizes the Employer to withhold a
specified percentage of his or her Compensation for deposit to the Plan on
behalf of such Employee.
1.21 SARSEP A Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP) in which a
participating Employee may make an election through a Salary Savings Agreement
to have a portion of his or her salary deferred and have the Employer contribute
the entire amount of deferred salary to an IRA on his or her behalf.
1.22 SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL An individual who has Earned Income for the
taxable year from the trade or business for which the Plan is established
including an individual who would have had Earned Income but for the fact that
the trade or business had no net profits for the taxable year.
1.23 SEP-IRA The Individual Retirement Account established to receive the
Employer's contributions for the benefit of each participating Employee.
1.24 SPONSOR The institution whose name appears on the cover hereof.
1.25 TAXABLE WAGE BASE The maximum amount of earnings which may be
considered wages at the beginning of the Plan Year under Section 230 of the
Social Security Act.
1.26 TAXABLE YEAR The taxable year of an Employer for Federal income tax
purposes.
ARTICLE II
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
2.1 PARTICIPATION Each Employee of the Employer shall automatically become a
Participant under the Plan as of the first day of the Plan Year during which
such Employee meets the eligibility requirements selected by the Employer in the
Adoption Agreement. Employees shall not be permitted to authorize Elective
Deferrals until the individual satisfies the Plan's eligibility requirements. In
the event an Employee who is not a member of the eligible class of Employees
becomes a member of the eligible class, such Employee shall participate
immediately if such Employee has satisfied the minimum age and service
requirements and would have become a Participant had he or she been in the
eligible class. A former Participant shall again become a Participant
immediately upon returning to the employ of the Employer.
2.2 MAXIMUM AGE The Plan shall not exclude Employees who have attained age
70 1/2, provided such Employees meet the eligibility requirements in the
Adoption Agreement.
2.3 EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS Participation in the Plan shall not confer upon a
Participant any employment rights, nor shall it interfere with the Employer's
right to terminate the employment of any Employee at any time.
2.4 WITHDRAWAL OF CONTRIBUTIONS Participation in the Plan shall not be
terminated, suspended, or in any way affected, if a Participant withdraws all or
any part of his or her IRA. This Plan shall not impose any prohibition on a
Participant's right to make withdrawals from his or her IRA.
ARTICLE III
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
3.1 AMOUNT Prior to the close of each Plan Year, the Employer shall
determine in writing the amount of its contribution for such Plan Year. This is
in addition to any amount contributed pursuant to Salary Savings Agreements with
the Participants. The Employer's contribution shall be discretionary and the
Employer shall be under no obligation to contribute each year. The Employer may
make a contribution even if no Elective Deferrals are contributed for such year.
Contributions to the SEP are deductible by the Employer for the Taxable Year
with or within which the Plan Year of the SEP ends. Contributions made for a
particular Taxable Year and contributed by the due date of the Employer's income
tax return, including extensions, are deemed made in that Taxable Year.
3.2 LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS The Employer's contribution (including Salary
Savings Agreement amounts) when allocated to eligible Participants for any Plan
Year shall not exceed the lesser of 15% of each Participant's Compensation or
$30,000 [as indexed under Code Section 415]. In addition, the Employer's
contribution shall also bear a uniform relationship to the total Compensation
of each Participant. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the Employer's
contribution to the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program may be
considered as part of the Employer's contribution. Employer contributions to
the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Program may not be considered
under this Plan if it is considered under any other plan of the Employer.
3.3 ALLOCATION FORMULAS The Employer's contribution shall be allocated among
eligible Participants in accordance with one of the formulas provided below.
Employees and former Employees employed by the Employer at any time during the
Plan Year, who met the eligibility requirements at any time during the Plan
Year, shall share in the Employer's contribution for such Plan Year, even though
no longer employed. The Employer's contribution shall automatically be allocated
in accordance with paragraph (a) unless paragraph (b) is selected in the
Adoption Agreement.
(a) PROPORTIONATE ALLOCATION The Employer's contribution for each Plan
Year shall be allocated to the IRA of each eligible Employee in the same portion
as such Employee's Compensation [not in excess of $150,000 as adjusted for
inflation under Code Section 401(a)(17)] for such Plan Year bears to all
eligible Employees' Compensation for that year.
(b) INTEGRATED ALLOCATION The Employer's contribution for the Plan Year
shall be allocated to each eligible Participant (using his or her Compensation
earned during the Plan Year) as follows:
(i) First, to the extent contributions are sufficient, all
Participants will receive an allocation equal to 3% of their Compensation.
(ii) Next, any remaining Employer Contributions will be allocated to
Participants who have Compensation in excess of the Taxable Wage Base (excess
Compensation) as in effect at the beginning of the Plan Year. Each such
Participant will receive an allocation in the ratio that his or her excess
Compensation bears to the excess Compensation of all Participants. Participants
may only receive an allocation of 3% of excess Compensation.
(iii) Next, any remaining Employer contributions will be allocated
to all Participants in the ratio that their Compensation plus excess
Compensation bears to the total Compensation plus excess Compensation of all
Participants. Participants may only receive an allocation of up to 2.7% of their
Compensation plus excess Compensation, under this allocation method.
NOTE: If the Plan is not Top-Heavy or if the Top-Heavy minimum contribution or
benefit is provided under another Plan [see Section 8 of the Adoption
Agreement] covering the same Employees, sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) above may
be disregarded and 5.7% may be substituted for 2.7% where it appears in (iii)
above.
(iv) Next, any remaining Employer contributions will be allocated to
all Participants in the ratio that each Participant's Compensation bears to all
Participants' Compensation.
3.4 RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTRIBUTIONS The Sponsor shall not be required to
determine if the Employer has made a contribution or if the amount contributed
is in accordance with the Adoption Agreement or the Code. The Employer shall
have sole responsibility in this regard.
ARTICLE IV
EMPLOYEE ELECTIVE DEFERRALS
4.1 ELECTIVE DEFERRAL REQUIREMENTS Elective Deferrals shall only be
permitted for Plan Years in which:
(a) Not less than 50% of the Participants elect to make Elective
Deferrals to the SEP-IRA on their behalf; and
(b) The Employer had no more than 25 Employees at all times during the
prior Plan Year who were eligible to participate in the Plan.
4.2 SALARY SAVINGS AGREEMENT An Employee may elect to have Elective
Deferrals made under this Plan through either a lump sum or continuing Elective
Deferrals, or both, pursuant to his or her Salary Savings Agreement. The amount
of Elective Deferrals may not exceed the percentage or dollar amount specified
in the Employer's Adoption Agreement. Under no circumstances may an Employee's
Elective Deferrals in any calendar year exceed the lesser of:
(a) Fifteen percent of the Employee's Compensation determined without
including the SEP-IRA contributions, (13.0435% of Compensation plus Elective
Deferrals), or
(b) $7,000 as adjusted for inflation at the beginning of such taxable
year. This amount may be reduced if a Participant contributes pre-tax
contributions to qualified plans of this or other Employers.
4.3 TIMING OF ELECTIVE DEFERRALS Elective Deferrals may not be based on
Compensation an Employee has received, or had a right to receive, prior to the
execution of the Employee's Salary Savings Agreement. A Participant may amend
his or her Salary Savings Agreement to increase, decrease or terminate the
Elective Deferral percentage upon written notice to the Employer. Such increase,
decrease or termination shall be effective as soon as reasonably possible, but
in any event within 90 days of written notice. If a Participant terminates his
or her Elective Deferrals, such Participant shall not be permitted to put a new
Salary Savings Agreement into effect until after 90 days. The Employer may also
amend or terminate said agreement on written notice to the Participant to insure
the Plan's qualified status. If a Participant has not authorized the Employer to
withhold at the maximum rate and desires to increase the total withheld for a
Plan Year, such Participant may authorize the Employer to withhold a
supplemental amount up to 100% of his or her Compensation for one or more pay
periods. In no event may the sum of the amounts withheld under the Salary
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Savings Agreement plus the supplemental withholding exceed 15% of a
Participant's Compensation for a Plan Year (net of the Elective Deferrals).
The Employer agrees to deposit Elective Deferrals with the Sponsor for credit
to Participant IRAs within 30 days after being withheld from the Participant's
Compensation.
4.4 CASH BONUS OPTION If permitted by the Employer in the Adoption
Agreement, an Employee may base Elective Deferrals on cash bonuses during the
year that, at the Employee's election, may be contributed to the SEP-IRA or
received by the Employee in cash.
4.5 DISALLOWED ELECTIVE DEFERRALS If the 50% requirement in paragraph
4.1(a) is not satisfied as of the end of any Plan Year, all the Elective
Deferrals made by Employees for that Plan Year shall be considered disallowed
Elective Deferrals.
4.6 NOTIFICATION OF DISALLOWED ELECTIVE DEFERRALS The Employer shall notify
each affected Participant, within 2 1/2 months after the end of the Plan Year to
which the disallowed Elective Deferrals relate, that the deferrals are no longer
considered SARSEP contributions. Such notification shall specify the amount of
the disallowed Elective Deferrals and the Participant's calendar year in which
they are includible in income. Additionally, the notice must provide an
explanation of the applicable penalties if the disallowed Elective Deferrals are
not withdrawn in a timely fashion. The notice to each affected Participant shall
state the following:
(a) The amount of the disallowed Elective Deferral;
(b) That the disallowed Elective Deferrals are includible in the
Participant's gross income for the calendar year or years in which the amounts
deferred would have been received by the Participant in cash had she or he not
made the election to defer, and that the income allocable to such disallowed
Elective Deferrals is includible in the Participant's gross income in the year
withdrawn from the SEP-IRA; and
(c) That the Participant must withdraw the disallowed Elective Deferrals
and allocable income from the SEP-IRA by the April 15 following the calendar
year of notification by the Employer. Disallowed Elective Deferrals not
withdrawn by the April 15 following the calendar year of notification will be
subject to the IRA contribution limitations of Code Section 219 and Section 408
and may be considered excess contributions to the Participant's IRA. Disallowed
Elective Deferrals may be subject to the six percent tax on excess
contributions under Code Section 4973. If income allocable to a disallowed
Elective Deferral is not withdrawn by April 15 following the year of
notification by the Employer, the income may be subject to the ten percent tax
on early distributions under Code Section 72(t) when withdrawn.
4.7 REPORTING Disallowed Elective Deferrals are reported for tax purposes in
the same manner as excess SEP contributions.
ARTICLE V
ACCOUNTS OF PARTICIPANTS
5.1 INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT Each Employee, upon becoming a Participant
under the Plan, shall establish an IRA with the Sponsor. The Employee or Sponsor
shall furnish an account number to the Employer certifying the existence of such
account.
5.2 DETERMINATION OF DEPOSIT When making a contribution to the Plan, the
Employer shall calculate each Participant's proportionate share of the
Employer's contribution as determined in the Adoption Agreement. The Employer
shall then deliver the contribution to the Sponsor indicating the amount to be
credited to each Participant's SEP-IRA.
5.3 CONTROL OF ACCOUNT All contributions made under the Plan by the Employer
shall be irrevocable. After allocation to a Participant's SEP-IRA, the Employer
shall have no further control of such contribution and the terms of the
Participant's IRA shall be fully effective.
5.4 ALLOCATION OF ELECTIVE DEFERRALS The Employer shall contribute to each
Employee's SEP-IRA the amount of the Elective Deferrals designated in his or her
Salary Savings Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS
6.1 LIMITATIONS ON ELECTIVE DEFERRALS A Participant's Elective Deferrals may
be limited to the extent necessary to satisfy the maximum contribution
limitations under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A) if the Employer maintains any
other SEP or any qualified plan to which contributions are made for such Plan
Year.
6.2 OVERALL LIMITATIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS In addition to the dollar
limitation of Code Section 415(c)(1)(A) ($30,000 in 1991), contributions to this
Plan, when aggregated with contributions to all other SEPs and contributions
plus forfeitures under other qualified defined contribution plans of the
Employer, generally may not exceed 25% of Compensation for any Employee. If
these limits are exceeded on behalf of any Employee for a particular Plan Year,
that Employee's Elective Deferrals for that year must be reduced to the extent
of the excess.
6.3 LIMITATIONS FOR HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES Elective Deferrals by a
Highly Compensated Employee must satisfy the Deferral Percentage Limitation
under Code Section 408(k)(6) and paragraph 1.4 herein. Amounts in excess of the
Deferral Percentage Limitation will be deemed excess SEP contributions on behalf
of the affected Highly Compensated Employee.
6.4 NOTIFICATION OF EXCESS SEP CONTRIBUTIONS The Employer shall notify each
affected Participant, within 2 1/2 months following the end of the Plan Year to
which the excess SEP contributions relate, of any excess SEP contributions to
the Participant's SEP-IRA for the applicable year. Such notification shall
specify the amount of the excess SEP contributions and the calendar year in
which the contributions are includible in income and must provide an explanation
of applicable penalties if the excess contributions are not withdrawn in a
timely fashion.
6.5 NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS The notification to each affected Participant
of excess SEP contributions must specifically state in a manner calculated to be
understood by the average Employee:
(a) The amount of the excess SEP contributions attributable to the
Participant's Elective Deferrals;
(b) The calendar year in which the excess SEP contributions are
includible in gross income; and
(c) That the Participant must withdraw the excess SEP contributions (and
allocable income) from the SEP-IRA by April 15 following the year of
notification by the Employer. Those excess contributions not withdrawn by April
15 following the year of notification will be subject to the IRA contribution
limitations of Code Section 219 and Section 408 for the preceding calendar year
and thus may be considered an excess contribution to the Participant's IRA.
Such excess contributions may be subject to the six percent tax on excess
contributions under Code Section 4973. If income allocable to an excess SEP
contribution is not withdrawn by April 15 following the year of notification by
the Employer, the income may be subject to the ten percent tax on early
distributions under Code Section 72(t) when withdrawn.
6.6 EXCESS SEP CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDIBLE IN INCOME Excess SEP contributions
are includible in the participating Employee's gross income on the earliest
dates any Elective Deferrals made on behalf of the Employee during the Plan Year
would have been received by the Employee had he or she originally elected to
receive the amounts in cash. However, if the excess SEP contributions (not
including allocable income) total less than $100, then the excess contributions
are includible in the Employee's gross income in the year of notification.
Income allocable to the excess SEP contributions is includible in the year of
withdrawal from the IRA.
6.7 EXCISE TAXES AND PENALTIES If the Employer fails to notify any of the
affected Employees within 2 1/2 months following the end of the Plan Year of an
excess SEP contribution, the Employer must pay a tax equal to 10% of the excess
SEP contribution. If the Employer fails to notify employees by the end of the
Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the excess SEP contributions arose,
the SEP no longer will be considered to meet the requirements of Code Section
408(k)(6) and contributions in the Employee's IRA will be subject to the IRA
contribution limitations and thus may be considered excess contributions to the
Employee's IRA.
6.8 WITHDRAWAL RESTRICTIONS The Employer shall notify each Participant who
makes an Elective Deferral for a Plan Year that, notwithstanding the prohibition
on withdrawal restrictions contained elsewhere in this Plan, any amount
attributable to such Elective Deferrals which is withdrawn or transferred before
the earlier of 2 1/2 months after the end of the particular Plan Year or the
date the Employer notifies its Employees that the Deferral Percentage
Limitations have been calculated, will be includible in income and possibly
subject to an early penalty tax.
ARTICLE VII
TOP-HEAVY RULES
7.1 TOP-HEAVY MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION Each Plan Year for which the Plan is Top
Heavy under Code Section 416, each non-key Employee shall receive an allocation
of Employer contributions equal to the lesser of 3% of Compensation or the
percentage of Compensation allocated to the Key Employee receiving the highest
percentage allocation. The Top-Heavy minimum contribution shall be satisfied
under this Plan unless the Employer designates another plan in the Adoption
Agreement.
7.2 CONTRIBUTIONS COUNTED TOWARDS MINIMUM For purposes of satisfying the
minimum contribution requirement under Code Section 416, only Employer
contributions shall be taken into account. Employee Elective Deferrals shall
not be considered.
7.3 TOP-HEAVY DETERMINATION This Plan is Top-Heavy for a Plan Year if, as of
the last day of the previous Plan Year (or current Plan Year if this is the
first year of the Plan) the total of elective and non-elective contributions
made on behalf of Key Employees for all years this Plan has been in existence
exceeds 60% of such contributions for all Employees who were eligible to
participate. If the Employer maintains (or maintained within the prior five
years) any other SEP or defined contribution plan in which a Key Employee
participates (or participated), the contributions or account balances, whichever
is applicable, must be aggregated with the contributions made to this Plan. The
contributions (and
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account balances, if applicable) of an Employee who ceases to be a Key Employee
or of an individual who has not been in the employ of the Employer for the
previous five years shall be disregarded. The identification of Key Employees
and the Top-Heavy calculation shall be determined in accordance with Code
Section 416 and the regulations thereunder.
ARTICLE VIII
ADMINISTRATION
8.1 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR The Employer shall be the Plan's named fiduciary and
shall serve as Plan Administrator. As Plan Administrator, the Employer shall:
(a) Carry out the provisions of the Plan including determining
eligibility of Employees, allocating contributions, and interpreting the Plan
when necessary,
(b) Deliver all contributions to the Sponsor showing the amount to be
allocated to each Participant's IRA,
(c) Communicate with Employees regarding their participation and
benefits under the Plan,
(d) Advise Employees in writing of all contributions to their IRAs, and
(e) Perform any other duties required of the Plan Administrator.
8.2 SPONSOR The Sponsor shall be depository for individual IRAs established
by Plan Participants. As depository, the Sponsor shall:
(a) Accept for deposit contributions transmitted by the Employer. The
Sponsor need not verify the amount of the contributions received or the amounts
allocated to individual IRAs provided that no contribution for an individual IRA
exceeds the lesser of $30,000 as indexed or 15% of the individual's Compensation
for the Plan Year, and
(b) Administer each individual IRA in accordance with the provisions of
the Sponsor's IRA document.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
9.1 AMENDMENT BY SPONSOR The Sponsor may amend or terminate any or all
provisions of this prototype plan at any time without obtaining the approval or
consent of any Employer or Participant, provided that no amendment shall
authorize or permit any part of an Employer's contribution to be used for or
diverted to purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of Participants. The
Sponsor will inform each adopting Employer of any amendments to or termination
of the prototype SARSEP.
9.2 QUALIFICATION OF PROTOTYPE The Sponsor intends that this Plan will meet
the requirements of Code Section 408(k)(6) and the regulations thereunder as a
qualified Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan. Should the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue or any delegate of the Commissioner at any time
determine that the Plan fails to meet the requirements of said Code
Section 408(k)(6), the Sponsor will amend the Plan so as to maintain its
qualified status.
9.3 AMENDMENT BY EMPLOYER The Employer may amend any option elected in the
Adoption Agreement provided that no amendment shall authorize or permit any part
of the Employer's contribution to be used for or diverted to purposes other than
for the exclusive benefit of Participants. If the Employer amends the Adoption
Agreement other than within the available options, the Employer may no longer
participate in this Plan.
9.4 TERMINATION The Employer may terminate its Plan at any time by filing
written notice with the Sponsor. In such event, the Sponsor shall continue to
administer each Participant's IRA as provided under the IRA agreement. The
Sponsor may also terminate the prototype upon written notice to the Employer.
ARTICLE X
GOVERNING LAW
Construction, validity and administration of the prototype plan, and any
Employer Plan as embodied in the prototype document and accompanying Adoption
Agreement, shall be governed by Federal law to the extent applicable and, to the
extent not applicable, by the laws of the State/Commonwealth in which the
principal office of the Sponsor is located.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE Department of the Treasury
Prototype SEP with Salary Reduction Feature 002
FFN: 50441601900-002 Case: 9580093 EIN: 74-1894784 Washington, D.C. 20224
Letter Serial No. C410671b
AIM DISTRIBUTORS INC. Person to Contact: Ms. Arrington
11 GREENWAY PLAZA SUITE 1919 Telephone Number: (202) 622-8173
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77046 Refer Reply to: CP:E:EP:T1
Date: 11-13-95
</TABLE>
Dear Applicant:
In our opinion, the amendment to the form of your Simplified Employee Pension
(SEP) arrangement does not adversely affect its acceptability under section
408(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. This SEP arrangement is approved for use
only in conjunction with an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) which meets
the requirements of Code section 408 and has received a favorable opinion
letter, or a model IRA (Forms 5308 and 5305-A).
Employers who adopt this approved plan will be considered to have a retirement
savings program that satisfies the requirements of Code section 408 provided
that it is used in conjunction with an approved IRA. Please provide a copy of
this letter to each adopting employer.
Code section 408(l) and related regulations require that employers who adopt
this SEP arrangement furnish employees in writing certain information about this
SEP arrangement and annual reports of savings program transactions.
Your program may have to be amended to include or revise provisions in order to
comply with future changes in the law or regulations.
If you have any questions concerning IRS processing of this case, call us at the
above telephone number. Please refer to the Letter Serial Number and File Folder
Number shown in the heading of this letter. Please provide those adopting this
plan with your phone number, and advise them to contact your office if they have
any questions about the operation of this plan.
You should keep this letter as a permanent record. Please notify us if you
terminate the term of this plan.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
-----------------------------------------
Chief, Employee Plans Technical Branch 1
20
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[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
Form 5305-A (Rev. October 1992) Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
(under Section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code)
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC. CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I
The Custodian may accept additional cash contributions on behalf of the
Depositor for a tax year of the Depositor. The total cash contributions are
limited to $2,000 for the tax year unless the contribution is a rollover
contribution described in section 402(c) (but only after December 31, 1992),
403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), or an employer contribution to a simplified
employee pension plan as described in section 408(k). Rollover contributions
before January 1, 1993, include rollovers described in section 402(a)(5),
402(a)(6), 402(a)(7), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), or an employer
contribution to a simplified employee pension plan as described in section
408(k).
ARTICLE II
The Depositor's interest in the balance in the custodial account is
nonforfeitable.
ARTICLE III
1. NO PART OF THE CUSTODIAL FUNDS may be invested in life insurance
contracts, nor may the assets of the custodial account be commingled with other
property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund (within the
meaning of section 408(a)(5)).
2. NO PART OF THE CUSTODIAL FUNDS may be invested in collectibles (within
the meaning of section 408(m)) except as otherwise permitted by section
408(m)(3) which provides an exception for certain gold and silver coins and
coins issued under the laws of any state.
ARTICLE IV
1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION of this agreement to the contrary, the
distribution of the Depositor's interest in the custodial account shall be made
in accordance with the following requirements and shall otherwise comply with
section 408(a)(6) and Proposed Regulations section 1.408-8, including the
incidental death benefit provisions of Proposed Regulations section 1.401(a)
(9)-2, the provisions of which are incorporated by reference.
2. UNLESS OTHERWISE ELECTED by the time distributions are required to begin
to the Depositor under paragraph 3, or to the surviving spouse under paragraph
4, other than in the case of a life annuity, life expectancies shall be
recalculated annually. Such election shall be irrevocable as to the Depositor
and the surviving spouse and shall apply to all subsequent years. The life
expectancy of a nonspouse beneficiary may not be recalculated.
3. THE DEPOSITOR'S ENTIRE INTEREST in the custodial account must be, or
begin to be, distributed by the Depositor's required beginning date (April 1
following the calendar year end in which the Depositor reaches age 70 1/2. By
that date, the Depositor may elect, in a manner acceptable to the Custodian, to
have the balance in the custodial account distributed in:
(a) A single-sum payment.
(b) An annuity contract that provides equal or substantially equal
monthly, quarterly, or annual payments over the life of the Depositor.
(c) An annuity contract that provides equal or substantially equal
monthly, quarterly, or annual payments over the joint and last survivor lives of
the Depositor and his or her designated beneficiary.
(d) Equal or substantially equal annual payments over a specified period
that may not be longer than the Depositor's life expectancy.
(e) Equal or substantially equal annual payments over a specified period
that may not be longer than the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the
Depositor and his or her designated beneficiary.
4. IF THE DEPOSITOR DIES before his or her entire interest is distributed to
him or her, the entire remaining interest will be distributed as follows:
(a) If the Depositor dies on or after distribution of his or her
interest has begun, distribution must continue to be made in accordance with
paragraph 3.
(b) If the Depositor dies before distribution of his or her interest has
begun, the entire remaining interest will, at the election of the Depositor or,
if the Depositor has not so elected, at the election of the beneficiary or
beneficiaries, either
(i) Be distributed by the December 31 of the year containing the
fifth anniversary of the Depositor's death, or
(ii) Be distributed in equal or substantially equal payments over
the life expectancy of the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries starting by
December 31, of the year following the year of the Depositor's death. If,
however, the beneficiary is the Depositor's surviving spouse, then this
distribution is not required to begin before December 31 of the year in which
the Depositor would have turned age 70 1/2.
(c) Except where distribution in the form of an annuity meeting the
requirements of section 408(b)(3) and its related regulations has irrevocably
commenced distributions are treated as having begun on the Depositor's required
beginning date, even though payments may actually have been made before that
date.
(d) If the Depositor dies before his or her entire interest has been
distributed and if the beneficiary is other than the surviving spouse, no
additional cash contributions or rollover contributions may be accepted in the
account.
5. IN THE CASE OF DISTRIBUTION over life expectancy in equal or
substantially equal annual payments, to determine the minimum annual payment for
each year, divide the Depositor's entire interest in the Custodial account as of
the close of business on December 31 of the preceding year by the life
expectancy of the Depositor (or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of
the Depositor and the Depositor's designated beneficiary, or the life expectancy
of the designated beneficiary, whichever applies). In the case of distributions
under paragraph 3, determine the initial life expectancy (or joint life and last
survivor expectancy) using the attained ages of the Depositor and designated
beneficiary as of their birthdays in the year the Depositor reaches age 70 1/2.
In the case of distribution in accordance with paragraph 4(b)(ii), determine
life expectancy using the attained age of the designated beneficiary as of the
beneficiary's birthday in the year distributions are required to commence.
6. THE OWNER OF TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS may use the
"alternative method" described in Notice 88-38, 1988-1 C.B. 524 to satisfy the
minimum distribution requirements described above. This method permits an
individual to satisfy these requirements by taking from one individual
retirement account the amount required to satisfy the requirement for another.
ARTICLE V
1. THE DEPOSITOR AGREES to provide the Custodian with information necessary
for the Custodian to prepare any reports required under section 408(i) and
Regulations sections 1.408-5 and 1.408.6.
2. THE CUSTODIAN AGREES to submit reports to the Internal Revenue Service
and the Depositor prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service.
ARTICLE VI
Notwithstanding any other articles which may be added or incorporated, the
provisions of Articles I through III and this sentence will be controlling. Any
additional articles that are not consistent with section 408(a) and the related
regulations will be invalid.
ARTICLE VII
This agreement will be amended from time to time to comply with the
provisions of the Code and related regulations. Other amendments may be made
with the consent of the persons whose signatures appear below.
ARTICLE VIII
1. PURSUANT TO THE TERMS of this A I M Distributors, Inc. Individual
Retirement Custodial Account Agreement and the related IRA Account Application
(referred to herein as the "IRA Adoption Agreement") (such Agreements being
collectively referred to herein as the "Agreement"), the Depositor directs the
Custodian to invest all custodial account funds after deductions for sales
charges and Custodian fees, in shares issued by the investment company or
companies selected by the Depositor on the related IRA Adoption Agreement, until
the Depositor hereafter gives the Custodian contrary instructions pursuant to
Article XIII below. The investment companies from which the Depositor may select
are enumerated on the applicable list prepared by A I M Distributors, Inc. (the
21
<PAGE>
"Distributor"), a copy of which accompanies the Adoption Agreement. Such
investment companies are part of "The AIM Family of Funds," which are managed
or advised by subsidiaries of A I M Management Group Inc., and any such
investment company will hereafter be referred to as "Investment Company."
2. (i) ANNUAL CASH CONTRIBUTIONS:
The Depositor may make annual cash contributions to the account within the
limits specified in Article I. All contributions shall be hand delivered or
mailed to the Custodian by the Depositor, with an indication of the taxable year
to which such contribution relates. Additionally, if the Depositor's employer
maintains a qualified simplified employee pension (SEP), such employer may
contribute on behalf of the Depositor, the lesser of 15% of the Depositor's
compensation from such employer or $30,000.
(ii) ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS:
In addition to any annual contributions referred to in Paragraph (i) above,
but subject to this Paragraph (ii), the Depositor may contribute to the account,
at any time, a rollover contribution of such cash or other property as shall
constitute a rollover amount or contribution under section 402(a)(5), 402(a)(7),
403(a)(4), 403(b)(8) or 408(d)(3) of the Code. The Custodian will accept for the
account all rollover contributions which consist of cash, and it may, but shall
be under no obligation to, accept any other rollover contribution. In the case
of rollover contributions composed of assets other than cash, the prospective
Depositor shall provide the Custodian with a description of such assets and such
other information as the Custodian may reasonably require. The Custodian may
accept all or any part of such a rollover contribution if it determines that the
assets of which such contribution consists are either in a medium proper for
investment hereunder or that the assets can be promptly liquidated for cash.
The Depositor warrants that any rollover contribution to the account
consists of cash, the same property received in the distribution or, in the case
of amounts distributed to the Depositor from a qualified employer's plan or
annuity, the proceeds from the sale of the same property received in the
distribution. The Depositor also warrants that in the case of a rollover into
the account of amounts distributed to the Depositor from a qualified employer's
plan or annuity, only amounts in excess of the amounts considered to be the
Depositor's employee contributions included in such distribution constitute the
contribution to this account. Additionally, the Depositor affirms that the
contribution to the account does not consist of amounts received from an
inherited individual retirement account or annuity. An individual retirement
account or annuity shall be treated as inherited if it was acquired by reason of
the death of an individual other than the Depositor's spouse. The Depositor also
affirms that in the case of a rollover into the account of amounts distributed
from an individual retirement account or annuity or retirement bond, he has not
during the one year period ending on the date of the distribution received any
other distribution from an individual retirement account or annuity or
retirement bond which constituted a rollover contribution (as described in
section 408(d)(3) of the Code).
3. THE DEPOSITOR SHALL BE FULLY AND SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for all taxes,
interest and penalties which might accrue or be assessed by reason of any excess
deposit, and interest, if any, earned thereon. Any contributions made by or on
behalf of the Depositor in respect of a taxable year of the Depositor shall be
made by or on behalf of the Depositor to the Custodian for deposit in the
custodial account within the time period for claiming any income tax deduction
for such taxable year. It shall be the sole responsibility of the Depositor to
determine the amount of the contributions made hereunder. The Depositor shall
execute such forms as the Custodian may require in connection with any
contribution hereunder.
ARTICLE IX
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL from time to time, subject to the provisions of
Articles IV and V, make distributions out of the custodial account to the
Depositor, in such manner and amounts as may be specified in written
instructions of the Depositor. All such instructions shall be deemed to
constitute a certification by the Depositor that the distribution so directed is
one that the Depositor is permitted to receive. A declaration of the Depositor's
intention as to the disposition of an amount distributed pursuant to Article V
hereof shall be in writing and given to the Custodian. The Custodian shall have
no liability with respect to any contribution to the custodial account, any
investment of assets in the custodial account or any distribution therefrom
pursuant to instructions received from the Depositor or pursuant to this
Agreement, or for any consequences to the Depositor arising from such
contributions, investments or distributions including, but not limited to,
excise and other taxes and penalties which might accrue or be assessed by reason
thereof, nor shall the Custodian be under any duty to make any inquiry or
investigation with respect thereto.
2. IF THE DEPOSITOR IS DISABLED (as defined in Section 72(m) of the Code),
all or a portion of the balance in the custodial account may be distributed to
him/her as soon as practicable after the Custodian receives written notice of
the Depositor's disability and a written request for distribution. The Custodian
may require such proof of disability as it deems necessary prior to the time
that amounts are distributed to the Depositor due to such disability.
3. THE DEPOSITOR SHALL BE fully and solely responsible for all taxes and
penalties which might accrue or be assessed for having failed to make the annual
minimum withdrawal required in any year.
ARTICLE X
A Depositor shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries
to receive any amounts remaining in his account in the event of his death. Any
prior beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked at any time by a
Depositor by written designation signed by the Depositor on a form acceptable
to, and filed with, the Custodian; provided, however, that such designation, or
change or revocation of a prior designation shall not become effective until it
has been received by the Custodian, nor shall it be effective unless received by
the Custodian no later than thirty days before the death of the Depositor, and
provided further that the last such designation of beneficiary or change or
revocation of beneficiary executed by the Depositor, if received by the
Custodian within the time specified, shall control. Unless otherwise provided in
the beneficiary designation, amounts payable by reason of the Depositor's death
will be paid in equal shares only to the primary beneficiary or beneficiaries
who survive the Depositor, or, if no primary beneficiary survives the Depositor,
to the contingent beneficiary or beneficiaries who survive the Depositor. If the
Depositor had not, by the date of his death, properly designated a beneficiary
in accordance with the preceding sentences, or if no designated beneficiary
survives the Depositor, then the Depositor's beneficiary shall be the
Depositor's surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, the
Depositor's estate.
ARTICLE XI
1. ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OR OTHER FEES of the Custodian and its agents for
performing duties pursuant to this Agreement shall be in such amount as shall be
established from time to time. The Depositor agrees to pay the Custodian the
fees specified in its current fee schedule and authorizes the Custodian to
charge the Depositor's custodian account for the amount of such fees.
2. UPON THIRTY DAYS' PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE, the Custodian may substitute a
new fee schedule. The Custodian's fees, any income, gift, estate and inheritance
taxes and other taxes of any kind whatsoever, including transfer taxes incurred
in connection with the investment or reinvestment of the assets of the custodial
account, that may be levied or assessed in respect of such assets, and all other
administrative expenses incurred by the Custodian in the performance of its
duties including fees for legal services rendered to the Custodian, may be
charged to the custodial account with the right to liquidate Investment Company
shares for this purpose, or at the Custodian's option, shall be billed to the
Depositor directly.
ARTICLE XII
1. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL take effect only when accepted and signed by the
Custodian. As directed, the Custodian shall then open and maintain a separate
custodial account for Depositor and invest the initial contribution hereunder in
shares of the Investment Company. Where the IRA Adoption Agreement is checked
for spousal accounts, separate custodial accounts will be opened and maintained
in each spouse's name. The amounts specified in the IRA Adoption Agreement shall
be credited to each spouse's separate custodial account except that no more than
$2,000 shall be credited to either custodial account.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL invest subsequent contributions as directed. If any
such written instructions are not received as required however, or if received,
are in the opinion of the Custodian unclear, or if the accompanying contribution
exceeds $2,000 for the Depositor and/or $2,000 for the Depositor's spouse, the
Custodian may hold or return all or a portion of the contribution uninvested
without liability for loss of income or appreciation, and without liability for
interest, pending receipt of written instructions or clarification.
3. ALL DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS, less charges, received on
Investment Company shares held in the custodial account shall (unless received
in additional such shares) be reinvested in shares of the Investment Company,
which shall be credited to the custodial account. If any distribution on such
shares may be received at the election of the Depositor in additional such
shares or in cash or other property, the Custodian shall elect to receive it in
additional Investment Company shares.
4. ALL INVESTMENT COMPANY SHARES ACQUIRED by the Custodian hereunder shall
be registered in the name of the Custodian (with or without identifying the
Depositor) or of its nominees. The Custodian shall deliver, or cause to be
executed and delivered, to the Depositor all notices, prospectuses, financial
statements, proxies and proxy solicitation materials relating to such Investment
Company shares held in the custodial account. The Custodian shall not vote any
Investment Company shares except in accordance with the written instructions
received from the Depositor.
ARTICLE XIII
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL keep adequate records of transactions it is required
to perform hereunder. Not later than six months after the close of each calendar
year or after the Custodian's registration or removal pursuant to Article XV
below,
22
<PAGE>
the Custodian shall render to the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative a written report or reports reflecting the transactions effected
by it during such period and the assets and liabilities of the custodial account
at the close of the period. Sixty days after rendering such report(s), the
Custodian shall (to the extent permitted by law) be forever released and
discharged from all liability and accountability to anyone with respect to its
acts and transactions shown in or reflected by such report(s), except with
respect to those as to which the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative shall have filed written objections with the Custodian within the
latter such sixty-day period.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL receive and invest contributions as directed by the
Depositor, hold and distribute such investments, and keep adequate records and
reports thereon, all in accordance with this Agreement. The parties do not
intend to confer any other fiduciary duties of the Custodian, and none shall be
implied. The Custodian shall not be liable (and assumes no responsibility) for
the collection of contributions, the deductibility or propriety of any
contribution under this Agreement, or the purposes or propriety of any
distribution from the account, which matters are the responsibility of the
Depositor or the Depositor's legal representative.
3. THE DEPOSITOR, to the extent permitted by law, shall always fully
indemnify the Custodian and save it harmless from any and all liability
whatsoever which may arise in connection with this Agreement and matters which
it contemplates, except that which arises due to the Custodian's negligence and
willful misconduct. The Custodian shall not be obligated or expected to commence
or defend any legal action or preceding in connection with this Agreement or
such matters unless agreed upon by the Custodian and Depositor or said legal
representative, and unless fully indemnified for so doing to the Custodian's
satisfaction.
4. THE CUSTODIAN MAY conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in acting
upon any written order from the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative or any other notice, request, consent, certificate or other
instruments or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly
executed, and as long as it acts in good faith in taking or omitting to take any
other action in reliance thereon.
ARTICLE XIV
1. THE CUSTODIAN MAY resign at any time upon thirty days' notice in writing
to the Depositor, and may be removed by the Depositor at any time upon thirty
days' notice in writing to the Custodian. Upon such resignation or removal, the
Depositor shall appoint a successor custodian to serve under this Agreement.
Upon receipt by the Custodian of written acceptance of such appointment by the
successor custodian, the Custodian shall transfer to such successor the assets
of the custodial account and all necessary records (or copies thereof)
pertaining thereto, provided that (at the Custodian's request) any successor
custodian shall agree not to dispose of any such records without the Custodian's
consent. The Custodian is authorized, however, to reserve such assets as it may
deem advisable for payment of any other liabilities constituting a charge on or
against the assets of the custodial account or on or against the Custodian, with
any balance of such reserve remaining after the payment of all such items to be
paid over to the successor custodian.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL NOT be liable for the acts or omissions of such
successor custodian.
3. THE CUSTODIAN, AND EVERY SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN appointed to serve under
this Agreement, must be a bank (as defined in Section 408(n) of the Code) or
such other person who qualifies with the Internal Revenue Service to serve in
the manner prescribed by Code section 408(a)(2) and satisfies the Custodian,
upon request, as to such qualification.
4. AFTER THE CUSTODIAN HAS transferred the custodial account assets
(including any reserve balance as contemplated above) to the successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be relieved of all further liability with respect
to this Agreement, the custodial account and the assets thereof.
ARTICLE XV
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL terminate the custodial account and pay the proceeds
of the account to the depositor if within thirty days after the resignation or
removal of the Custodian pursuant to Article XV above, the Depositor has not
appointed a successor custodian which has accepted such appointment unless
within that time the Distributor appoints such successor and gives written
notice thereof to the Depositor and the Custodian. The Distributor shall have
the right, but not the duty, to appoint such a successor. Termination of the
custodial account shall be effected by distributing all of the assets therein in
cash or in kind to the Depositor in a lump sum, subject to the Custodian's right
to reserve funds as provided in said Article XV.
2. UPON TERMINATION of the custodial account in any manner provided for in
this Article XVI, this Agreement shall terminate and have no further force and
effect, and the Custodian shall be relieved from all further liability with
respect to this Agreement, the custodial account and all assets thereof so
distributed.
ARTICLE XVI
1. ANY NOTICE FROM THE CUSTODIAN TO THE DEPOSITOR provided for in this
Agreement shall be effective when mailed if sent by first class mail to the
Depositor at the Depositor's last known address as shown on the Custodian's
records. Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Custodian, shall
become effective upon actual receipt by the Custodian at such address as the
Custodian shall provide the Depositor from time to time in writing.
2. THIS AGREEMENT is accepted by the Custodian and shall be construed and
administered in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Custodian and the Depositor hereby waive and agree to waive right to trial
by jury in an action or proceeding instituted in respect to this custodial
account. The Depositor further agrees that the venue of any litigation between
him and the Custodian with respect to the custodial account shall be in the
County of Suffolk, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
3. THIS AGREEMENT is intended to qualify under section 408 of the Code as an
Individual Retirement Account and to entitle the Depositor to any retirement
savings deduction which he may qualify for under section 219 of the Code, and if
any provision hereof is subject to more than one interpretation or any term used
herein is subject to more than one construction, such ambiguity shall be
resolved in favor of that interpretation or construction which is consistent
with that intent.
4. ALL PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE subject to the Code and to
regulations promulgated thereunder. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement.
5. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL have no duties whatsoever except such duties as it
specifically agrees to in writing, and no implied covenants or obligations shall
be read into this Agreement against the Custodian. The Custodian shall not be
liable under this Agreement, except for its own bad faith, gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
6. NO INTEREST, RIGHT OR CLAIM IN OR TO ANY PART of the custodial account or
any payment therefrom shall be assignable, transferable, or subject to sale,
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, communication, anticipation, garnishment,
attachment, execution, or levy of any kind and the Custodian shall not recognize
any attempt to assign, transfer, sell, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, commute or
anticipate the same, except as required by law.
7. THE DEPOSITOR HEREBY DELEGATES to the Custodian the power to amend this
Agreement from time to time as it deems appropriate, and hereby consents to all
such amendments, provided, however, that all such amendments are in compliance
with the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. All
such amendments shall be effective as of the date specified in a written notice
of amendment which will be sent to the Depositor.
INSTRUCTIONS
(Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.)
PURPOSE OF FORM
This model custodial account agreement may be used by an individual who
wishes to adopt an individual retirement account under section 408(a). When
fully executed by the Depositor and the Custodian not later than the time
prescribed by law for filing the Federal income tax return for the Depositor's
tax year (not including any extensions thereof), a Depositor will have an
individual retirement account (IRA) custodial account which meets the
requirements of section 408(a). This account must be created in the United
States for the exclusive benefit of the Depositor or his/her beneficiaries.
DEFINITIONS
CUSTODIAN. -- The Custodian must be a bank or savings and loan association,
as defined in section 408(n), or other person who has the approval of the
Internal Revenue Service to act as custodian.
DEPOSITOR. -- The Depositor is the person who establishes the custodial
account.
IRA FOR NON-WORKING SPOUSES
Contributions to an IRA custodial account for a non-working spouse must be
made to a separate IRA custodial account established by the non-working spouse.
This form may be used to establish the IRA custodial account for the
non-working spouse.
An employee's social security number will serve as the identification number
of his or her individual retirement account. An employer identification number
is only required for each participant-directed individual retirement account. An
employer identification number is required for a common fund created for
individual retirement accounts.
For more information, obtain a copy of the required disclosure statement
from your custodian or get Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements.
(IRAs).
23
<PAGE>
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
ARTICLE IV -- Distribution made under this Article may be made in a single
sum, periodic payment, or a combination of both. The distribution option should
be reviewed in the year the Depositor reaches age 70 1/2 to make sure the
requirements of section 408(a)(6) have been met.
ARTICLE IX -- This article and any that follow it may incorporate additional
provisions that are agreed upon by the Depositor and the Custodian to complete
the agreement. These may include, for example: definitions, investment powers,
voting rights, exculpatory provisions, amendment and termination, removal of
Custodian, Custodian's fees, state law requirements, beginning date of
distributions, accepting only cash, treatment of excess contributions,
prohibited transactions with the Depositor, etc. Use additional pages if
necessary and attach them to this form.
Note: This form may be reproduced and reduced in size for adoption to
passbook or card purposes.
THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS --Registered Trademark--
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Under applicable federal regulations, a custodian of an individual
retirement account is required to furnish each depositor who has established or
is establishing an individual retirement account with a statement which
discloses certain information regarding the account. Boston Safe Deposit and
Trust Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Custodian") is providing this
Disclosure Statement to you in accordance with that requirement, and this
Disclosure Statement contains general information about the The AIM Family of
Funds --Registered Trademark-- Individual Retirement Custodial Account
(hereinafter referred to as "IRA"). This Disclosure Statement should be reviewed
in conjunction with both the Individual Retirement Custodial Account agreement
(From 5305-A and any attachments thereto, hereinafter referred to as the
"Custodial Agreement") and the Adoption Agreement for your IRA. You should
review this Disclosure Statement and the IRA documents with your attorney or
tax advisor. The Custodian cannot give tax advice or determine whether or not
the IRA is appropriate for you.
A. SEVEN DAY RIGHT TO REVOKE YOUR IRA.
You may revoke your IRA at any time within seven business days after the
date the IRA is established, by giving proper notice. For purposes of
revocation, it will be assumed that you received the Disclosure Statement no
later than the date of your check with which you opened your IRA. Written notice
must be hand delivered or sent by first class mail, in which case, the
revocation will be effective as of the date the notice is postmarked (or if sent
by certified or registered mail, the date of certification or registration).
Notice of revocation should be made to: A I M Distributors, Inc., Eleven
Greenway Plaza, Suite 1919, P.O. Box 4739, Houston, Texas 77210-4739, Attention:
Shareholder Services Department, area code (800) 959-4246. If you revoke your
IRA, you are entitled to a refund of your entire contribution to the IRA,
without adjustment for such items as sales commissions, administrative expenses
or fluctuation in market value. If you do not revoke within seven business days
after the establishment of the IRA, you will be deemed to have accepted the
terms and conditions of the IRA and cannot later revoke the IRA without certain
potential penalties.
B. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
An IRA is a trust or custodial account created or organized in the United
States for your exclusive benefit or that of your beneficiaries. It must be
created by a written governing instrument that meets the following requirements:
(1) THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN MUST BE A BANK, federally insured credit union,
savings and loan association or another person eligible to act as trustee or
custodian;
(2) EXCEPT FOR ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS (as described in Part F below), no
contribution will be accepted unless it is in cash or cash equivalent,
including, but not by way of limitation, personal checks, cashier's checks, and
wire transfers;
(3) EXCEPT FOR ROLLOVERS, simplified employee pension ("SEP") contributions,
and spousal IRA contributions described below, contributions of more than $2,000
for any tax year may not be made;
(4) YOU WILL HAVE A NONFORFEITABLE INTEREST IN THE ACCOUNT;
(5) NO PART OF THE TRUST OR CUSTODIAL FUNDS will be invested in life
insurance contracts, nor may the assets be commingled with other property except
in a common trust fund or common investment fund. Furthermore, as provided in
section 408(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
your IRA may not be invested in "collectibles," such as art works, antiques,
metals, gems, stamps, coins (with an exception for certain U.S.-minted gold and
silver coins), and certain other types of tangible personal property. An
investment in a collectible would be treated as a distribution from your IRA
which would be includible in your gross income, and, if you had not attained the
age of 59 1/2, the distribution would also be subject to the premature
distribution penalty as discussed in Part E(4) below;
(6) YOUR ENTIRE INTEREST IN THE ACCOUNT MUST BE, or begin to be, distributed
on or before April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which
you reach age 70 1/2. The distribution may be made in a single sum, or you may
receive periodic distributions, so long as your entire interest is distributed
in equal or substantially equal payments over any of the following periods:
(a) your life;
(b) the lives of you and your designated beneficiary;
(c) a period certain not extending beyond your life expectancy;
(d) a period certain not extending beyond the life expectancy of you and
your designated beneficiary.
If the distributions from your IRA are to be made over one of the foregoing
periods, the amount distributed each year must meet the minimum distribution
requirements set forth in your IRA Custodial Agreement, or you will incur a
penalty as described in Part E(8) below;
(7) IF YOU DIE AFTER DISTRIBUTIONS HAVE commenced but before your entire
interest has been distributed to you, payments must continue at least as rapidly
as under the method of distribution in effect, at your death. If you die before
distributions have commenced, generally your entire interest must be distributed
within five years of your death. However, if your interest is payable to a
designated beneficiary, payments may be made over the life or a period not
exceeding the life expectancy of the beneficiary; provided, however, that such
payments must commence within one year of your death unless your designated
beneficiary is your surviving spouse, in which case payments need not commence
until the date on which you would have attained age 70 1/2. You should advise
the Custodian as to your beneficiary and the method of distribution desired.
C. INVESTMENT OF YOUR IRA.
Under the terms of the Custodial Agreement, your contributions will be
invested by the Custodian in full and fractional shares of the investment
company or companies that you select. As provided in the Custodial Agreement,
you may only invest your IRA Funds in shares of investment companies which are
part of "The AIM Family of Funds --Registered Trademark--," which are managed
or advised by subsidiaries of A I M Management Group Inc. You will be provided
with a list of the investment companies from which you may choose to invest.
Subject to the foregoing and to any additional restrictions described in the
Custodial Agreement, you have complete control over the investment of your IRA
Funds. The Custodian will not provide any form of investment advice or make
investment recommendations of any type, so you will make all investment
decisions on the basis of information you obtain from other sources. When you
make a decision on how you wish to invest Funds held in your IRA, you should
provide the Custodian with specific instructions, detailing your investment
decision so that the Custodian can effectuate such investments as provided in
your IRA Custodial Agreement. If you fail to direct the Custodian as to the
Investment of all or any portion of your IRA account, the Custodian shall hold
such uninvested amount in your account and shall incur no liability for
interest or earnings thereon. All dividends and capital gain distributions
received on shares of an investment company held in your IRA will be reinvested
in shares of that investment company, if available, which shall be credited to
the Custodian account. Detailed information about the shares of the AIM fund(s)
you select must be furnished to you in the form of prospectuses governed by
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
D. LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON IRA CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEDUCTIONS.
Except in the case of rollover contributions (see Part F below), generally
you may contribute up to the lesser of $2,000 or 100% of your compensation
(earned income) to your IRA for any taxable year. A non-working spouse may
contribute up to $2,000 to a separate IRA.
Section 219 of the Code contains special provisions governing whether
amounts contributed to your IRA will be deductible from gross income for federal
income tax purposes. To the extent you are not eligible or elect not to make
deductible IRA contributions, you may make nondeductible IRA contributions
within the aforementioned limits which are reduced by the amount of any
deductible contributions. The following is a summary of the rules regarding the
deductibility of contributions to your IRA. You should consult your tax advisor
to determine the specific application of such rules to your IRA contributions
for any particular taxable year.
(1) IF NEITHER YOU, NOR YOUR SPOUSE, IS an "active participant" (as
determined under section 219(g) of the Code and any regulations or rulings
thereunder) in a retirement plan during any part of the taxable year, you may
take a deduction for contributions to your IRA for such taxable year in an
amount equal to the lesser of $2,000 or 100% of your compensation (earned
income) for such taxable year.
(2) IF EITHER YOU, OR YOUR SPOUSE (unless you file separate income tax
returns as noted below), is considered an "active participant" in a retirement
24
<PAGE>
plan for any part of the taxable year, the extent, if any, to which
contributions to your IRA will be deductible depends on the amount of your
adjusted gross income ("AGI"). The maximum IRA deduction as specified in
Paragraph (1) above will be reduced in the same ratio that the excess of your
AGI over $25,000 (for a single individual), $40,000 (for a married couple filing
jointly) and zero (for a married couple filing separately) bears to $10,000.
Thus, if you are an active participant in a retirement plan, no IRA deduction
will be permitted if:
(a) You are a single individual with AGI in excess of $35,000,
(b) you are married and file a joint return with AGI in excess of
$50,000, or
(c) you are married, file separate returns and either you or your spouse
have AGI in excess of $10,000.
(3) IF YOU ARE MARRIED and your spouse has no compensation for the taxable
year, or elects to be treated as having no compensation for such year, you are
permitted an additional deduction in the amount of $250 for contributions to an
IRA for the benefit of your spouse provided that your spouse has not attained
age 70 1/2 and you file a joint income tax return for such year, subject to the
provisions of (1) or (2) above, whichever is applicable. (see below)
You will be considered an "active participant" for any particular taxable
year if you are covered by a retirement plan for any part of such year.
Generally, you will be considered covered by a retirement plan for a year if
your employer or union has a retirement plan under which money is added to your
account or you are eligible to earn retirement credits for such year. For
example, if you are covered under a profit-sharing plan, certain government
plans, a salary reduction arrangement (such as a tax-sheltered annuity
arrangement or a 401(k) plan), a SEP or a plan which promises you a retirement
benefit which is based upon the number of years of service you have with the
employer, you are likely to be an active participant. Your Form W-2 for the year
should indicate your participation status. You are an active participant for a
year even if you are not yet vested in your retirement benefit. Also, if you
make required contributions or voluntary employee contributions to a retirement
plan, you are an active participant. In certain plans you may be an active
participant even if you were only with the employer for part of the year. You
should note that if you are married but file a separate tax return, and you did
not live with your spouse at any time during the taxable year, your spouse's
active participation does not affect your ability to make deductible
contributions.
No deduction will be allowed under (1) or (2) above for any contribution
which is made for the taxable year during which you attain age 70 1/2 or for any
subsequent year. You are permitted to contribute and deduct up to $4,000 for
contributions to your IRA and a spousal IRA, subject to the provisions of (1)
and (2) above. However, in no event shall the contribution to either IRA exceed
$2,000. It should be noted that if both you and your spouse work, each may
contribute up to $2,000 of compensation (earned income) to his or her own IRA.
If your employer maintains a SEP, your employer may contribute to your IRA
up to the lesser of 15% of your compensation from such employer or $30,000.
Since SEP contributions are excluded from your gross income, such contributions
are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
If contributions to your IRA are deductible as outlined above, you may claim
such deduction even if you do not itemize your deductions on your federal income
tax return. You must make contributions to your IRA during the taxable year for
which you claim the deduction or by the deadline for filing your federal income
tax return for such year (without regard to any filing deadline extension). For
example, if you are a calendar-year taxpayer, you must make contributions no
later than April 15th in order to take a deduction for the previous year.
If any portion of a contribution to your IRA is nondeductible as outlined
above, you must so designate on your federal income tax return, as required
under section 408(o)(4) of the Code and file From 8606 with your tax return.
E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS OF THE IRA AND CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS.
(1) IN GENERAL. Except as described below, your IRA and earnings thereon are
exempt from federal income tax until distributions are made from the IRA.
(2) TAX TREATMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS. If all contributions to your IRA (other
than rollover contributions) have been deductible for federal income tax
purposes then all distributions from your IRA will be taxable as ordinary
income. However, if you have made any nondeductible IRA contributions,
distributions from your IRA will be treated as partially a return of deductible
contributions, if any, (taxable), partially a return of nondeductible
contributions (nontaxable) and partially a distribution of earnings (taxable).
The portion of an IRA distribution which will be excludable from income will be
determined by multiplying the total amount distributed by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the aggregate of all your nondeductible IRA contributions,
and the denominator of which is the aggregate balance of all of your IRAs
(including rollover IRAs and SEPs). For purposes of the foregoing, (a) all of
your IRAs will be treated as a single IRA, (b) all distributions during a
taxable year will be treated as a single distribution and (c) the aggregate
balance of your IRAs will be determined as of the end of the calendar year with
or within which your taxable year ends, after adding back any distributions for
such year.
Distributions from your IRA are not eligible for any special tax treatment
such as five-or ten-year averaging or capital gains treatment.
(3) EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS. If contributions to your IRA are in excess of the
limits stated in Part D above, you will be assessed a 6% nondeductible excise
tax on such excess amounts. This tax is payable for each year the excess is
permitted to remain in your IRA. However, if the excess contribution has not
been taken as a deduction, and if the excess and all earnings thereon are
returned before the due date for filing your income tax return for the year in
which the excess contribution was made, the 6% excise tax will not be assessed.
The earnings on such excess contribution that are returned to you will be
taxable as ordinary income and will be deemed to have been earned and taxable in
the tax year during which the excess contribution was made. In addition, if you
are not disabled or have not reached age 59 1/2, the earnings will be subject to
the 10% premature withdrawal penalty discussed below. The 6% excess contribution
tax may be eliminated for future tax years by withdrawing the excess
contribution from your IRA before the due date for filing your tax return for
that year or by under-contributing for a subsequent year by an amount equal to
the excess contribution. If the total contributions for the year to your IRA are
$2,250 or less, and there are no employer contributions for the year, you may
withdraw any excess contributions after the due date for filing your tax return,
including extensions, and not include the amount withdrawn in your gross income.
This applies only to the part of the excess that you did not take a deduction
for. It is not necessary to withdraw the interest or other income earned on the
excess. You will have to pay the 6% tax on the excess amount for each year the
excess contribution was in the IRA.
If the contributions to your IRA for any year are more than $2,250, you must
include in your gross income any excess over $2,250, unless it is an excess
rollover contribution attributable to erroneous information. You may also have
to pay a 10% tax on premature distributions on the amount you withdraw, unless
you are age 59 1/2 or disabled.
If less than the maximum amount of contributions has been made in years
before the year you make an excess contribution, the prior year's difference may
not be used to reduce the excess contribution. Qualified rollover contributions,
as described in Part F below, are not considered excess contributions.
(4) PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS. In addition to any regular income tax that may
be payable, distributions from your IRA that occur before you reach age 59 1/2
(except in the event of disability, death, rollover, medical expenses in excess
of 7.5% of adjusted gross income, medical insurance premiums in the event of
unemployment or as a qualifying distribution of an excess contribution), will be
assessed a 10% additional income tax on the amount distributed which is
includible in your gross income. However, the additional 10% income tax will not
be imposed if the distribution is one of a scheduled series of level payments to
be made over your life or life expectancy or over the joint lives or joint life
expectancies of you and your beneficiary. Amounts treated as distributions from
the IRA because of pledging the IRA as described below, or prohibited
transactions as described below, will also be considered premature distributions
if they occur before you reach age 59 1/2 (assuming you are not disabled).
(5) EXCESS DISTRIBUTIONS If the aggregate of your distributions from
qualified plans and individual retirement accounts exceed a certain limit for
any calendar year, a 15% excise tax will be imposed on such excess
distributions. Generally, the limit is the greater of $150,000 (available only
if a special grandfather provision is not elected on a return filed for a
pre-1989 tax year) or $112,500 as adjusted for cost-of-living increases. For any
such excess distributions prior to your attainment of age 59 1/2, the 15% excise
tax will be offset by the 10% additional income tax on early distributions.
(6) PLEDGING THE IRA. If you pledge your IRA as security for a loan, the
portion so pledged is treated as being distributed to you in that year. In
addition to any regular income tax that may be payable on the distribution, the
premature distribution penalty as discussed above may also be applicable.
(7) PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS. If you or your beneficiary engages in a
prohibited transaction, as described in section 4975 of the Code with respect to
your IRA, your IRA will lose its exemption from tax and you must include the
fair market value of your IRA in your gross income for the year during which the
prohibited transaction occurred. In addition to any regular income tax that may
be payable, the premature distribution penalty as discussed above may also be
applicable.
(8) INSUFFICIENT OR LATE DISTRIBUTIONS. In addition to the regular income
tax that may be payable on distributions from your IRA, you will be assessed
penalties on certain accumulations if funds in your IRA are not distributed in
accordance with the rules described in Part B above. If the amount distributed
from your IRA during the year is less than the minimum amount required to be
distributed during such year, an excise tax will be imposed. The tax imposed is
equal to 50% of the amount by which the minimum required distribution exceeds
the amount actually distributed during the year.
(9) ESTATE AND GIFT TAX STATUS OR DISTRIBUTIONS. Generally, for estate tax
purposes, the value of your IRA will be fully includible in your gross estate in
the event of your death. For gift tax purposes, beneficiary designations will
not be treated as gifts. Also, contributions to an IRA on behalf of a spouse who
has no earned income or elects to be treated as having no earned income will
qualify for
25
<PAGE>
the annual present interest gift exclusion. You should consult your tax advisor
with respect to the application of community property laws on estate and gift
tax issues relating to your IRA.
(10) INHERITED IRAs. Your IRA will be treated as an inherited IRA if, upon
your death, it is acquired by a beneficiary other than your surviving spouse. An
inherited IRA may not be rolled over to a qualified plan or to another IRA, nor
may an inherited IRA accept any regular or rollover deposits. Only a beneficiary
who is your surviving spouse will be allowed to roll over the IRA funds into his
or her own IRA.
(11) FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITHOLDING. The taxable portion of distributions
from your IRA is subject to federal income tax withholding unless you elect not
to have withholding applied. If you elect not to have withholding applied to
taxable distributions from your IRA, or if insufficient federal income tax is
withheld from any distribution, you may be responsible for payment of estimated
taxes, as well as for penalties under the estimated tax rules, if withholding
and estimated tax payments were not sufficient. Additional information regarding
withholding and the necessary election forms will be provided no later than at
the time a distribution is requested.
F. ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS.
A rollover is a tax-free distribution of cash or other assets from one
retirement program to another. There are two kinds of rollover contributions to
an IRA. In one, you contribute amounts distributed to you from one IRA to
another IRA. With the other, you contribute amounts distributed to you from your
employer's qualified plan or 403(b) plan to an IRA. A rollover is an allowable
IRA contribution which is not subject to the limits on regular contributions
discussed in Part D above. However, you may not deduct a rollover contribution
to your IRA on your tax return.
If you receive a distribution from the qualified plan of your employer or
former employer, the distribution must be an "eligible rollover distribution" in
order for you to be able to roll all or part of the distribution over to your
IRA. The portion you contribute to your IRA will not be taxable to you until you
withdraw it from the IRA. Your employer or former employer will give you the
opportunity to roll over the distribution directly from the plan to the IRA. If
you elect, instead, to receive the distribution, you must deposit it into the
IRA within 60 days after you receive it.
An "eligible rollover distribution" is any distribution from a qualified
plan that would be taxable other than (1) a distribution that is one of a series
of periodic payments for an employee's life or over a period of 10 years or
more, (2) a required distribution after you attain age 70 1/2 and (3) certain
corrective distributions.
If the entire amount in your IRA has been contributed in a tax-free rollover
from your employer's or former employer's qualified plan or 403(b) plan, you may
later roll over the IRA to a new employer's plan if such plan permits rollovers.
Your IRA would then serve as a conduit for those assets. However, you may later
roll those IRA funds into a new employer's plan only if you make no further
contributions to that IRA, or commingle the IRA rollover funds with existing IRA
assets.
G. AMENDMENTS.
The Custodian of your IRA may amend the agreements establishing your IRA at
any time. The Custodian will comply with the amendment procedures set forth in
your Custodial Agreement.
H. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
Because the value of assets held in your IRA is subject to market
fluctuation, the value of your IRA can neither be guaranteed nor projected.
There is no assurance of growth in the value of your IRA or guarantee of
investment results. You will, however, be provided with periodic statements of
your IRA, including current market values of investments.
Certain fees will be charged by the Custodian in connection with your IRA.
Such fees are disclosed on the Custodian's fee schedule, a copy of which has
been provided to you. Upon thirty days' prior written notice, the Custodian may
substitute a new fee schedule. Any fees or other expenses incurred in connection
with your IRA will be deducted from your IRA (with liquidation of Fund Shares,
if necessary), or at the Custodian's option, such fees or expenses may be billed
to you directly.
For its services to the various funds, in The AIM Family of
Funds--Registered trademark--, Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company receives a
custodian fee. This fee is in addition to fees it receives for acting as
Custodian under the IRA. Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company and A I M
Distributors, Inc. also will receive additional fees for performing specific
services with respect to the various funds in the AIM Family of Funds. Any such
fees will be fully disclosed to you. Potential investors should obtain a copy of
the current Prospectus relating to the fund(s) selected for investment prior to
making an investment. Also, copies of the Statement of Additional Information
relating to such fund(s) will be provided upon your request to A I M
Distributors, Inc.
I. MISCELLANEOUS.
Each year you will be provided a statement(s) of account which will give the
amount of contributions to the IRA, the year to which each contribution relates,
and the total value of the IRA as of the end of the year. Information relating
to contributions and distributions must be reported annually to the Internal
Revenue Service and to you. You must also file Form 5329 (Return for Individual
Retirement Savings Arrangement) with the Internal Revenue Service for each
taxable year during which you are assessed any penalty or tax as discussed in
Part E above.
Your IRA has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service. Such approval is
a determination as to the form of the IRA, and does not represent a
determination of the IRA's merits as an investment.
Further information about IRAs can be obtained from any district office of
the Internal Revenue Service or from the Custodian.
All provisions in this Disclosure Statement are subject to the Code and to
the regulations promulgated thereunder. This Disclosure Statement constitutes a
nontechnical restatement and summary of certain provisions of the Code which may
affect your IRA. This is not a legal document. Your legal rights and obligations
are governed by the federal tax laws and regulations and your Custodial
Agreement and Adoption Agreement with the Custodian.
26
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SEP AND SARSEP IRA APPLICATION [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. INVESTOR INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name Birth Date / /
--------------------------------------------------- -- -- --
First Name Middle Last Name Month Day Year
Address
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Social Security Number
---------------------
Daytime Telephone Evening Telephone
-------------------------- ----------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. TYPE OF ACCOUNT
[ ] SEP - Employer contributions only.
[ ] SARSEP - Employee salary-reduction SEP.
[ ] Combined SEP/SARSEP - Employer and Employee contributions.
Name of Employer Telephone
-------------------------------- ------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. FUND INVESTMENT
Indicate Fund(s) and contribution amount(s). Make check payable to Boston
Safe Deposit and Trust Company. Minimum $25 per fund per contribution
submission.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fund $ or % of Assets Class of Shares (check one)
<S> <C> <C>
[ ] AIM Balanced Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Charter Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Constellation Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Global Aggressive Growth Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Global Growth Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Global Income Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Growth Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Global Utilities Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM High Yield Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Income Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Intermediate Government Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM International Equity Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Limited Maturity Treasury Shares $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Money Market Fund $ [ ] Class A
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Value Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B [ ] Class C
----------------------------
[ ] AIM Weingarten Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
Total $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
----------------------------
</TABLE>
If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be purchased.
All dividends and capital gains will be reinvested in the fund(s)
automatically.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
Telephone Exchange Privilege. Unless indicated below, I authorize the
Transfer Agent to accept instructions from any person to exchange shares in
my account(s) by telephone in accordance with the procedures and conditions
set forth in the Fund's current prospectus.
[ ] I do not want the Telephone Exchange Privilege.
27
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. BENEFICIARY INFORMATION
I hereby designate the following beneficiary to receive the balance in my
IRA custodial account upon my death. To be effective, the designation of
beneficiary and any subsequent change in designation of beneficiary must be
filed with the Custodian prior to my death. If no beneficiary is designated
or no designated beneficiary or contingent beneficiary survives me, the
balance in my IRA will be distributed to the legal representatives of my
estate. This designation revokes any prior designations. I retain the right
to revoke this designation. In the event that I die and no primary
beneficiary listed below (or such beneficiary's heirs, if applicable) is
alive, distribute all Fund accounts in my IRA to the following contingent
beneficiary, or contingent beneficiary's heirs, if applicable.
PRIMARY BENEFICIARY(IES)
Name % Relationship
------------------------------------ ---- --------------
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
------------- -- -- --
Name % Relationship
------------------------------------ ---- --------------
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
------------- -- -- --
CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY
Name % Relationship
------------------------------------ ---- --------------
Social Security Number Birth Date / /
--------------------------- -- -- --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I hereby adopt the A I M Distributors, Inc. Individual Retirement Account
appointing Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company as Custodian. I have
received and read the current prospectus of the investment company(ies)
selected in this agreement and have read and understand the IRA custodial
agreement and disclosure statement and consent to the custodial account fees
as specified. I understand that a $10 annual AIM Fund IRA Maintenance Fee
will be deducted in early December from my AIM IRA account. Under the
Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983, the Fund is required to
have the following certification. Under the penalties of perjury, I certify
that (i) the number shown in Section 1 is my correct Social
Security/Taxpayer Identification Number and (ii) I am not subject to backup
withholding because the Internal Revenue Service (a) has not notified me
that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all
interest or dividends, or (b) has notified me that I am no longer subject to
backup withholding. Please refer to the Fund prospectus for complete
instructions regarding backup withholding.
Your Signature Date / /
---------------------------------------------- -- -- --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. DEALER INFORMATION (To be completed by securities dealer.)
Name of Broker/Dealer Firm Branch #
----------------------- ------------------
Home Office
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Address
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rep. Name Rep. #
----------------------------------------- --------------------
Authorized Signature Telephone
------------------------------ -----------------
Branch Address
------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
[ ] Authorized for NAV purchase
28 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc. 43102-10/95
<PAGE>
SARSEP IRA ENROLLMENT AND SALARY [ AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
SAVINGS AGREEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. INVESTOR INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name Date / /
---------------------------------------------------- -- -- --
First Name Middle Last Name Month Day Year
Address
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Birth Date / / Hire Date / /
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Month Day Year Month Day Year
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Security Number
------------------------------------------------------
[ ] I HEREBY ELECT TO BECOME A PARTICIPANT IN THE SARSEP.
As a Participant, I hereby authorize the Company to deduct ______% of my
Compensation or a flat dollar amount of $ __________ per pay period which I
understand will be contributed by the Employer to my IRA. I understand that
my annual SARSEP contribution cannot exceed the lesser of 15% of my
compensation or $9,240, or an amount as limited by IRS regulations. The
minimum contribution is $25 PER FUND PER CONTRIBUTION SUBMISSION.
[ ] I AM PRESENTLY A PARTICIPANT IN THE SARSEP.
As a Participant, I hereby authorize the Company to change the amount it
deducts from my Compensation from _______% to _______% or if a dollar amount
has been specified, from $_______________ per pay period to $_______________
per pay period. I understand that this change will be effective 30 days from
the first day of the month following receipt of this notice.
[ ] I HEREBY WITHDRAW MY AUTHORIZATION TO CONTINUE PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS UNDER THE
SARSEP.
I understand this directive will be effective 30 days from delivery of this
notice to the Employer. I further understand that I may not again authorize
payroll deductions for a period of 90 days from the date of this notice.
[ ] CASH BONUS ELECTION (IF APPLICABLE)
I hereby authorize the Company to deduct ________% from my cash bonus as an
additional contribution to my IRA. I understand that my total annual
contribution cannot exceed the lesser of 15% of my compensation or $9,240,
or an amount as limited by IRS regulations.
--------------------------------------
Participant's Signature
29 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc. 43103-10/95
<PAGE>
30
<PAGE>
SEP AND SARSEP TOP-HEAVY TEST [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
Plan Year End
--------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. A Top-Heavy Test must be performed at the end of each plan year. A Plan
becomes top heavy when 60% of the Plan's aggregate SEP and/or SARSEP
contributions or 60% of the aggregate market value of the Plan as of the
last day of the Plan year is allocated to key employees. You may test using
either market values or contributions, but you may find it easier to test
based on contributions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Key Employees' Names Contributions Market Value
(SEP and SARSEP) 12/31 or Fiscal Year End
<S> <C> <C>
$ $
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
(A) Total $ $
--------------------- -------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Non-Key Employees' Names Contributions Market Value
(SEP and SARSEP) 12/31 or Fiscal Year End
<S> <C> <C>
$ $
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------
(B) Total S $
--------------------- -------------------------------
(C) Plan Totals (line A + line B) $ $
--------------------- -------------------------------
(D) Top-Heavy Percentage
(line A divided by line C) --------------------- -------------------------------
(If greater than 60%, plan is "top heavy")
</TABLE>
Note: If you have additional key or non-key employees, please attach additional
pages as necessary.
If the Plan is top heavy, the employer must make a minimum contribution on
behalf of all non-key eligible employees. The contribution must equal the
highest percentage deferred by a key employee, up to a maximum of 3%, based on
the non-key employee's compensation. These contributions can be made to any
qualified retirement plan (SEP or SARSEP IRA), as indicated in the adoption
agreement. Key employees may also receive the top-heavy contribution.
31 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc. 43104-10/95
<PAGE>
32
<PAGE>
SARSEP IRA ACTUAL DEFERRAL [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
PERCENTAGE (ADP) TEST
Plan Year End
----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. THE ACTUAL DEFERRAL PERCENTAGE (ADP) TEST
The Actual Deferral Percentage (ADP) Test is an annual test which restricts
the amount that Highly Compensated Employees may contribute through salary
deferral to their SARSEP accounts. Each Highly Compensated Employee may
defer no more than 125% of the deferral percentage of the Non-Highly
Compensated (NHC) group of employees. The test must be performed annually as
of the last day of the plan year.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. INSTRUCTIONS
(1) Separate eligible employees into two groups: Highly Compensated and
Non-Highly Compensated. The definition of Highly Compensated is provided
in the Question and Answer Section on page 13.
(2) List each ELIGIBLE employee in their respective group indicating their
compensation and salary deferral. IMPORTANT: You must also include all
eligible employees who elect not to make salary deferral contributions.
Indicate their deferral amount ($) in Column 4 as zero.
(3) Compute each eligible employees' deferral percentage in Column 4.
(4) Add up the deferred percentage of each employee in the Highly
Compensated group and the Non-Highly Compensated group separately.
Divide by the number of eligible employees in each group.
(5) Compare the two groups' average deferral percentages. Each Highly
Compensated participant cannot defer more than 125% of the average
deferral percentage of the Non-Highly Compensated group.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. DEFINITIONS
(1) EMPLOYEE: For the purposes of this worksheet we are listing only
employees eligible for this SARSEP. An employee who was eligible at any
time during the Plan Year, but who terminates prior to the end of the
Plan Year is included for this test. Additionally, an eligible employee
who elects not to make Elective Deferrals shall be treated as having a
0% Deferral Percentage.
(a) HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE An Employee (and certain family
members) who meet the criteria listed in Sections 1.11 and 1.12
of the SEP and SARSEP IRA Plan Document. (Also see Question and
Answer Section on page 13.)
(b) NON-HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE: An Employee who doesn't meet
the definition of Highly Compensated.
(2) ELECTIVE DEFERRALS: All contributions made to the SARSEP at the election
of an eligible employee (Participant) in lieu of cash compensation or
bonuses pursuant to a salary savings agreement or cash option election.
(3) COMPENSATION: Total wages, salaries, fees, bonuses or other taxable
remuneration paid to Participant from the Employer during the period in
which the individual actually participated in the Plan. Compensation
shall be limited to $160,000 (or any higher limit announced by the IRS).
The Compensation limit must be adjusted proportionately for Plan Years
of less than 12 months.
33
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. ELIGIBLE NON-HIGHLY COMPENSATED (NHC) EMPLOYEES
NOTE: Please read the Definitions before completing worksheet.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Deferral
Employee Name Elective Deferrals Compensation Percentage
column 2 divided
by column 3
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
</TABLE>
(5) Total of all Deferral Percentages (column 4)
---------------
(6) Number of eligible Non-Highly Compensated Employees (column 1)
-------------
(7) Average Deferral Percentage for Non-Highly Compensated
Employees (line 5 divided by line 6)
--------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. ELIGIBLE HIGHLY COMPENSATED (HC) EMPLOYEES
NOTE: Please read the Definitions before completing worksheet.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Deferral
Employee Name Elective Deferrals Compensation Percentage
column 2 divided
by column 3
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
$ $ %
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
</TABLE>
(A) Total of all Deferral Percentages (column 4)
------------------
(B) Number of eligible Highly Compensated Employees (column 1)
----------------
(C) Average Deferral Percentage for Highly Compensated Employees
(line A divided by line B)
--------------------
(D) EACH HIGHLY COMPENSATED PARTICIPANT MAY NOT DEFER MORE THAN 125% X LINE 7,
SECTION 4
125% X _________________ = ______________ ADP FOR EACH HIGHLY COMPENSATED
PARTICIPANT
34 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc. 43105-3/96
<PAGE>
SEP/SARSEP TRANSMITTAL FORM [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. EMPLOYER INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name of Employer
------------------------------------------------------------
Address
---------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
------------------------------ --------------- --------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. EMPLOYER'S AUTHORIZATION (Signature(s) of authorized employer
representative)
We hereby authorize Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company to invest
contributions in accordance with the instructions below.
Date / /
- ------------------------------------------------------------ -- -- --
Month Day Year
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Name of Social Security Selected Contribution per Fund**
Participant Number AIM Funds* (Minimum $25 per Fund)
SEP SARSEP
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $ $
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
2
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
3
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
4
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
5
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
6
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
*Indicate funds used by each participant.
**Indicate dollar($) amount contributed per fund.
35
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Name of Social Security Selected Contribution per Fund**
Participant Number AIM Funds* (Minimum $25 per Fund)
SEP SARSEP
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
7 $ $
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
8
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
9
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
10
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
11
----------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
------------------------ ------------ ------------
Total Employer Contributions $
------------
Total Employee Salary
Deferral Contributions $
-----------
Total Employer and
Employee Contributions $
-----------
</TABLE>
If a contribution for a participant is to be invested in more than one fund, $25
or more must be invested in each fund selected. Attach form, check (payable to
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust) and SEP and SARSEP applications and mail to:
AIM Fund Services, Inc.
Attn: Retirement Plans Operations
P.O. Box 2646
Houston, Texas 77252-2646
*Indicate funds used by each participant.
**Indicate dollar($) amount contributed per fund.
36 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc. 43106-10/95
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 14(c)
AIM PROFIT SHARING/MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN
ENROLLMENT & BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORM [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. EMPLOYEE INFORMATION (Please Print)
Company Name Trust Tax ID #
------------------------------ ---------------
Last Name First Middle
------------- ------------ -----------------------
Social Security Number
----------------------------------------------------
Address
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Phone Work Phone
--------------------------- ------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. INVESTMENT SELECTION
I elect to have my Employer contributions invested as indicated below. If
any existing assets are being transferred to AIM, they will be invested the
same as your future contributions. (Write in the name of each AIM Fund you
choose to invest in as permitted by the Plan.)
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
[ %] AIM
--------------------------------
100% Total (Minimum $25 per fund, per payroll deferral)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. PRIMARY BENEFICIARY(IES)
I name the following person(s) to receive benefits payable from my
company's retirement plan upon my death:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Name Relationship Percentage of Benefits
----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- [ %]
Social Security Number Birthdate / /
----------------------------- ------------ ------------- -----------
Street Address City State Zip Code
----------------------- ----------------- --- -------------------
Name Relationship Percentage of Benefits
----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- [ %]
Social Security Number Birthdate / /
----------------------------- ------------ ------------- ----------- Percentages must
Street Address City State Zip Code total 100%
----------------------- ----------------- --- -------------------
</TABLE>
Attach additional sheets if you wish to name more than two primary
beneficiaries.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY(IES)
If my primary beneficiary(ies) is/are deceased at the time of my death, the
following person(s) shall receive benefits payable from my Company
Retirement Plan upon my death:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Name Relationship Percentage of Benefits
----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- [ %]
Social Security Number Birthdate / /
----------------------------- ------------ ------------- -----------
Street Address City State Zip Code
----------------------- ----------------- --- -------------------
Name Relationship Percentage of Benefits
----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- [ %]
Social Security Number Birthdate / /
----------------------------- ------------ ------------- ----------- Percentages must
Street Address City State Zip Code total 100%
----------------------- ----------------- --- -------------------
</TABLE>
Attach additional sheets if you wish to name more than two contingent
beneficiaries.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. SPOUSAL CONSENT
(This section must be completed only if you are married and selecting a
primary beneficiary other than your spouse.)
I, the spouse of the above-named employee, consent to my spouse's
designation. I understand that if a primary beneficiary other than myself
has been named, no benefit will be paid to me from the Plan upon my
spouse's death unless I am named also as an additional primary beneficiary
or as a contingent beneficiary, and the primary beneficiary(ies) is/are
deceased.
Spouse's Signature Date / /
-------------------------------- ----- ----- -----
Signature of Witness (other than spouse) Date / /
---------- ----- ----- -----
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. EMPLOYEE AUTHORIZATION (Please sign and date this form)
I understand that my designation becomes effective on the day I submit this
form and replaces any earlier beneficiary designation I have made under the
Plan. If I am married at the time of my death, my spouse will receive my
Plan benefits, regardless of whom I have named as beneficiary, if Section 4
of this form is not complete.
Employee Signature Date / /
-------------------------------- ----- ----- -----
A I M Distributors, Inc. *40700-12/96
<PAGE>
PROFIT SHARING/MONEY PURCHASE
PLAN APPLICATION [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
Complete Sections 1-9. Please print or type.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. EMPLOYER INFORMATION
Name of Employer/Business
---------------------------------------------------
Plan Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Trust Tax I.D# Daytime Telephone - -
---- -------------- ---- ---- --------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. DEALER INFORMATION: To be completed by securities dealer.
Dealer's Name
--------------------------------------------------------------
Main Office Address
--------------------------------------------------------
Rep. Name and Number
--------------------------------------------------------
Branch Rep. Signature
---------------------------- --------------------------
Home Office Address
---------------------------------------------------------
Telephone - -
---- ---- ---------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. PLAN TRUSTEES
Name Plan Adm./Contact Person
------------------------- ----------------------
Name Plan Adm. Telephone - -
------------------------- ----- ----- -----
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. TYPE OF CONTRIBUTION
Note: If you have paired AIM Profit Sharing and Money Purchase Pension
Plans, you must submit separate applications and separate contribution
checks. [ ] Profit Sharing Plan [ ] Money Purchase Plan
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. TYPE OF ACCOUNT ESTABLISHMENT
[ ] Establish separate accounts for each participant. (Attach participant
listing.)
[ ] Establish a pooled account for all participants. (Record keeper is
responsible for allocating plan assets to each participant.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. FUND INVESTMENT
Indicate fund(s) and contribution amount(s). Make check payable to Boston
Safe Deposit and Trust Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class of
Shares Class of Shares
Fund $ or % of (Check one) Fund $ or % of (Check one)
Assets Assets
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
[ ] AIM Balanced Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM Intermediate Government Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Blue Chip Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM Growth Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Capital Develop-
ment Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM High Yield Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Charter Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM Income Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Constellation
Fund $ [ ] A [ ] AIM International Equity Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Global Aggressive
Growth Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM Limited Maturity Treasury Shares $ [ ] A
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Global Growth
Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM Money Market Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] C
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Global Income
Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM Value Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B
----------- ----------
[ ] AIM Global Utilities
Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B [ ] AIM Weingarten Fund $ [ ] A [ ] B
----------- ----------
Total from both columns $
----------
</TABLE>
If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be purchased, except
in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, where Class C shares will be
purchased. If you are funding your retirement account through a transfer,
please indicate the contribution amounts both in this section and in Section
3 of the Asset-Transfer Form.
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Unless indicated below, the plan authorizes the Transfer Agent to accept
instructions from any person to exchange shares in its plan account(s) by
telephone, in accordance with the procedures and conditions set forth in the
Fund's current prospectus.
[ ] The plan DOES NOT want the telephone exchange privilege.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. REDUCED SALES CHARGE (optional)
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION
The plan applies for Right of Accumulation reduced sales charges based on
the following accounts in The AIM Family of Funds--Registered Trademark--.
Fund(s) Account No(s).
----------------------- -------------------------------
LETTER OF INTENT
The plan agrees to the Letter of Intent provisions as stated in Fund's
prospectus(es). The plan agrees to invest during a 13-month period a dollar
amount of at least:
[ ]$25,000 [ ]$50,000 [ ]$100,000 [ ]$250,000 [ ]$500,000 [ ]$1,000,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. DUPLICATE ACCOUNT STATEMENT
Name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(AIM will only send one duplicate statement. Check one of the following
boxes.)
[ ]Plan Administrator [ ]Record Keeper [ ]Benefit Consultant [ ]Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
The trustee(s) hereby adopts the AIM Distributors, Inc. Money
Purchase/Profit Sharing Plan appointing Boston Safe Deposit and Trust
Company as Custodian. The trustee(s) has received and read the current
prospectus of the investment company(ies) selected in this agreement. The
trustee(s) understands that a $10 annual maintenance fee for each
participant in the AIM Money Purchase/Profit Sharing Plan will be
deducted in early December. The trustee(s) acknowledges reading and
completing the AIM Funds Money Purchase/Profit Sharing Plan Adoption
Agreement(s) and Trust Agreement.
Under the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983, the Fund is
required to have the following certification. Please refer to the Fund
prospectus for complete instructions regarding backup withholding. Under the
penalties of perjury, the trustee(s) certifies that (i) the number shown in
Section 1 is its correct Taxpayer Identification Number and (ii) the plan is
not subject to backup withholding because the Internal Revenue Service (a)
has not notified the plan that it is subject to backup withholding as a
result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or (b) has notified
the plan that it is no longer subject to backup withholding (does not apply
to real estate transactions, mortgage interest paid, the acquisition or
abandonment of secured property, contributions to an individual retirement
arrangement (IRA), and payments other than interest and dividends).
Certification Instructions - You must cross out item(b) above if you have
been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup
withholding because of underreporting of interest or dividends on your tax
return.
[ ] Exempt from Backup Withholding (i.e. exempt entity as described in
Application Instructions)
Signature of Plan Trustee Date / /
----------------------------- ---- ---- ------
Signature of Plan Trustee Date / /
----------------------------- ---- ----- -------
Signature of Plan Trustee Date / /
----------------------------- ---- ----- -------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. INSTRUCTIONS
Make check payable to Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company.
Return completed application and check to A I M Distributors, Inc., P.O.
Box 4739, Houston, TX 77210-4739.
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc. 42600-12/96
<PAGE>
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS
PROTOTYPE MONEY PURCHASE PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN DOCUMENT, TRUST AGREEMENT,
ADOPTION AGREEMENTS, SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTIONS AND APPLICATIONS
AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
<PAGE>
AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
PROTOTYPE PAIRED DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS
PROFIT SHARING/MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLANS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Adopting the AIM Profit Sharing Plan: Adoption Agreement #001
II. Adopting the AIM Money Purchase Pension Plan: Adoption Agreement #002
III. Money Purchase Pension and Profit Sharing Plan Basic Document #01
IV. Determination Letters
V. Trust Agreement
VI. Employee Notices
- Model Summary Plan Description for Profit Sharing Plan
- Model Summary Plan Description for Money Purchase Plan
VII. Forms
- Money Purchase Pension and Profit Sharing Plan Account Application
- Participant Enrollment & Beneficiary Designation
- Asset Transfer Form
- Contribution Transmittal Form
1
<PAGE>
ESTABLISHING
YOUR
PROTOTYPE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS
PROFIT SHARING AND MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLANS
The Prototype Paired Defined Contribution Plans sponsored by AIM Distributors,
Inc. are a Profit Sharing Plan and a Money Purchase Pension Plan. Both of these
plans are provided under one plan document with separate adoption agreements.
An employer can adopt either one or both of these plans.
AIM Distributors, Inc. will not act as trustee, plan administrator, nor record
keeper. Before establishing a qualified plan, you should consult with a tax
advisor or attorney. Failure to properly complete these documents could result
in plan disqualification.
To establish the AIM Prototype Profit Sharing and/or Money Purchase Pension
Plan the following forms need to be completed:
1. PLAN ADOPTION AGREEMENT(S). (Section I & II.)
You must complete the appropriate adoption agreement, Profit Sharing
Agreement #001, or Money Purchase Pension Agreement #002, and all
other documents stated in the plan set up instructions.
To establish both a Money Purchase Pension and a Profit Sharing Plan
(Paired Plans), you must complete both the Profit Sharing Adoption
Agreement (Agreement #001) and the Money Purchase Adoption Agreement
(Agreement #002) found in Sections I & II.
2. FIDELITY BOND REQUIREMENT: All qualified plans are required to be covered
by a Fidelity Bond equal to at least 10% of the asset value of the plan,
and not less than $1,000 nor greater than $500,000. Fidelity bonds can be
obtained through your business insurance agent.
3. TRUST AGREEMENT DOCUMENT (Section III.)
Complete and sign pages 77 and 78 of the Trust Document.
4. AIM PROFIT SHARING/MONEY PURCHASE PLAN ACCOUNT APPLICATION (Section VII.)
Complete a separate application for each plan established: Profit
Sharing and/or Money Purchase Pension Plan.
5. PARTICIPANT ENROLLMENT AND DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY FORM (Section VII
Employer retains)
Each eligible employee must complete an enrollment and beneficiary
form and return it to the plan administrator to be retained with plan
records. A copy of the employee's enrollment form should be forwarded
to AIM only if you are requesting that individual mutual fund accounts
be established for each employee.
2
<PAGE>
Do not return the employee enrollment forms if you are
establishing "pooled" investment accounts for the plan. AIM will
only establish "individual" mutual fund participant accounts for
plans with less than 50 participants.
6. TO TRANSFER ASSETS FROM AN EXISTING PLAN: Complete the Asset Transfer
Form in Section V as well as the documents indicated on the previous
page.
7. FEES: There is an annual custodial account fee of $10.00 for each
participant account or each "pooled" account establish at AIM.
After completion, return only the AIM Money Purchase Pension and Profit Sharing
Account Application and a copy of the participant enrollment forms (individual
mutual fund accounts only) with your contribution to establish the plan. Do not
return participant enrollment forms if establishing "pooled" AIM Fund
investment accounts.
Enclose your initial contribution check payable to: Boston Safe Deposit &
Trust Company.
DO NOT return the Adoption Agreement(s), Summary Plan Description(s),
Beneficiary Form, or Trust Agreement to AIM. These documents must be retained
with your permanent plan records.
Return to:
AIM Fund Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 4739
Houston, TX 77210-4739
DEADLINE: New Plans must execute all plan documents prior to the last day of
the plan year (fiscal or calendar year). The plans contribution must be made
by the due date of the business tax return including extensions for the
contribution to be tax deductible.
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
Once you have adopted the AIM Money Purchase Pension and/or Profit Sharing Plan
you will need to communicate the adoption and principal provisions of the plan
to employees. This is done by providing the following information to employees:
1. SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION
The employer must give each eligible employee a Summary Plan Description
(SPD) of the plan and file the Summary Plan Description with the Department
of Labor within 120 days of establishing the plan. You must complete the
SPD to indicate the plan features you have designated in the adoption
agreement. AIM has partially completed the SPD in accordance with the
features we pre-marked. Any future amendments to the adoption agreement
must also be made to the SPD.
There is a sample letter provided for filing the SPD with the Department
of Labor.
These notices are provided in Section VII.
3
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ADOPTING THE AIM PROFIT SHARING PLAN
ADOPTION AGREEMENT #001
4
<PAGE>
ADOPTING THE AIM PROFIT SHARING PLAN ADOPTION
AGREEMENT #001
TO ADOPT THE AIM SPONSORED PROFIT SHARING PLAN YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE
THE FOLLOWING FORMS:
- The Profit Sharing Adoption Agreement and Summary Plan Description
(SPD) and Trust Agreement
- A Profit Sharing Plan Account Application
- An Enrollment and Beneficiary Designation Form for each participant.
PLAN STRUCTURE:
If you are establishing "pooled" investment accounts, utilizing a third
party administrator for record keeping:
- Submit only the AIM Profit Sharing and/or Money Purchase Pension Plan
Account Application indicating all the AIM Funds permitted as
investment options by the Plan and the investment amount for each
fund. You must identify the Plan's trustees. If you are not making
your full contribution at this time, we require a minimum $1,000
initial contribution.
If you want AIM to establish separate mutual fund accounts for each plan
participant:
- Submit the AIM Profit Sharing Account Applications with the
participant enrollment forms (Section VII).
- Identify each participant's name, mailing address, SS # and their AIM
Fund'(s) investment election on the enrollment form.
- The plan administrator must submit all contributions with a breakdown
identifying each participant and their total contribution allocated to
the funds the participant has chosen.
- The minimum contribution per participant is $25 per fund, per
contribution submission.
- The maximum number of individual, participants accounts AIM will
establish is 50, utilizing no more than 6 AIM Funds.
- Duplicate statements will be issued to your recordkeeper or
administrator, if requested.
RETURN TO: AIM Fund Services
P.O. Box 4739
Houston, TX 71210-4739
ADOPTION AGREEMENT
To make it easy for you, the Profit Sharing Plan Adoption Agreement has been
partially completed to reflect the features most frequently chosen. Please
review the completed plan adoption agreement with your legal or tax advisor to
ensure that the plan provisions are appropriate.
NOTE: If desired, you may change any of the prechecked elections by making the
appropriate change and placing your initials and date next to the section being
changed.
[X] PRE-CHECKED SECTIONS:
The key sections in this Adoption Agreement which have been completed are as
follows:
5
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- - All employees who are Age 21 and have fulfilled one year of service are
eligible to share in plan for contributions. (Years of service cannot
exceed 2 years: all contributions are then 100% vested.)
- - An employee who completes 1,000 hours of service within 12 consecutive
months of their date of hire is credited with a year of service for initial
eligibility. Only 500 hours of service are required in any year thereafter
for a participant to be eligible for a plan contribution. There is no
requirement that a participant be employed on the last day of the plan year
to receive a contribution in the year they separate from service.
- - After fulfilling age and service eligibility requirements, employees may
enter the plan on the first day of a plan year on the first day of the
seventh month of the plan year. (Calendar Year = January 1 & July 1 entry
dates)
- - All union and non U.S. resident alien employees are excluded from
participation. Please note that all other employees of the plan sponsors,
as well as employees of certain companies related to the plan sponsor, are
eligible to participate.
- - Please note that all other employees of the plan sponsors, as well as
employees of certain companies related to the plan sponsor, are eligible to
participate.
- - The employees annual contribution will be discretionary.
- - The plan is not integrated with Social Security. If you choose to integrate
your contribution, AIM will not compute the integration allocation.
- - Normal retirement age of 65.
- - No Loans and No Hardship Distributions are permitted.
- - No Life Insurance may be purchased by the plan.
- - The Employer is the Plan Administrator responsible for administration of
the Plan. (If you appoint another entity as the Plan Administrator, that
entity must sign Section XV of the Adoption Agreement to accept the
responsibility of Plan Administrator.
[X] SECTIONS TO BE COMPLETED BY EMPLOYER
The following sections of the Adoption Agreement must be completed by the
employer.
Section II: Employer Data (Page 1 & 2) - Complete A through G. If
applicable, Complete H and I. (Name, address, TIN, etc.)
Section IX: Vesting - Choose the vesting schedule desired.
SECTION XIV: Allocation Limitation - complete this section.
Section XVI: Self Trusteed Plan - You must designate a trustee or trustees
of this plan. The trustee(s) must sign the Adoption Agreement.
NEITHER AIM NOR BOSTON SAFE DEPOSIT & TRUST COMPANY WILL ACT
AS THE PLAN TRUSTEE. The trustees must sign the Adoption
Agreement on page 12.
Section XVII: Employer Signature - Read the employer acknowledgment and
execute this section.
6
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Fidelity Bond - Contact your insurance company regarding the purchase of a
fidelity bond which will cover the plan administrator and plan fiduciaries. The
bond must be for at least $1,000 or an amount equal to 10% of the plan's assets
not to exceed $500,000.
FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPLETE THESE DOCUMENTS COULD RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION
OF YOUR PLAN AND LOSS OF TAX BENEFITS. DEADLINE: NEW PLANS MUST BE EXECUTED BY
THE LAST DAY OF THE PLAN'S TAX YEAR (CALENDAR OR FISCAL).
PLAN ADMINISTRATION: NEITHER AIM DISTRIBUTORS, NOR AIM FUND SERVICES WILL ACT AS
THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. AIM WILL NOT REVIEW PLAN DOCUMENTS, CALCULATE
CONTRIBUTION ALLOCATIONS, PROVIDE RECORD KEEPING SERVICES, PERFORM
DISCRIMINATION TEST, OR FILE FORM 5500. ALL ADMINISTRATIVE, TAX REPORTING AND
ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PLAN SPONSOR OR APPOINTED
THIRD PARTY.
7
<PAGE>
PROFIT SHARING ADOPTION AGREEMENT
FOR PROTOTYPE PAIRED DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
#001 SPONSORED BY
AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
ADOPTION AGREEMENT #001
This is the Adoption Agreement for paired defined contribution plan #001 of
basic plan document #001, which is a combined prototype profit sharing/money
purchase pension plan. This Adoption Agreement may be adopted either singly or
in combination with paired defined contribution plan #002, a prototype money
purchase pension plan.
NOTE: Before executing this Adoption Agreement, the Employer should consult
with a tax advisor or attorney. Failure to properly complete this
Adoption Agreement may result in Plan disqualification.
- -----------------------------------
The Employer hereby establishes a profit sharing plan and a trust upon the
respective terms and conditions contained in the prototype paired defined
contribution plan (the "Plan") and the Trust Agreement annexed hereto and
appoints as Trustee of such trust the person(s) who have executed this Adoption
Agreement evidencing their acceptance of such appointment. The Plan and, the
Trust Agreement, if applicable, shall be supplemented and modified by the terms
and conditions contained in this Adoption Agreement and shall be effective on
the Effective Date.
The Sponsor will inform the Employer of any amendments made to the Plan or the
discontinuance or abandonment of the Plan.
- -----------------------------------
1. SPONSOR DATA
------------
A. AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Name of Sponsor (or authorized representative)
B. 11 GREENWAY PLAZA- SUITE 1919
Address
HOUSTON, TX 77046
C. (713) 347-1919
Telephone Number
- -----------------------------------
II. EMPLOYER DATA
A. ___________________________________________________
Name of Employer and Employer Identification Number
B. ___________________________________________________
Address
C. (_____)____________________________________________
Telephone Number
D. ___________________________________________________
Employers Taxable Year End
E. ___________________________________________________
Plan Year End
F. The Employer is: [ ] A corporate entity
[ ] A non corporate entity
[ ] A corporation electing to be taxed under
Subchapter S
8
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G. ___________________________________________________
Effective Date (should be first day of a Plan Year)
H. If this is an amendment of an existing plan, complete the following:
______________________________________________________________________
Effective Date of Amendment (should be first day of a Plan Year)
______________________________________________________________________
Name of Prior Plan
______________________________________________________________________
Effective Date of Prior Plan
I. ______________________________________________________________________
Limitation Year, if different from E., above
III. ELIGIBILITY
A. Employees shall be eligible to participate in the Plan upon
completion of the eligibility requirements (complete 1 and 2)
(Plan section 3.1):
1. Years of Service. The Employee must complete (check one box):
[X] One Year of Service.
[ ] ____ Years of Service. (You can require less than or more
than one Year of Service, but not more than two (2). If
you select more than one Year of Service, the Employee
must be 100% vested once he becomes eligible, and you must
select vesting schedule B in section X of this Adoption
Agreement. If the Year of Service is or includes a
fractional year, an Employee will not be required to
complete any specified number of Hours of Service (sec IV,
A of this Adoption Agreement) to receive credit for such
fractional year.
2. Age. The Employee must attain age 21 (not greater than age
21).
B. The following Employees will not be eligible to participate in the
Plan (Plan section 3.1):
[X] Union Employees. Employees included in a unit of employees
covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Employer
and Employee representatives (as defined in section 3.1(b)(i) of
the Plan), if retirement benefits were the subject of good faith
bargaining.
[X] Nonresident Aliens. Employees who are nonresident aliens and who
receive no earned income from the Employer which constitutes
income from sources within the United States. For purposes of
this section III, the term "Employee" includes all employees of
this Employer or any employer aggregated with this Employer under
sections 414(b), (c) or (m) or (o) of the Code and individuals who
are Leased Employees required to be considered Employees of any
such employer under section 414(n) or (o) of the Code. Therefore,
all employees of companies in a controlled group of businesses
will be eligible to participate in this plan.
- -----------------------------------
9
<PAGE>
IV. CREDITED SERVICE
A. The Plan provides that a Year of Service requires at least 1,000 Hours
of service during a Plan Year. If a lower number of hours is desired,
state the number here: 1,000 (Plan section 2.42).
B. The Plan permits Hours of Service to be determined by the use of
service equivalencies under one of the methods selected below (choose
one method)(Plan section 2.19):
1. [X] On the basis of actual hours for which an Employee is paid or
entitled to payment.
2. [ ] On the basis of days worked. An Employee will be credited with
ten (10) Hours of Service if under section 2.19 of the plan such
Employee would be credited with at least one (1) Hour of Service
during the day.
3. [ ] On the basis of weeks worked. An Employee will be credited
with forty-five (45) Hours of Service if under section 2.19 of the
Plan such Employee would be credited with at least one (1) Hour of
Service during the week.
4. [ ] On the basis of semimonthly payroll periods. An Employee will
be credited with ninety-five (95) Hours of Service if under section
2.19 of the Plan such Employee would be credited with at least one
(1) Hour of Service during the semimonthly payroll period.
5. [ ] On the basis of months worked. An Employee will be credited
with one hundred ninety (190) Hours of Service if under section
2.19 of the Plan such Employee would be credited with at least one
(1) Hour of Service during the month.
C. Service with a predecessor employer (choose 1 or 2)(Plan sections 3.3
and 8.5):
1. [X] No credit will be given for service with a predecessor
employer.
- or -
2. [ ] Credit will be given for service with the following
predecessor employer(s):
----------------------------------
NOTE: The Plan provides that if this is a continuation of a
predecessor plan, service under the predecessor plan must be
counted.
- ----------------------------------
V. COMPENSATION
A. Compensation (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 2.7):
1. [ ] shall include
- or -
2. [X] shall not include
Employer Contributions made pursuant to a salary reduction agreement
which are not includable in the gross income of the Employee under
sections 125, 402(e)(3), 402(h) or 403(b) of the Code.
B. The effective date of the election in A. above shall be
___________________________ (but not earlier than the first day of the
first Plan Year beginning after 1986).
- ----------------------------------
10
<PAGE>
VI. CONTRIBUTIONS
A. Profit sharing plan formulas (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 4.19(b)):
1. [X] Discretionary pursuant to Employer resolution. If no
resolution is adopted, then _0_% of Participants'
compensation.
-or-
2. [ ] ___% of Participants' Compensation, plus discretionary
amount, if any, by Employer resolution.
NOTE: Each of these formulas is subject to maximum limitations on
contributions as provided in the Plan and the Internal Revenue Code.
In no event may the Employer Contribution exceed 15% of the aggregate
compensation of all Participants for the year, plus up to 10% credit
carryover in certain circumstances. Additional limitations are
included in the Plan where the Employer also has another qualified
retirement plan. The limit on contributions and forfeitures allocated
to an individual participant's account, per year is generally the
lesser of 25% of compensation or $30,000.
- --------------------------------
VII. ALLOCATION OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
A. Formula (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 5.3(b)). NOTE: If you provide
for hardship withdrawals you must use Formula 1.
1. [X] Nonintegrated Plan -- Employer contributions shall be
allocated to the accounts of all eligible Participants
prorated upon compensation.
-or-
2. [ ] Integrated Plan -- Employer contributions and forfeitures
shall be integrated with Social Security and allocated in
accordance with the provisions of Plan section 5.3(b). The
Plan's Integration Level shall be (choose (a),(b) or (c))):
(a) [ ] Taxable Wage Base. (The maximum amount considered as
wages for such year under section 3121(a)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code (the Social Security taxable wage
base) as of the beginning of the Plan Year).
-or-
(b) [ ] $______ (a dollar amount not to exceed the Taxable
Wage Base).
-or-
(c) [ ] _____% of the Taxable Wage Base (not to exceed 100%).
NOTE: If you maintain any other plan in addition to this Plan,
only one plan may be integrated with Social Security.
B. Contribution Eligibility (Plan section 4.1(c)):
The Plan provides that all Participants will share in Employer
Contributions for the Plan Year, except the following (if elected):
[ ] Participants who terminate employment during the Plan year with
not more than 500 Hours of Service and who are not Employees as
of the last day of the Plan Year (other than Participants who
die, retire or become Totally and Permanently Disabled).
If a fewer number of hours than 500 is desired, state the number
here: _____.
11
<PAGE>
- --------------------------
VIII. DISTRIBUTIONS.
A. Normal Retirement Age is (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 2.26):
1. [X] The date a Participant reaches age 65 (not more than 65
or less than 55). If no age is indicated, normal
retirement age shall be 65.
2. [ ] The later of age ____ (not more than 65) or the ____
(not more than 5th) anniversary of the day the
Participant commenced participation in the Plan. The
participation commencement date is the first day of the
first Plan Year in which the Participant commenced
participation in the Plan.
B. Early Retirement Date (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 2.10):
1. [ ] Early Retirement Date is the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the date upon which a
Participant reaches age 55 (not less than 55) and
completes 5 years of service (not more than 15).
2. [X] Early Retirement will not be permitted under the Plan.
C. All distributions will be in the form of a lump sum in accordance with
the Safe Harbor Rules in Article 9, Section 9.6 of the Plan Document.
- --------------------------
IX. OPTIONAL FEATURES
A. Hardship withdrawals (choose 1 of 2)(Plan section 12.2):
1. [ ] The Plan permits hardship withdrawals.
- or -
2. [X] The Plan does not permit hardship withdrawals.
NOTE: The Plan may not provide hardship withdrawals if integration
with Social Security is elected in section VII.A.2.
B. Loans (choose 1 or 2)(Plan ARTICLE 13):
1. [ ] The Plan permits loans to Participants.
- or -
2. [X] The Plan does not permit loans to Participants.
NOTE: The Plan may not permit loans to Owner-Employees of
noncorporate entities or to Shareholder-Employees of
subchapter S corporations. If Plan loans are permitted, the
Trustee designated in section XVI of this Adoption Agreement
may not be the Sponsor's designated Trustee.]
C. Insurance (choose 1 or 2)(Plan ARTICLE 14):
1. [ ] The Plan permits Participants to designate a portion of
their Account to purchase life insurance contracts. (MUST
NOT be selected if Sponsor's designated trustee is appointed
as Trustee).
12
<PAGE>
The percentage of the Employer Contributions which may
be applied to purchase life insurance contracts shall
be equal to _____%.
-or -
2. [X] The Plan does not permit Participants to designate a
portion of their Account to purchase life insurance
contracts.
NOTE: Section 14.5 of the Plan provides certain limits on the amount
of Employer Contributions that can be applied to purchase life
insurance contracts.]
- ------------------------------
X. VESTING
Employer Contributions and earnings will become vested if the
Participant terminates employment for any reasons other than
retirement at or after Normal Retirement Age or Early Retirement Date,
death, or disability pursuant to the following schedule (choose A, B,
C or D) (Plan section 8.3):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
A. [ ] Years of
Service Vested Percentage
------- -------- ----------
<S> <C>
1 year 0%
2 years 20%
3 years 40%
4 years 60%
5 years 80%
6 or more years 100%
</TABLE>
B. [ ] 100% vesting immediately after satisfaction of the
eligibility requirements.
NOTE: If a service requirement greater than one year is chosen for
eligibility in section III.A.1. of this Adoption Agreement, vesting
schedule B must be chosen.
C. [ ] 100% vesting after years of service (not to exceed
three).
- or -
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
D. [ ] Years of
Service Vested Percentage
------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
1 year ___%
2 years ___% (not less than 20)
3 years ___% (not less than 40)
4 years ___% (not less than 60)
5 years ___% (not less than 80)
6 years ___% (not less than 100)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
XI. INVESTMENT CHOICES
A. [X] Investment of Trust assets may be selected only from
Shares or other investments offered by the Sponsor.
(AIM Distributors Inc., AIM Family of Funds)
B. [ ] ___% of the Trust assets must be invested in Shares
or other investments offered by the Sponsor with the
remainder in such other investments as may be
acceptable within the discretion of the Trustee.
13
<PAGE>
C. [ ] 50% of the Trust assets must be invested in Shares or
other investments offered by the Sponsor with the
remainder in such other investments as may be
acceptable within the discretion of the Trustee.
D. [ ] 25% of the Trust assets must be invested in Shares or
other investments offered by the Sponsor with the
remainder in such other investments as may be
acceptable within the discretion of the Trustee.
The Sponsor may impose additional limitations
relating to the type of permissible investments in
the Trust (Plan section 7.3).
- ------------------------------
XII. INVESTMENT AUTHORITY
Contributions to the Plan shall be invested by the Trustee in
accordance with instructions of the Employer or Plan Administrator
except that (choose A, B or C) (Plan section 7.2):
A. [ ] No exceptions; the or Plan Administrator shall make
all investment selections.
B. [ ] The Employer delegates all investment responsibility
to the Trustee. (MAY NOT be selected if Sponsor's
designated trustee is appointed as Trustee).]
C. [X] Each Participant [ ] may, [X] shall direct that:
1. [X] Amounts voluntarily contributed by such
Participant pursuant to section 4.3 of the
Plan, rollover contributions pursuant to
section 4.4 of the Plan and direct transfers
pursuant to section 4.5 of the Plan, if any,
- and/or -
2. [X] Employer Contributions on the Participant's
behalf, shall be invested in specified
investments offered by the Sponsor.
Participants may make or change such
directions by giving written notice to the
Plan Administrator. Reasonable restrictions
may be imposed on this privilege by the Plan
Administrator or the Sponsor for purposes of
administrative convenience.
- ------------------------------
XIII. TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
Participants who are eligible to receive the minimum allocation
provided by section 5.2 of the Plan shall receive a minimum allocation
of contributions and forfeitures under this Plan equal to 3% of
Compensation, or if lesser, the largest percentage of Compensation
allocated on behalf of any Key Employee for the Plan Year.
NOTE: If the Participant also participates in paired defined
contribution plan #002 (the money purchase pension plan), the
required minimum allocation must be made under paired defined
contribution plan #002 (the money purchase pension plan).
- ------------------------------
14
<PAGE>
XIV. ALLOCATION LIMITATIONS
COMPLETE THIS SECTION ONLY IF YOU MAINTAIN OR EVER MAINTAINED ANOTHER
QUALIFIED PLAN (OTHER THAN PAIRED PLAN #002) IN WHICH ANY PARTICIPANT
IN THIS PLAN IS (OR WAS) A PARTICIPANT OR COULD BECOME A PARTICIPANT.
THIS SECTION MUST ALSO BE COMPLETED IF THE EMPLOYER MAINTAINS A
WELFARE BENEFIT FUND, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 419(e) OF THE CODE, OR AN
INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL ACCOUNT, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 415(l)(2) OF THE
CODE, UNDER WHICH AMOUNTS ARE TREATED AS ANNUAL ADDITIONS WITH RESPECT
TO ANY PARTICIPANT IN THIS PLAN.
A. If the Participant is covered under another qualified defined
contribution plan maintained by the Employer, other than a
master or prototype plan (choose either 1 or 2) (Plan section
6.3):
1. [ ] The provision of section 6.2 will apply as if the
other plan were a master or prototype plan.
- or -
2. [ ] (On an attachment, provide the method under which
the plans will limit total annual additions to the
maximum permissible amount, and will properly reduce
any excess amounts, in a manner that precludes
Employer discretion).
B. If the Participant is or has ever been a participant in a
defined benefit plan maintained by the Employer attach an
explanation of the method under which the plan involved will
satisfy the 1.0 limitation in a manner that precludes
Employer discretion.
- ------------------------------
XV. ADMINISTRATION
A. The Plan Administrator of the Plan will be (choose 1, 2, 3 or
4) (Plan sections 2.30 and 15.4):
1. [ ] The Trustee
- or -
2. [X] The Employer
- or -
3. [ ] An individual Plan Administrator designated
by the Employer
-----------------------------------
Name
-----------------------------------
Address
-----------------------------------
Signature
- or -
15
<PAGE>
4. [ ] A committee of two or more Employees
designated by the Employer:
-----------------------------
Name & Title
-----------------------------
Signature
-----------------------------
Name & Title
-----------------------------
Signature
-----------------------------
Name & Title
-----------------------------
Signature
NOTE: If no Plan Administrator has been designated or serving at any
time, the Employer will be deemed the Plan Administrator
(Plan section 15.4).
B. The Plan Administrator (including all members of a committee,
if a committee is named) is a Named Fiduciary for the Plan. If
other persons are also to be Named Fiduciaries, their names
and addresses are:
Name:
-------------------------------------------
Address:
----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
Signature
Name:
-------------------------------------------
Address:
----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
Signature
Name:
-------------------------------------------
Address:
----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
Signature
C. The Named Fiduciaries have all of the powers set forth in the
Plan. If any powers or duties are to be allocated among them,
or delegated to third parties, indicate below what the powers
or duties are and to whom they are to be delegated (Plan
section 15.3):
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
16
<PAGE>
XVI. THE TRUSTEE
A. The Employer hereby appoints the following to serve as
Trustee, and the trustee, by signing this Adoption Agreement
accepts the appointment (complete either A or B) (Plan section
2.39):
Name:
--------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Dated:
-------------------------------
(Signature of) Trustee
Name:
--------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Dated:
-------------------------------
(Signature of) Trustee
B. The Employer hereby appoints the Sponsor's designated
trustee(s) to serve as Trustee(s):
Name:
--------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Dated:
-------------------------------
(Signature of) Trustee
Name:
--------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Dated:
-------------------------------
(Signature of) Trustee
Name:
--------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Dated:
-------------------------------
(Signature of) Trustee
17
<PAGE>
VII. EMPLOYER SIGNATURE
The Employer acknowledges receipt of the current prospectus of the
investment companies designated by the Employer for its initial
investments under the Plan and represents that it has delivered a copy
thereof to each Participant in the Plan, and that it will deliver to
each Participant making contributions and each new Participant, a copy
of the then current prospectus of such investment companies. The
Employer further represents that the information in this Adoption
Agreement shall become effective only when approved and countersigned
by the Trustee. The right to reject this Adoption Agreement for any
reason is reserved by the sponsor.
This Adoption Agreement must be used only in conjunction with basic
plan document #01.
NOTE: An Employer who has ever maintained or who later adopts any
plan (including, after December 31, 1985, a welfare benefit
fund, as defined in section 419(e) of the Code, which provides
post-retirement medical benefits allocated to separate
accounts for Key Employees, as defined in section 419A(d)(3) of
the Code, or an individual medical account, as defined in
section 415(1)(2) of the Code), in addition to this Plan
(other than paired defined contribution plan #002), may not
rely on the opinion letter issued by the National Office of
the Internal Revenue Service as evidence that this Plan is
qualified under section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. If
the Employer who adopts or maintains multiple plans wishes to
obtain reliance that the plans are qualified, application for a
determination letter should be made to the appropriate Key
District Director of Internal Revenue.
This Adoption Agreement consists of 11 pages.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer has caused this Adoption Agreement
to be executed by its duly authorized officers this ___ day of ____.
-------------------------------
(Name of Employer)
By:
-------------------------------
(Name & Title)
Date:
------------------
18
<PAGE>
ADOPTING THE AIM MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN
ADOPTION AGREEMENT #002
19
<PAGE>
ADOPTING THE AIM MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN ADOPTION
AGREEMENT #002
To adopt the AIM Sponsored Money Purchase Pension Plan you will need to
complete the following forms:
o The Money Purchase Pension Adoption Agreement and Summary Plan
Description (SPD)
o A Money Purchase Pension Account Application
o An Enrollment and Beneficiary Designation Form for each participant.
PLAN STRUCTURE:
If you are establishing "pooled" investment accounts, utilizing a third party
administrator for record keeping:
o Submit only the AIM Money Purchase Profit Sharing and/or Profit Sharing
Plan Account Application indicating all the AIM Funds permitted as
investment options by the Plan. You must identify the Plan's trustees.
If you want AIM to establish separate mutual fund accounts for each plan
participant, registered in the plan's name:
o Submit the AIM Money Purchase Plan Account Application with the
participant enrollment forms (Section VII)
o Identify each participant's name, mailing address, SS # and their AIM
Fund's investment election on the enrollment form.
o The plan administrator must submit all contributions with a breakdown
identifying each participant, and their total contribution allocated
to the funds the participant has chosen.
o The minimum contribution per participant is $25 per fund, per
contribution submission.
o The maximum number of individual participants accounts AIM will
establish is 50 utilizing no more than 6 AIM Funds.
o Duplicate statements will be issued to your recordkeeper or
administrator if requested.
Return to:
AIM Fund Services
P.O. Box 4739
Houston, TX 77210-4739
ADOPTION AGREEMENT
To make it easy for you, the Money Purchase Pension Adoption Agreement has been
partially completed to reflect the retirement plans provisions most frequently
chosen. Please review the completed plan adoption agreement with your legal or
tax advisor to ensure that the plan provisions are correct. NOTE: If desired,
you may change any of the prechecked elections by making the appropriate change
and placing your initials and date next to the section being changed.
[X] PRE-CHECKED SECTIONS:
The key sections in this Adoption Agreement which have been completed are as
follows:
o All employees who are Age 21 and have fulfilled one year of service are
eligible for contributions. (Years of service cannot exceed 2 years:
all contributions are then 100% vested).
20
<PAGE>
o An employee who completes 1,000 hours of service, within 12 consecutive
months of their date of hire, is credited with a year of service for
initial eligibility. Only 500 hours of service are required in any year
thereafter for a participant to be eligible for a plan contribution.
There is no requirement that a participant be employed on the last day
of the plan year to receive a contribution in the year they separate
from service.
o After fulfilling age and service eligibility requirements, employees
will enter the plan on the plan anniversary date or the date which is
six months subsequent to each plan anniversary date. (Calendar Year =
January 1 & July 1)
o All union and non-resident alien employees are excluded from
participation.
o A MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN REQUIRES A FIXED ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION FROM
THE EMPLOYER STATED AS A PERCENTAGE OF EACH ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE'S
COMPENSATION (SECTION VI).
o The plan is not integrated with Social Security. If you choose to
integrate your contribution, AIM will not compute the allocation.
o Normal retirement age of 65.
o No Loans and No Hardship Distributions are permitted.
o No Life Insurance may be purchased by the plan
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN ADOPTION AGREEMENT
SECTIONS TO BE COMPLETED BY EMPLOYER
The following sections must be completed by the employer.
Section II: Employer Data (Page 2) - Complete A through G. If applicable,
Complete H and I. (Name, address, TIN, etc.)
Section VI: Contributions - Must complete percentage under A(1).
Section IX: Vesting - Choose the vesting schedule desired.
Section XV: Self Trusteed Plan - You must designate the trustee of this
plan. Neither AIM nor Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company will
be the plan's trustee.
Section XVI: Employer Signature - Read the employer acknowledgment and
execute this section.
Fidelity Bond - Contact your insurance company regarding the purchase of a
fidelity bond which will cover the plan and plan fiduciaries.
The bond must be for at least $1,000 or an amount equal to 10%
of the plan's assets not to exceed $500,000.
21
<PAGE>
FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPLETE THESE DOCUMENTS COULD RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION
OF YOUR PLAN AND LOSS OF TAX BENEFITS. DEADLINE: NEW PLANS MUST BE EXECUTED BY
THE LAST DAY OF THE PLAN'S TAX YEAR (CALENDAR OR FISCAL).
PLAN ADMINISTRATION: NEITHER AIM DISTRIBUTIONS, NOR AIM FUND SERVICES WILL ACT
AS THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. AIM WILL NOT REVIEW PLAN DOCUMENTS, COMPUTE
CONTRIBUTION ALLOCATION, PROVIDE RECORD KEEPING SERVICES, PERFORM
DISCRIMINATION TEST, OR FILE FORM 5500. ALL ADMINISTRATIVE, TAX REPORTING AND
ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PLAN SPONSOR OR APPOINTED
THIRD PARTY.
22
<PAGE>
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION ADOPTION AGREEMENT
FOR PROTOTYPE PAIRED DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
#002 SPONSORED BY
AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
ADOPTION AGREEMENT #002
This is the Adoption Agreement for paired defined contribution plan #002 of
basic plan document #01, which is a combined prototype profit sharing/money
purchase pension defined contribution plan. This adoption agreement may be
adopted either singly or in combination with paired defined contribution plan
#001, a prototype profit sharing plan.
Note: Before executing this Adoption Agreement, the Employer should consult
with a tax advisor or attorney. Failure to properly complete this Adoption
Agreement may result in Plan disqualification.
- --------------------
The Employer hereby establishes a money purchase pension plan and a trust upon
the respective terms and conditions contained in the prototype paired defined
contribution plan (the "Plan") and the Trust Agreement annexed hereto and
appoints as Trustee of such trust the person(s) who have executed this Adoption
Agreement evidencing their acceptance of such appointment. The Plan, the Trust
Agreement, and the Custody Agreement, if applicable, shall be supplemented and
modified by the terms and conditions contained in this Adoption Agreement and
shall be effective on the Effective Date.
The Sponsor will inform the Employer of any amendments made to the Plan or the
discontinuance or abandonment of the Plan.
- --------------------
I. SPONSOR DATA
A. AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
----------------------
Name of Sponsor (or authorized representative)
B. 11 GREENWAY PLAZA SUITE 1919
----------------------------
Address
HOUSTON, TX 77046
------------------
City State
C. (713) 347-1919
--------------
Telephone Number
- --------------------
II. EMPLOYER DATA
A.
----------------------------------------------
(Name of Employer and Employer Identification Number
B.
----------------------------------------------
Address
2. C. ( )
--- ------------------------------------------
Telephone Number
D.
-------------------------------
Employer's Taxable Year End
E.
-------------------------------
Plan Year End
23
<PAGE>
F. The Employer is: [ ] A corporate entity
[ ] A noncorporate entity
[ ] A corporation electing to be taxed under
Subchapter S
G.
-----------------------
Effective Date (should be first day of a Plan Year)
H. If this is an amendment of an existing plan, complete the following:
-----------------------
Effective Date of Amendment (should be first day of a Plan Year)
-----------------------
Name of Prior Plan
-----------------------
Effective Date of Prior Plan
I.
-----------------------
Limitation Year, if different from E., above
- ----------------------
III. ELIGIBILITY
A. Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan upon completion
of the eligibility requirements (complete 1 and 2)(Plan section 3.1):
1. Years of Service. The Employee must complete (check one box):
[X] One Year of Service
[ ] ___ Years of Service. (You can require less than or more
than one Year of Service, but not more than two (2). If you
select more than one Year of Service, the Employee must be
100% vested once he becomes eligible, and you must select
vesting schedule B in section IX of this Adoption Agreement.
If the Year of Service is or includes a fractional year, an
Employee will not be required to complete any specified
number of Hours of Service (Section IV, A of this Adoption
Agreement) to receive credit for such fractional year.
2. Age. The Employee must attain age 21 (not greater than age 21).
B. The following Employees will not be eligible to participate in the
Plan (Plan section 3.1):
[X] Union Employees. Employees included in a unit of employees
covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the
Employer and the Employee representatives (as defined in section
3.1(b)(i) of the Plan), if retirement benefits were the subject
of good faith bargaining.
[X] Nonresident Aliens. Employees who are nonresident aliens and
who receive no earned income from the Employer which constitutes
income from sources within the United States.
For purposes of this section III, the term "Employee" includes
all employees of this Employer or any employer aggregated with
this Employer under sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Code
and individuals who are Leased Employees required to be
considered Employees of any such employer under section 414 (n)
or (o) of the Code.
- --------------------
24
<PAGE>
IV. CREDITED SERVICE
A. The Plan provides that a Year of Service requires at least 1,000 hours
during any Plan Year. If a lower number of hours is desired, state the
number here: 1,000 (Plan section 2.42).
B. The Plan permits Hours of Service to be determined by the use of
service equivalencies under one of the methods selected below (choose
one method) (Plan section 2.19):
1. [X] On the basis of actual hours of which an Employee is paid or
entitled to payment.
2. [ ] On the basis of days worked. An Employee will be credited
with ten (10) Hours of Service if under section 2.19 of the
Plan such Employee would be credited with at least one (1)
Hour of Service during the day.
3. [ ] On the basis of weeks worked. An Employee will be credited
with forty-five (45) Hours of Service if under section 2.19
of the Plan such Employee would be credited with at least
one (1) Hour of Service during the week.
4. [ ] On the basis of semimonthly payroll periods. An Employee
will be credited with ninety-five (95) Hours of Service if
under section 2.19 of the Plan such Employee would be
credited with at least one (1) Hour of Service during the
semimonthly payroll period.
- or -
5. [ ] On the basis of months worked. An Employee will be credited
with one hundred ninety (190) Hours of Service if under
section 2.19 of the Plan such Employee would be credited
with at least one (1) Hour of Service during the month.
C. Service with a predecessor employer (choose 1 or 2)(Plan sections 3.3
and 8.5):
1. [X] No credit will be given for service with a predecessor
employer.
- or -
2. [ ] Credit will be given for service with the following
predecessor employer(s):
---------------
NOTE: The Plan provides that if this is a continuation of a
predecessor plan, service under the predecessor plan must be
counted.
- --------------------------------
V. COMPENSATION
A. Compensation (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 2.7):
1. [ ] shall include
- or -
2. [X] shall not include
Employer Contributions made pursuant to a salary reduction agreement
which are not includable in the gross income of the Employee under
sections 125, 402(a)(8), 402(h) or 403(b) of the Code.
B. The effective date of the election in A. above shall be __________
(but not earlier than the first day of the first Plan Year beginning
after 1986).
25
<PAGE>
VI. CONTRIBUTIONS
A. Formulas (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 4.1.(a)):
1. [X] Plan no integrated with Social Security
The Employer will contribute ___% of compensation for each
Participant (not less than 3% if the profit sharing Adoption
Agreement is also adopted and, in any event, not more than 25%).
2. [ ] Integrated Plan - The Employer will contribute an amount
equal to ___% (base contribution percentage, not less than
3) of each Participant's Compensation (as defined in
section 2.7 of the Plan) for the Plan Year, up to the
Integration Level plus ___% (not less than 3% and not to
exceed the base contribution percentage by more than the
lesser of: (1) the base contribution percentage, or (2) the
Maximum Disparity Rate of such Participant's Compensation
in excess of the Integration Level.
a. [ ] Taxable Wage Base. (The maximum amount considered as
wages for such year under section 3121(a)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code (the Social Security taxable
wage base) as of the beginning of the Plan Year).
-or-
b. [ ] $_________(a dollar amount not to exceed the Taxable
Wage Base).
-or-
c. [ ] ______% of the Taxable Wage Base (not to exceed 100%).
NOTE: If you maintain any other plan in addition to this Plan,
only one plan may be integrated with Social Security.
B. Forfeitures for a given Plan Year (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 5.3(a)):
1. [ ] Shall be applied to reduce the Employer Contribution in that
year, or if in excess of the Employer Contribution for such Plan
Year, the excess amounts shall be used to reduce the Employer
Contribution in the next succeeding Plan Year or Years.
-or-
2. [ ] Shall be added to the Employer Contribution and allocated
accordingly.
C. Contribution Eligibility (Plan section 4.1(c)):
The Plan provides that all Participants will share in Employer
Contributions for the Plan Year, except the following (if elected):
[X] Participants who terminate employment during the Plan Year with not
more than 500 Hours of Service and who are not Employees as of the
last day of the Plan Year (other than Participants who die, retire or
become Totally and Permanently Disabled).
If a fewer number of hours than 500 is desired, state the number here:____.
26
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------
VII. DISTRIBUTIONS
A. Normal Retirement Age is (choose 1 or 2 )(Plan section 2.26):
1. [X] The date a Participant reaches age 65
(not more than 65 or less than 55.) If no age is indicated,
normal retirement age shall be 65.
-or-
2. [] The later of age ______ (not more than 65) or the ______
(not more than 5th) anniversary of the day the Participant
commenced participation in the Plan. The participation
commencement date is the first day of the first Plan Year
in which the Participant commenced participation in the
Plan.
B. Early Retirement (choose 1 or 2)(Plan section 2.10):
1. [] Early Retirement Date is the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the date upon which a
Participant reaches age 55 (not less than 55) and completes
5 years of service (not more than 15)
-or-
2. [X] Early Retirement will not be permitted under the Plan.
- ------------------------------
VIII. OPTIONAL FEATURES
A. Loans (choose 1 or 2)(Plan ARTICLE 13):
1. [] The Plan permits loans to Participants.
-or-
2. [X] The Plan does not permit loans to Participants.
NOTE: The Plan may not permit loans to Owner-Employees of noncorporate
entities or to Shareholder-Employees of subchapter S
corporations. If Plan loans are permitted, the Trustee
designated in section XV of this Adoption Agreement may not
be the Sponsor's designated Trustee.]
B. Insurance (choose 1 or 2)(Plan ARTICLE 14):
1. [ The Plan permits Participants to designate a portion of
their Account to purchase life insurance contracts. (MUST
NOT be selected if Sponsor's designated trustee is appointed
as Trustee).
The percentage of the Employer Contributions which may be
applied to purchase life insurance contracts shall be equal
to ___%.
-or-
2. [X] The Plan does not permit Participants to designate a portion
of their Account to purchase life insurance contracts.
NOTE: Section 14.5 of the Plan provides certain limits on the amount
of Employer contributions that can be applied to purchase life
insurance contracts.
27
<PAGE>
- ------------------------
IX. VESTING
Employer Contributions will become vested if the Participant terminates
employment for any reasons other than retirement, death, or disability
pursuant to the following schedule (chosen A, B, C or D) Plan section 8.3):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
A. [ ] Years of
Service Vested Percentage
-------------------------
<S> <C>
1 year 0%
2 years 20%
3 years 40%
4 years 60%
5 years 80%
6 or more years 100%
</TABLE>
B. [ ] 100% vesting immediately after satisfaction of the eligibility
requirements.
NOTE: If a service requirement greater than one year is chosen for
eligibility in section III.A.1. of this Adoption Agreement,
vesting schedule B must be chosen).
C. [ ] 100% vesting after ____ years of service (not to exceed three).
- or -
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
D. [ ] Years of
Service Vested Percentage
-------------------------
<S> <C>
1 year ___%
2 years ___%(not less than 20)
3 years ___%(not less than 40)
4 years ___%(not less than 60)
5 years ___%(not less than 80)
6 years ___%(not less than 100)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
X. INVESTMENT CHOICES
A. [X] Investment of Trust assets may be selected only from Shares or
other investments offered by the Sponsor.
B. [ ] ___% of the Trust assets must be invested in Shares or other
investments offered by the Sponsor with the remainder in such
other investments as may be acceptable within the discretion of
the Trustee.]
C. [ ] 50% of the Trust assets must be invested in Shares or other
investments offered by the Sponsor with the remainder in such
other investments as may be acceptable within the discretion of
the Trustee.]
D. [ ] 25% of the Trust assets must be invested in Shares or other
investments offered by the Sponsor with the remainder in such
other investments as may be acceptable within the discretion of
the Trustee.]
The Sponsor may impose additional limitations relating to the
type of permissible investments in the Trust (Plan section 7.3).
28
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------
XI. INVESTMENT AUTHORITY
Contributions to the Plan shall be invested by the Trustee in accordance
with instructions of the Employer or Plan Administrator except that
(choose [A], [B] or [C])] (Plan section 7.2):
A. [ ] No exceptions; the Employer or Plan Administrator shall make
all investment selections.
B. [ ] The Employer delegates all investment responsibility to the
Trustee. (MUST NOT be selected if Sponsor's designated trustee
is appointed as Trustee.)]
-or-
C. [X] Each Participant [ ] may, [X] shall direct that:
1. [ ] Amounts voluntarily contributed by such Participant
pursuant to section 4.3 of the Plan rollover contributions
pursuant to section 4.4 of the Plan, and direct transfers
pursuant to section 4.5 of the Plan, if any,
-and/or-
2. [X] Employer Contributions on the Participant's behalf shall
be invested in specified investments offered by the
Sponsor. Participants may make or change such directions
by giving written notice to the Plan Administrator.
Reasonable restrictions may be imposed on this privilege
by the Plan Administrator or the Sponsor for purposes of
administrative convenience.
- ------------------------------
XII. TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
Participants who are eligible to receive the minimum allocation provided
by section 5.2 of the Plan shall receive a minimum contribution under
this Plan equal to 3% of Compensation, or if lesser, the largest
percentage of Compensation allocated on behalf of any Key Employee for
the Plan Year under this Plan and paired defined contribution plan #001.
NOTE: If the Participant also participates in paired defined
contribution plan #001 (the profit sharing plan), the required minimum
contribution must be made under this Plan, even if the integrated plan
combination formula is selected.
- ------------------------------
XIII. ALLOCATION LIMITATIONS
COMPLETED THIS SECTION ONLY IF YOU MAINTAIN OR EVER MAINTAINED ANOTHER
QUALIFIED PLAN (OTHER THAN PAIRED PLAN #001) IN WHICH ANY PARTICIPANT IN
THIS PLAN IS (OR WAS) A PARTICIPANT OR COULD BECOME A PARTICIPANT. THIS
SECTION MUST ALSO BE COMPLETED IF THE EMPLOYER MAINTAINS A WELFARE
BENEFIT FUND, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 419(e) OF THE CODE, OR AN INDIVIDUAL
MEDICAL ACCOUNT, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 415(1)(2) OF THE CODE, UNDER
WHICH AMOUNTS ARE TREATED AS ANNUAL ADDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO ANY
PARTICIPANT IN THIS PLAN.
A. If the Participant is covered under another qualified defined
contribution plan maintained by the Employer, other than a master
or prototype plan (choose either 1 or 2)(Plan section 6.3):
1. [ ] The provisions of section 6.2 will apply as if the
other plan were a master or prototype plan.
29
<PAGE>
-or-
2. [ ] (On an attachment, provide the method under which the
plans will limit total annual additions to the
permissible amount, and will properly reduce any
excess amounts, in a manner that precludes
Employer discretion).
B. If the Participant is or has ever been a participant in a
defined benefit plan maintained by the Employer attach an
explanation of the method under which the plan involved will
satisfy the 1.0 limitation in a manner that precludes Employer
discretion.
- ------------------------------
XIV. ADMINISTRATION
A. The Plan Administrator of the Plan will be (choose [1], [2], [3]
or [4]) (Plan sections 2.30 and 15.4):
1. [ ] The Trustee
NOTE: If the Trustee designated in section XV of this Adoption
Agreement is the Sponsor's designated Trustee, it may be
appointed as Plan Administrator.
-or-
2. [X] The Employer
-or-
3. [ ] An individual Plan Administrator designated by the
Employer
--------------------------------------------------
Name
--------------------------------------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------
-or-
4. [ ] A committee of two or more Employees designated by the
Employer:
--------------------------------------------------
Name & Title
--------------------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------
Name & Title
--------------------------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------------------------
Name & Title
--------------------------------------------------
30
<PAGE>
[Signature]
NOTE: If no Plan Administrator has been designated or serving at any time,
the Employer will be deemed the Plan Administrator (Plan section 15.4).
B. The Plan Administrator (including all members of a committee, if a
committee is named) is a Named Fiduciary for the Plan. If other persons are
also to be Named Fiduciaries, their names and addresses are:
Name:
-----------------------------------
Address:
--------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------
Address:
--------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------
Address:
--------------------------------
----------------------------------------
C. The Named Fiduciaries have all of the powers set forth in the Plan. If any
powers or duties are to be allocated among them, or delegated to third
parties, indicate below what the powers or duties are and to whom they are
to be delegated (Plan section 15.3):
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
***************************
XV. THE TRUSTEE
A. The Employer hereby appoints the following to serve as Trustee (Plan
section 2.39):
Name:
------------------------------------
Address:
----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Dated:
---------------- ----------------------
(Signature of) Trustee
Name:
------------------------------
31
<PAGE>
Address:
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Dated:
-------------- ----------------------
(Signature of) Trustee
Name:
--------------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Dated:
-------------- ----------------------
(Signature of Trustee)
B. The Employer hereby appoints the Sponsor's designated trustee(s) to serve
as Trustee(s):
Name:
-------------------------------------
Address:
------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Dated:
--------------- -----------------------
(Signature of Trustee)
Name:
----------------------------------------
Address:
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Dated:
--------------- ------------------------
(Signature of Trustee)
Name:
----------------------------------------
Address:
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Dated:
--------------- ------------------------
(Signature of Trustee)
********************************
32
<PAGE>
XVI. EMPLOYER SIGNATURE
The Employer acknowledges receipt of the current prospectus of the
investment companies designated by the Employer for its initial investments
under the Plan and represents that it has delivered a copy thereof to each
Participant in the Plan, and that it will deliver to each Participant
making contributions and each new Participant, a copy of the then current
prospectus of such investment companies. The Employer further represents
that the information in this Adoption Agreement shall become effective
only when approved and countersigned by the Trustee. The right to reject
this Adoption Agreement for any reason is reserved.
This Adoption Agreement must be used only in conjunction with basic plan
document #01.
NOTE: An Employer who has ever maintained or who later adopts any plan
(including a welfare benefit fund, as defined in section 419(e) of the
Code, which provides post-retirement medical benefits allocated to
separate accounts for Key Employees, as defined in section 419A(d)(3)
of the Code, or an individual medical account as defined in section
415(l)(2) of the Code), in addition to this Plan (other than paired
plan #001), may not rely on the opinion letter issued by the National
Office of the Internal Revenue Service as evidence that this Plan is
qualified under section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. If the
Employer who adopts or maintains multiple plans wishes to obtain
reliance that the plans are qualified, application for a
determination letter should be made to the appropriate Key District
Director of Internal Revenue.
This Adoption Agreement consists of 17 pages.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer has caused this Adoption
Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officers this _
day of ________________.
--------------------------------
(Name of Employer)
By:
--------------------------------
(Name & Title)
Date:
------------------
33
<PAGE>
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING
PLAN BASIC DOCUMENT
34
<PAGE>
AMENDMENT TO THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE
PROTOTYPE MONEY PURCHASE PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN
BASIC DOCUMENT #01
FIRST
The Plan is hereby amended by the word-for-word adoption of the model
language contained in Revenue Procedure 93-12, for distributions made on or
after January 1, 1993, as follows:
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary that would
otherwise limit a Distributee's election under this provision, a
Distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Plan
Administrator, to have any portion of an Eligible Rollover Distribution
paid directly to an Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Distributee
in a Direct Rollover.
Definitions
(a) Eligible Rollover Distribution. An Eligible Rollover Distribution
is any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit
of the Distributee, except that an Eligible Rollover Distribution does
not include: any distribution that is one of a series of substantially
equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for
the life (or life expectancy) of the Distributee or the joint lives
(or joint life expectancies) of the Distributee and the Distributee's
designated Beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten (10) years or
more; any distribution to the extent such distribution is required
under section 401(a)(9) of the Code; and the portion of any
distribution that is not includable in gross income (determined
without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation with
respect to employer securities).
(b) Eligible Retirement Plan. An Eligible Retirement Plan is an
individual retirement account described in section 408(a) of the Code,
an individual retirement annuity described in section 408(b) of the
Code, an annuity plan described in section 403(a) of the Code, or a
qualified trust described in section 401(a) of the Code, that accepts
the Distributee's Eligible Rollover Distribution. However, in the case
of an Eligible Rollover Distribution to the surviving spouse, an
Eligible Retirement Plan is an individual retirement account or
individual retirement annuity.
(c) Distributee. A Distributee includes an Employee or former
Employee. In addition, the Employee's or former Employee's surviving
spouse and the Employee's or former Employee's spouse or former spouse
who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order,
as defined in section 414(p) of the Code, are Distributees with regard
to the interest of the spouse or former spouse.
(d) Direct Rollover. A Direct Rollover is a payment by the Plan to
the Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the Distributee.
35
<PAGE>
SECOND
The Plan is hereby amended by the word-for-word adoption of the model language
contained in Revenue Procedure 94-13 as follows:
In addition to other applicable limitations set forth in the Plan, and
notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, for Plan
Years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, the annual Compensation of each
Employee taken into account under the Plan shall not exceed the OBRA '93 Annual
Compensation Limit. The OBRA '93 Annual Compensation Limit is $150,000, as
adjusted by the Commissioner for increases in the cost-of-living in accordance
with section 401(a)(17)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. The cost-of-living
adjustment in effect for a calendar year applies to any period, not exceeding
12 months, over which Compensation is determine ("Determination Period")
beginning in such calendar year. If a Determination Period consists of fewer
than 12 months, the OBRA '93 Annual Compensation Limit will be multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the Determination
period, and the denominator of which is 12.
For Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, any reference in this
Plan to the limitation under section 401(a)(17) of the Code shall mean the OBRA
'93 Annual Compensation Limit set forth in this provision.
If Compensation for any prior Determination Period is taken into account in
determining an Employee's benefits accruing in the current Plan Year, the
Compensation for that prior Determination Period is subject to the OBRA '93
Annual Compensation Limit in effect for that prior Determination Period. For
this purpose, for Determination Periods beginning before the first day of the
first Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 1994, the OBRA '93 Annual
Compensation Limit is $150,000.
36
<PAGE>
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION AND
PROFIT SHARING PLAN
PLAN DOCUMENT
37
<PAGE>
PROTOTYPE MONEY PURCHASE PENSION
AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
------- ----
ARTICLE 1
GENERAL
<S> <C> <C>
1.1 Purpose ...................................................................... 5
1.2 Trust ........................................................................ 5
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Account ...................................................................... 5
2.2 Adoption Agreement ........................................................... 5
2.3 Affiliated Employers ......................................................... 5
2.4 Beneficiary ................................................................... 5
2.5 Break in Service ............................................................. 5
2.6 Code ......................................................................... 5
2.7 Compensation ................................................................. 5
2.8 Custodian .................................................................... 5
2.9 Determination Date ........................................................... 5
2.10 Early Retirement Date ......................................................... 5
2.11 Earned Income ................................................................ 6
2.12 Effective Date ............................................................... 6
2.13 Eligibility Computation Period ............................................... 6
2.14 Employee ..................................................................... 6
2.15 Employer ..................................................................... 6
2.16 Employer Contributions ....................................................... 6
2.17 Entry Dates .................................................................. 6
2.18 ERISA ........................................................................ 6
2.19 Hour of Service .............................................................. 6
2.20 Integration Level ............................................................ 7
2.21 Key Employee ................................................................. 7
2.22 Leased Employee .............................................................. 7
2.23 Maximum Disparity Rate ....................................................... 8
2.24 Maximum Profit Sharing Disparity Rate ........................................ 8
2.25 Non-Key Employee ............................................................. 8
2.26 Normal Retirement Age ........................................................ 8
2.27 Owner-Employee ............................................................... 8
2.28 Participant .................................................................. 8
2.29 Plan ......................................................................... 8
2.30 Plan Administrator ........................................................... 8
2.31 Plan Year .................................................................... 8
2.32 Self-Employed Individuals .................................................... 8
2.33 Shares ....................................................................... 8
2.34 Sponsor ...................................................................... 9
2.35 Taxable Wage Base ............................................................ 9
2.36 Total and Permanent Disability................................................ 9
2.37 Trust ........................................................................ 9
2.38 Trust Agreement .............................................................. 9
2.39 Trustee ...................................................................... 9
2.40 Valuation Date ............................................................... 9
2.41 Vesting Computation Period ................................................... 9
2.42 Year of Service ............................................................... 9
ARTICLE 3
ELIGIBILITY AND YEARS OF SERVICE
3.1 Eligibility Requirement ...................................................... 9
3.2 Participation and Service Upon Reemployment .................................. 9
3.3 Predecessor Employers ........................................................ 9
ARTICLE 4
CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 Employer Contributions ....................................................... 9
4.2 Payment ...................................................................... 10
4.3 Nondeductible Voluntary Contributions by Participants......................... 10
4.4 Rollovers..................................................................... 10
</TABLE>
38
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
4.5 Direct Transfers ............................................................ 10
ARTICLE 5
ALLOCATIONS
5.1 Individual Accounts ......................................................... 10
5.2 Minimum Allocation .......................................................... 11
5.3 Allocation of Employer Contributions and Forfeitures ........................ 11
5.4 Coordination of Social Security Integration ................................. 12
5.5 Withdrawals and Distributions ............................................... 12
5.6 Determination of Value of Trust Fund and of Net Earnings or Losses .......... 12
5.7 Allocation of Net Earnings or Losses ........................................ 12
5.8 Responsibilities of the Plan Administrator .................................. 13
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS
6.1 Employers Who Do Not Maintain Other Qualified Plans ......................... 13
6.2 Employers Who Maintain Other Qualified Master
or Prototype Defined Contribution Plans ..................................... 13
6.3 Employers Who, In Addition to This Plan, Maintain Other Qualified Plans
Which are Defined Contribution Plans Other Than Master or Prototype Plans ... 14
6.4 Employers, Who In Addition To This Plan,
Maintain A Qualified Defined Benefit Plan ................................... 14
6.5 Definitions ................................................................. 14
ARTICLE 7
TRUST FUND
7.1 Receipt of Contributions by Trustee ......................................... 16
7.2 Investment Responsibility ................................................... 16
7.3 Investment Limitations ...................................................... 16
ARTICLE 8
VESTING
8.1 Nondeductible Voluntary Contributions and Earnings .......................... 16
8.2 Rollovers, Transfers and Earnings ........................................... 16
8.3 Employer Contributions and Earnings ......................................... 16
8.4 Amendments to Vesting Schedule .............................................. 17
8.5 Determination of Years of Service ........................................... 17
8.6 Forfeiture of Nonvested Amounts ............................................. 17
8.7 Reinstatement of Benefit..................................................... 18
ARTICLE 9
JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS
9.1 General...................................................................... 18
9.2 Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity ........................................ 18
9.3 Qualified Preretirement Survivor Annuity .................................... 18
9.4 Definitions.................................................................. 18
9.5 Notice Requirements ......................................................... 19
9.6 Safe Harbor Rules ........................................................... 19
9.7 Transitional Rules .......................................................... 20
ARTICLE 10
DISTRIBUTION PROVISIONS
10.1 Vesting on Distribution Before Break In Service ............................. 21
10.2 Restrictions on Immediate Distributions ..................................... 21
10.3 Commencement of Benefits .................................................... 21
10.4 Early Retirement With Age and Service Requirement ........................... 22
10.5 Nontransferability of Annuities ............................................. 22
10.6 Conflicts With Annuity Contracts ............................................ 22
ARTICLE 11
TIMING AND MODES OF DISTRIBUTION
11.1 General Rules ............................................................... 22
11.2 Required Beginning Date ..................................................... 22
11.3 Limits on Distribution Periods .............................................. 22
11.4 Determination of Amount to be Distributed Each Year ......................... 22
</TABLE>
39
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
11.5 Death Distribution Provisions ............................................... 22
11.6 Designation of Beneficiary ................................................... 23
11.7 Definitions ................................................................. 23
11.8 Transitional Rules .......................................................... 24
11.9 Optional Forms of Benefit ................................................... 25
ARTICLE 12
WITHDRAWALS
12.1 Withdrawal of Nondeductible Voluntary Contributions ......................... 25
12.2 Hardship Withdrawals ........................................................ 25
12.3 Manner of Making Withdrawals ................................................ 25
I2.4 Limitations on Withdrawals .................................................. 26
ARTICLE 13
LOANS
13.1 General Provisions........................................................... 26
13.2 Administration of Loan Program............................................... 26
13.3 Amount of Loan............................................................... 26
13.4 Manner of Making Loans....................................................... 26
13.5 Terms of Loan................................................................ 27
13.6 Security for Loan............................................................ 27
13.7 Segregated Investment........................................................ 27
13.8 Repayment of Loan............................................................ 27
13.9 Default on Loan.............................................................. 27
13.10 Unpaid Amounts............................................................... 27
ARTICLE 14
INSURANCE
14.1 Insurance ................................................................... 27
14.2 Policies .................................................................... 27
14.3 Beneficiary ................................................................. 27
14.4 Payment of Premiums ......................................................... 28
14.5 Limitation on Insurance Premiums ............................................ 28
14.6 Insurance Company ........................................................... 28
14.7 Distribution of Policies .................................................... 28
14.8 Policy Features ............................................................. 29
14.9 Changed Conditions .......................................................... 29
14.10 Conflicts ................................................................... 29
ARTICLE 15
ADMINISTRATION
15.1 Duties and Responsibilities of Fiduciaries;
Allocation of Fiduciary Responsibility ...................................... 29
15.2 Powers and Responsibilities of the Plan Administrator ....................... 29
15.3 Allocation of Duties and Responsibilities ................................... 30
15.4 Appointment of the Plan Administrator ....................................... 30
15.5 Expenses .................................................................... 30
15.6 Liabilities ................................................................. 30
15.7 Claims Procedure ............................................................ 30
ARTICLE 16
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND MERGER
16.1 Sponsor's Power to Amend..................................................... 31
16.2 Amendment by Adopting Employer...............................................
16.3 Vesting Upon Plan Termination................................................ 31
16.4 Vesting Upon Complete Discontinuance of Contributions........................ 31
16.5 Maintenance of Benefits Upon Merger.......................................... 31
16.6 Special Amendments........................................................... 31
ARTICLE 17
MISCELLANEOUS
17.1 Exclusive Benefit of Participants and Beneficiaries ......................... 31
17.2 Nonguarantee of Employment................................................... 32
17.3 Rights to Trust Assets....................................................... 32
17.4 Nonalienation of Benefits.................................................... 32
17.5 Aggregation Rules............................................................ 32
17.6 Failure of Qualification..................................................... 32
17.7 Applicable Law............................................................... 32
</TABLE>
40
<PAGE>
ARTICLE 1
GENERAL
1.1 PURPOSE. The Employer hereby establishes this Plan to provide
retirement, death and disability benefits for eligible employees and their
Beneficiaries. This Plan is a standardized prototype paired defined contribution
plan and is designed to permit adoption of profit sharing provisions, money
purchase pension provisions, or both. The provisions herein and the selections
made by the Employer by execution of the money purchase pension or profit
sharing Adoption Agreement or Agreements, shall constitute the Plan. It is
intended that the Plan and Trust qualify under sections 401 and 501 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and with the provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
1.2 TRUST. The Employer has simultaneously adopted a Trust authorizing a
Trustee to receive, invest, and distribute funds in accordance with the Plan.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1 ACCOUNT. The aggregate of the individual bookkeeping subaccounts
established for each Participant, as provided in section 5.1.
2.2 ADOPTION AGREEMENT. The written agreement or agreements of the
Employer and the Trustee by which the Employer establishes this Plan and adopts
the Trust Agreement forming a part hereof, as the same may be amended from
time to time. The Adoption Agreement contains all the options that may be
selected by the Employer. The information set forth in the Adoption Agreement
executed by the Employer shall be deemed to be a part of this Plan as if set
forth in full herein.
2.3 AFFILIATED EMPLOYERS. The Employer and any corporation which is a
member of a controlled group of corporations (as defined in section 414(b) of
the Code) which includes the Employer, any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) which is under common control (as defined in section 414(c) of the
Code) with the Employer, or any service organization (whether or not
incorporated) which is a member of an affiliated service group (as defined in
sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code) which includes the Employer.
2.4 BENEFICIARY. The person or persons (natural or otherwise) designated
by a Participant in accordance with section 11.6 to receive any undistributed
amounts credited to the Participant's Account under the Plan at the time of the
Participant's death.
2.5 BREAK IN SERVICE. An Eligibility Computation Period or Vesting
Computation Period in which an Employee fails to complete more than five hundred
(500) Hours of Service.
2.6 CODE. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time,
or any successor statute.
2.7 COMPENSATION.
(a) Compensation will mean all of each Participant's W-2 earnings.
For purposes of determining allocations under Section 5.3, only
Compensation while the Employee is a Participant shall be
converted.
(b) For any self-employed individual covered under the Plan,
Compensation will mean Earned Income.
(c) Compensation shall include only that Compensation that is
actually paid to the Participant during the Plan Year.
(d) Notwithstanding the above, if elected by the Employer in the
Adoption Agreement, Compensation shall include any amount which is contributed
by the Employer pursuant to a salary reduction agreement and which is not
includable in the gross income of the Employee under sections 125, 402(e)(3),
402(h) or 403(b) of the Code. The effective date of this subsection shall be
elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
(e) The annual Compensation of each Participant taken into account
under the Plan for any year shall not exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars
($150,000), as adjusted by the Secretary at the same time and in the same manner
as under section 415(d) of the Code. In determining the Compensation of a
Participant for purposes of this limitation, the rules of section 414(q)(6) of
the Code shall apply, except in applying such rules, the term "family" shall
include only the Spouse of the Participant and any lineal descendants of the
Participant who have not attained age nineteen (19) before the close of the
year. If, as a result of the application of such rules, the limitation is
exceeded, then (except for purposes of determining the portion of Compensation
up to the Integration Level to the extent this Plan provides for permitted
disparity), the limitation shall be prorated among the affected individuals in
proportion to each such individual's Compensation as determined under this
section prior to the application of this limitation. The effective date of this
subsection shall be the first Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 1989.
2.8 CUSTODIAN. The custodian, if any, designated in the Adoption
Agreement.
2.9 DETERMINATION DATE. With respect to any Plan Year subsequent to the
first Plan Year, the last day of the preceding Plan Year. For the first Plan
Year of the Plan, the last day of that Plan Year.
2.10 EARLY RETIREMENT DATE. The first day of the month coincident with or
next following the date upon which the Participant satisfies the early
retirement age and service requirements in the Adoption Agreement; provided,
however, such requirements may not be less than age fifty-five (55), nor more
than fifteen (15) Years of Service.
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2.11 EARNED INCOME. The net earnings from self-employment in the trade or
business with respect to which the Plan is established, for which personal
services of the individual are a material income-producing factor. Net earnings
will be determined without regard to items not included in gross income and the
deductions allocable to such items. Net earnings are reduced by contributions to
a qualified plan to the extent deductible under section 404 of the Code. Net
earnings shall be determined with regard to the deduction allowed to the
Employer by section 164(f) of the Code for taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1989.
2.12 EFFECTIVE DATE. The first day of the first Plan Year for which the
Plan is effective as specified in the Adoption Agreement.
2.13 ELIGIBILITY COMPUTATION PERIOD. For purposes of determining Years of
Service and Breaks in Service for eligibility to participate, the initial
Eligibility Computation Period shall be the twelve (12) consecutive month period
beginning with the day the Employee first performs an Hour of Service for the
Employer (employment commencement date). The succeeding twelve (12) consecutive
month periods commence with the first and each following anniversary of the
Employee's employment commencement date.
2.14 EMPLOYEE. Any person, including a Self-Employed Individual, who is
employed by the Employer maintaining the Plan or any other employer required to
be aggregated with such Employer under sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the
Code. The term "Employee" shall also include any Leased Employee deemed to be an
Employee of any Employer described above as provided in sections 414(n) or (o)
of the Code.
2.15 EMPLOYER. The corporation, proprietorship, partnership or other
organization that adopts the Plan by execution of an Adoption Agreement.
2.16 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS. The contribution of the Employer to the Plan
and Trust as set forth in section 4.1 and the Adoption Agreement.
2.17 ENTRY DATES. The Effective Date shall be the first Entry Date.
Thereafter, the Entry Dates shall be the first day of each Plan Year and the
first day of the seventh month of each Plan Year.
2.18 ERISA. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
2.19 HOUR OF SERVICE.
(a) Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment,
for the performance of duties for the Employer. These hours shall be credited to
the Employee only for the computation period or periods in which the duties are
performed; and
(b) Each hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to payment,
by the Employer on account of a period of time during which no duties are
performed (irrespective of whether the employment relationship has terminated)
due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity (including disability), layoff,
jury duty, military duty, or leave of absence. No more than five hundred one
(501) Hours of Service shall be credited under this paragraph to an Employee on
account of any single, continuous period during which the Employee performs no
duties (whether or not such period occurs in a single computation period). Hours
under this paragraph will be calculated and credited pursuant to section
2530.200b-2 of the Department of Labor regulations which are incorporated herein
by this reference.
(c) Each hour for which back pay, irrespective of mitigation of
damages, is either awarded or agreed to by the Employer. The same Hours of
Service shall not be credited both under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), as the
case may be, and under this paragraph (c). These hours shall be credited to
the Employee for the computation period or periods to which the award or
agreement pertains rather than the computation period in which the award,
agreement, or payment is made.
(d) Solely for purposes of determining whether an Employee has a Break
in Service, Hours of Service shall also include an uncompensated authorized
leave of absence not in excess of two (2) years, or military leave while the
Employee's reemployment rights are protected by law or such additional or other
periods as granted by the Employer as military leave (credited on the basis of
forty (40) Hours of Service per each week or eight (8) Hours of Service per
working day), provided the Employee returns to employment at the end of his
leave of absence or within ninety (90) days of the end of his military leave,
whichever is applicable.
(e) Hours of Service will be credited for employment with other
members of an affiliated service group (under section 414(m)), a controlled
group of corporations (under section 414(b)), or a group of trades or businesses
under common control (under section 414(c)) of which the adopting Employer is a
member, and any other entity required to be aggregated with the Employer
pursuant to section 414(o) and the regulations thereunder. Hours of Service will
also be credited for any individual considered an Employee for purposes of this
Plan under section 414(n) or section 414(o) and the regulations thereunder.
(f) Solely for purposes of determining whether an Employee has a Break
in Service, Hours of Service shall also include absence from work for maternity
or paternity reasons, if the absence begins on or after the first day of the
first Plan Year beginning after 1984. During this absence, the Employee shall be
credited with the Hours of Service which would have been credited but for the
absence, or, if such hours cannot be determined with eight (8) hours per day.
An absence from work for maternity or paternity reasons means an absence:
(i) by reason of the pregnancy of an Employee;
(ii) by reason of the birth of a child of the Employee;
42
<PAGE>
(iii) by reason of the placement of a child with
the Employee in connection with adoption; or
(iv) for purposes of caring for such a child for a
period immediately following such birth or placement.
These Hours of Service shall be credited in the computation period following
the computation period in which the absence begins, except as necessary to
prevent a Break in Service in the computation period in which the absence
begins. However, no more than five hundred one (501) Hours of Service will be
credited for purposes of any such maternity or paternity absence from work.
(g) The Employer may elect to compute Hours of Service by
the use of one of the service equivalencies in the Adoption Agreement. Only one
method may be selected. If selected, the service equivalency must be applied to
all Employees covered under the Plan.
(h) If the Employer amends the method of crediting
service from the elapsed time method described in section 1.410 (a)-7 of the
Treasury regulations to the Hours of Service computation method by the adoption
of this Plan, or an Employee transfers from a plan under which service is
determined on the basis of elapsed time, the following rules shall apply for
purposes of determining the Employee's service under this Plan up to the time
of amendment or transfer:
(i) the Employee shall receive credit, as of the
date of amendment or transfer, for a number of Years of Service equal to the
number of one (1) year periods of service credited to the Employee as of the
date of the amendment or transfer; and
(ii) the Employee shall receive credit in the
applicable computation period which includes the date of amendment or transfer,
for a number of Hours of Service determined by applying the weekly service
equivalency specified in paragraph (g) to any fractional part of a year
credited to the Employee under this paragraph (h) as of the date of amendment
or transfer. The use of the weekly service equivalency shall apply to all
Employees who formerly were credited with service under the elapsed time
method.
2.20 INTEGRATION LEVEL. The Taxable Wage Base or such lesser amount
elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
2.21 KEY EMPLOYEE.
(a) Any Employee or former Employee (and the
Beneficiaries of such Employee) who at any time during the determination period
was an officer of the Employer if such individual's annual Compensation exceeds
fifty percent (50%) of the dollar limitation under section 415(b)(1)(A) of the
Code; an owner (or considered an owner under section 318 of the Code) of one of
the ten (10) largest interests in the Employer if such individual's
Compensation exceeds one hundred percent (100%) of the dollar limitation under
section 415(c)(1)(A) of the Code; a Five Percent (5%) Owner of the Employer; or
a one percent (1%) owner of the Employer who has annual Compensation of more
than one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).
(b) For purposes of this section, annual Compensation
means compensation as defined in section 415(c)(3) of the Code, but including
amounts contributed by the Employer pursuant to a salary reduction agreement
which are excludable from the Employee's gross income under sections 125,
402(a)(8), 402(h) or 403(b) of the Code.
(c) For purposes of this section, determination period is
the Plan Year containing the Determination Date and the four (4) preceding Plan
Years.
2.22 LEASED EMPLOYEE.
(a) Any person (other than an Employee of any of the
Affiliated Employers) who, pursuant to an agreement between any of the
Affiliated Employers and any other person ("leasing organization"), has
performed service for any of the Affiliated Employers (or for any of the
Affiliated Employers and related persons determined in accordance with section
414(n)(6) of the Code) on a substantially full-time basis for a period of at
least one (1) year and such services are of a type historically performed by
employees in the Affiliated Employer's business field. Contributions or benefits
provided a Leased Employee by the leasing organization which are attributable
to services performed for the Affiliated Employer shall be treated as provided
by the Affiliated Employer.
(b) A Leased Employee shall not be considered an Employee
of an Affiliated Employer if:
(i) such employee is covered by a money purchase
pension plan providing:
(1) a nonintegrated employer
contribution rate of at least ten percent (10%) of compensation (as defined in
section 415(c)(3) of the Code), but including amounts contributed pursuant to a
salary reduction agreement which are excludable from the employee's gross
income under sections 125, 402(a)(8), 402(h) or 403(b) of the Code;
(2) immediate participation; and
(3) full and immediate vesting.
and
(ii) Leased Employee's do not constitute more than
twenty percent (20%) of the Affiliated
Employees non-Highly-Compensated workforce.
(c) The determination of whether a person is a
Leased Employee will be made pursuant to
section 414(n) of the Code.
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2.23 MAXIMUM DISPARITY RATE. The lesser of.
(a) five and seven-tenths percent (5.7%);
(b) the applicable percentage determined in accordance
with the table below:
if the Integration Level is
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The Applicable
More Than But Not More Than Percentage Is:
- --------- ----------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
$0 X * 5.7%
X of TWB 80% Of TWB 4.3%
80% of TWB Y ** 5.4%
</TABLE>
* X = the greater of $10,000 or 20% of the Taxable Wage Base.
** Y = any amount more then 80% of the Taxable Wage Base but less than
100% of the Taxable Wage Base.
"TWB" means the Taxable Wage Base.
If the Integration Level used is equal to the Taxable Wage Base, the applicable
percentage is five and seven-tenths percent (5.7%).
2.24 MAXIMUM PROFIT SHARING DISPARITY RATE. The lesser of:
(a) two and seven-tenths percent (2.7%);
(b) the applicable percentage determined in accordance
with the table below:
If the Integration Level is
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The Applicable
More Than But Not More than Percentage Is:
- --------- ----------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
$0 X * 2.7%
X of TWB 80% of TWB 1.3%
80% of TWB Y ** 2.4%
</TABLE>
* X = the greater of $10,000 or 20% of the Taxable Wage Base.
** Y = any amount more than 80% of the Taxable Wage Base but less than
100 of the Taxable Wage Base.
"TWB" means the Taxable Wage Base.
If the Integration Level used is equal to the Taxable Wage Base, the applicable
percentage is two and seven-tenths percent (2.7%).
2.25 NON-KEY EMPLOYEE. Any Employee or former Employee who is not a
Key Employee. In addition, any Beneficiary of a Non-Key Employee shall be
treated as a Non-Key Employee.
2.26 NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE. The age selected in the Adoption
Agreement, but not less than age fifty-five (55). If the Employer enforces a
mandatory retirement age, the Normal Retirement Age is the lesser of that
mandatory age or the age specified in the Adoption Agreement.
2.27 OWNER-EMPLOYEE. An individual who is a sole proprietor, or who
is a partner owning more than ten percent (10%) of either the capital or
profits interest of a partnership.
2.28 PARTICIPANT. A person who has met the eligibility requirements
of section 3.1 and whose Account hereunder has been neither completely
forfeited nor completely distributed.
2.29 PLAN. The prototype paired defined contribution profit sharing
and money purchase pension plan provided under this basic plan document.
References to the Plan shall refer to the profit sharing provisions, the money
purchase pension provisions, or both, as the context may require.
2.30 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. The person, persons or entity appointed by
the Employer pursuant to ARTICLE 15 to manage and administer the Plan.
2.31 PLAN YEAR. The twelve (12) consecutive month period designated
by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement.
2.32 SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL. An individual who has Earned Income
for the taxable year from the trade or business for which the Plan is
established, or an individual who would have had Earned Income for the taxable
year but for the fact that the trade or business had no net profits for the
taxable year.
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2.33 SHARES. Shares of stock in any regulated investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are made available for
investment purposes as an investment option under this Plan.
2.34 SPONSOR. The sponsor designated in the Adoption Agreement
which has made this Plan available to the Employer.
2.35 TAXABLE WAGE BASE. The maximum amount of earnings which may be
considered wages for a year under section 3121(a)(1) of the Code in effect as
of the beginning of the Plan Year.
2.36 TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY. The inability of the
Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which condition, in the
opinion of a physician chosen by the Plan Administrator, can be expected to
result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than twelve (12) months.
2.37 TRUST. The fund maintained by the Trustee for the investment
of Plan assets in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Trust
Agreement.
2.38 TRUST AGREEMENT. The agreement between the Employer and the
Trustee under which the assets of the Plan are held, administered, and managed.
The provisions of the Trust Agreement shall be considered an integral part of
this Plan as if set forth fully herein.
2.39 TRUSTEE. The individual or corporate Trustee or Trustees
under the Trust Agreement as they may be constituted from time to time.
2.40 VALUATION DATE. The last day of each Plan Year and such other
dates as may be determined by the Plan Administrator, as provided in section
5.6 for valuing the Trust assets.
2.41 VESTING COMPUTATION PERIOD. The Plan Year.
2.42 YEAR OF SERVICE. An Eligible Computation Period, Vesting
Computation Period, or Plan Year, whichever is applicable, during which an
Employee has completed at least one thousand (1,000) Hours of Service (whether
or not continuous). The Employer may, in the Adoption Agreement, specify a
fewer number of hours.
ARTICLE 3
ELIGIBILITY AND YEARS OF SERVICE
3.1 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Each Employee of the Affiliated Employers shall
become a Participant in the Plan as of the first Entry Date after the date on
which the Employee has satisfied the minimum age and service requirements
specified in the Adoption Agreement.
(b) The Employer may elect in the Adoption Agreement to
exclude from participation:
(i) Employees included in a unit of employees
covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Employer and Employee
representatives, if retirement benefits were the subject of good faith
bargaining. For this purpose, the term "Employee representatives" does not
include any organization more than half of whose members are Employees who are
owners, officers, or executives of the Employer; and
(ii) nonresident aliens who receive no earned
income from the Employer which constitutes income from sources within the
United States.
3.2 PARTICIPATION AND SERVICE UPON REEMPLOYMENT. Upon the
reemployment of any Employee, the following rules shall determine his
eligibility to participate in the Plan and his credit for prior service.
(a) Participation. If the reemployed Employee was a
Participant in the Plan during his prior period of employment, he shall be
eligible upon reemployment to resume participation in the Plan. If the
reemployed Employee was not a Participant in the Plan, he shall be considered a
new Employee and required to meet the requirements of section 3.1 in order to
be eligible to participate in the Plan, subject to the reinstatement of credit
for prior service under paragraph (b) below.
(b) Credit for Prior Service. In the case of any Employee
who is reemployed before or after incurring a Break in Service, any Hour of
Service and Year of Service credited to the Employee at the and of his prior
period of employment shall be reinstated as of the date of his reemployment.
3.3 PREDECESSOR EMPLOYERS. If specified in the Adoption Agreement,
Years of Service with a predecessor employer will be treated as service for the
Employer for eligibility purposes; provided, however, If the Employer maintains
the plan of a predecessor employer, Years of Service with such employer will be
treated as service with the Employer without regard to any election.
ARTICLE 4
CONTRIBUTIONS
4.1 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.
(a) Money Purchase Pension Contributions. For each Plan
Year, the Employer shall contribute to the Trust an amount equal to such
uniform percentage of Compensation of each eligible Participant as may be
determined by the Employer in accordance with the money purchase pension
contribution formula specified in the Adoption Agreement. Subject to the
limitations of section 5.4, the money purchase pension contribution formula may
be integrated with Social Security, as set forth in the Adoption Agreement.
45
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(b) Profit Sharing Contribution. For each Plan Year, the
Employer shall contribute to the Trust an amount as may be determined by the
Employer in accordance with the profit sharing formula set forth in the
Adoption Agreement.
(c) Eligible Participants. Subject to the Minimum
Allocation rules of section 5.2 and the exclusions specified in this section,
each Participant shall be eligible to share in the Employer Contribution. An
Employer may elect in the Adoption Agreement that Participants who terminate
employment during the Plan Year with not more than five hundred (500) Hours of
Service and who are not Employees as of the last day of the Plan Year (other
than Participants who die, retire or become totally and Permanently Disabled
during the Plan Year) shall not be eligible to share in the Employer
Contribution. An Employer may further elect in the Adoption Agreement to
allocate a contribution on behalf of a Participant who completes fewer than
five hundred (500) Hours of Service and is otherwise ineligible to share in the
Employer Contribution. If the Employer fails to specify in the Adoption
Agreement the number of Hours of Service required to share in the Employer
Contribution, the number shall be five hundred (500) Hours of Service.
(d) Contribution Limitation. In no event shall any
Employer Contribution exceed the maximum amount deductible from the Employer's
income under section 404 of the Code, or the maximum limitations under section
415 of the Code provided in ARTICLE 6.
4.2 PAYMENT. All Employer Contributions to the Trust for any Plan
Year shall be made either in one lump-sum or in installments in U.S. currency,
by check, or in Shares within the time prescribed by law, including extensions
granted by the Internal Revenue Service, for filing the Employer's federal
income tax return for the taxable year with or within which such Plan Year
ends. All Employer Contributions to the Trust for a money purchase pension plan
for any Plan Year shall be made within the time prescribed by regulations under
section 412(c)(10) of the Code.
4.3 NONDEDUCTIBLE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS BY PARTICIPANTS.
(a) This Plan will not accept nondeductible Employee
contributions for Plan Years beginning after the Plan Year in which this Plan
is adopted by the Employer. Employee contributions made with respect to Plan
years beginning after December 31, 1986 will be limited so as to meet the
nondiscrimination test of section 401(m).
(b) A separate account shall be maintained by the Trustee
for the nondeductible Employee contributions of each Participant.
(c) Employee contributions and earnings thereon shall be
fully vested and nonforfeitable at all times.
(d) The provisions of this section shall apply to
Employee contributions made prior to the first Plan Year after the Plan Year in
which the Employer adopts this Plan.
4.4 ROLLOVERS.
(a) Subject to the approval of the Plan Administrator, a
participant who has participated in any other qualified plan described in
section 401(a) of the Code or in a qualified annuity plan described in section
403(a) of the Code shall be permitted to make a rollover contribution in the
form of cash to the Trustee of an amount received by the Participant that is
attributable to participation in such other plan (reduced by any nondeductible
voluntary contributions he made to the plan). provided that the rollover
contribution complies with all requirements of sections 402(c) or 403(a)(4) of
the Code, whichever is applicable.
(b) Before approving such a Participant rollover, the
Plan Administrator may request from the Participant or the Employer any
documents which the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, deems necessary for
such rollover.
(c) Any rollover contribution to the Trust shall be
credited to the Participants rollover subaccount established under section 5.1
and separately accounted for.
4.5 DIRECT TRANSFER.
(a) The Plan shall accept a transfer of assets directly
from another plan qualified under sections 401(a) or 403(a) of the Code only if
the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, agrees to accept such a
transfer. In determining whether to accept such a transfer the Plan
Administrator shall consider the administrative inconvenience engendered by
such a transfer and any risks to the continued qualification of the Plan under
section 401(a) of the Code. Acceptance of any such transfer shall not preclude
the Plan Administrator from refusing any subsequent such transfers.
(b) Any transfer of assets accepted under this section
shall be credited to the Participant's direct transfer subaccount and shall be
separately accounted for at all times and shall remain subject to the
provisions of the transferor plan (as it existed at the time of such transfer)
to the extent required by section 411(d)(6) of the Code (including, but not
limited to, any rights to Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuities and qualified
preretirement survivor annuities) as if such provisions were pan of the Plan.
In all other respects, however, such transferred assets will be subject to the
provisions of the Plan.
(c) Assets accepted under this section shall be fully
vested and nonforfeitable.
(d) Before approving such a direct transfer, the Plan
Administrator may request from the Participant or the Employer (or the prior
employer) any documents the Plan Administrator, in its discretion, deems
necessary for such direct transfer.
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ARTICLE 5
ALLOCATIONS
5.1 INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS. The Plan Administrator shall establish
and maintain an Account in the name of each Participant. The Account shall
contain the following subaccounts:
(a) A money purchase pension contribution subaccount to
which shall be credited each such Participant's share of (i) Employer
Contributions under section 4.1 (a); (ii) the net comings or net losses on the
investment of the assets of the Trust; (iii) distributions; and (iv) dividends,
capital gain distributions and other earnings received on any Shares credited
to the Participant's subaccount;
(b) A profit sharing contribution subaccount to which
shall be credited each such Participant's share of (i) Employer Contributions
under section 4.1 (b); (ii) forfeitures; (iii) the net earnings or net losses
on the investment of the assets of the mat; (iv) distributions; and (v)
dividends, capital gain distributions and other earnings received on any
Shares credited to the Participant's subaccount;
(c) A nondeductible voluntary contribution subaccount to
which shall be credited (i) nondeductible voluntary contributions by the
Participant under section 4.3; (ii) the net earnings or net losses on the
investment of the assets of the Trust; (iii) distributions; and (iv) dividends,
capital gain distributions and other earnings received on any Shares credited
to the Participant's subaccount;
(d) A direct transfer subaccount to which shall be
credited (i) contributions to the Trust accepted under section 4.5(a); (ii) the
not earnings or net losses on the investment of the assets of the Trust; (iii)
distributions; and (iv) dividends, capital gain distributions and other
earnings received on any Shares credited to the Participant's subaccount;
(e) A rollover subaccount to which shall be credited (i)
contributions to the Trust accepted under section 4.4(a); (ii) the net earnings
or net losses on the investment of the assets of the Trust; (iii)
distributions; and (iv) dividends, capital gain distributions and other
earnings received on any Shares credited to the Participant's subaccount.
5.2 MINIMUM ALLOCATION.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
Employer Contributions and forfeitures allocated on behalf of any Participant
who is not a Key Employee shall not be less than the lesser of three percent
(3%) of such Participant's Compensation or in the case where the Employer has
no defined benefit plan which designates this Plan to satisfy section 401 of
the Code, the largest percentage of Employer Contributions and forfeitures, as
a percentage of the first one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) of
the Key Employee's Compensation, allocated on behalf of any Key Employee for
that year. The minimum allocation is determined without regard to any Social
Security contribution. This minimum allocation shall be made even though, under
other Plan provisions, the Participant would not otherwise be entitled to
receive an allocation, or would have received a lesser allocation for the year
because of (i) the Participant's failure to complete one thousand (1,000) Hours
of Service (or any equivalent provided in the Plan); or (ii) the Participant's
failure to make mandatory Employee contributions to the Plan; or (iii)
Compensation less than a stated amount. For purposes of this subsection, all
defined contribution plans required to be included in an aggregation group
under section 416(g)(2)(A)(i) shall be treated as a single plan.
(b) For purposes of computing the minimum allocation,
Compensation shall mean Compensation as defined in section 6.5(b) of the Plan.
(c) The provision in subsection (a) above shall not apply
to any Participant who was not employed by the Employer on the last day of the
Plan Year.
(d) The provision in subsection (a) above shall not apply
to any Participant to the extent the Participant is covered under any other
plan or plans of the Employer and the Employer has provided in the Adoption
Agreement that the minimum allocation or benefit requirement applicable to
top-heavy plans will be met in the other plan or plans.
(e) The minimum allocation required (to the extent
required to be nonforfeitable under section 416(b)) may not be forfeited under
section 411 (a)(3)(B) or 411(a)(3)(D).
5.3 ALLOCATION OF EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS AND FORFEITURES.
(a) All money purchase pension contributions for a given
Plan Year shall be allocated to the Account of the Participant for whom such
contribution was made. Any forfeiture from a Participant's money purchase
pension contribution subaccount arising under the Plan for a given Plan Year
shall be applied as specified In the Adoption Agreement, either (i) to reduce
the Employer Contribution in that year, or if in excess of the Employer
Contribution for such Plan Year, the excess amounts shall be used to reduce the
Employer Contribution in the next succeeding Plan Year or Years or (ii) to be
added to the Employer Contributions and allocated accordingly.
(b) All profit sharing contributions and forfeitures from
a Participant's profit sharing contribution subaccount will be allocated to the
Account of each Participant in the ratio that such Participant's Compensation
bears to the Compensation of all Participants. However, if the profit sharing
contribution formula selected in the Adoption Agreement is integrated with
Social Security, profit sharing contributions for the Plan Year plus any
forfeitures will be allocated to Participants' Accounts as follows:
(i) Step One. Contributions and forfeitures will
be allocated to each Participant's Account in the ratio that each Participant's
total Compensation bears to all Participants' total Compensation, but not in
excess of three percent (3%) of each Participant's Compensation. (Step One is
not applicable if the Employer enters into the money purchase pension Adoption
Agreement).
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(ii) Step Two. Any contributions and forfeitures
remaining after the allocation in Step One (if any) will be allocated to each
Participant's Account in the ratio that each Participant's Compensation for the
Plan Year in excess of the Integration Level bears to the excess Compensation
of all Participants, but not in excess of three percent (3%). (Step Two is not
applicable if the Employer enters into the money purchase pension Adoption
Agreement).
(iii) Step Three. Any contributions and
forfeitures remaining after the allocation in Step Two (if any) will be
allocated to each Participant's Account in the ratio that the sum of each
Participant's total Compensation and Compensation in excess of the Integration
Level bears to the sum of all Participants' total Compensation and Compensation
in excess of the Integration Level, but not in excess of whichever of the
following is applicable:
(1) if the Employer has not adopted the money
purchase pension Adoption Agreement, then the Maximum Profit Sharing Disparity
Rate; or
(2) If the Employer has adopted the money
purchase pension Adoption Agreement, then the lesser of:
(A) the percentage of each Participant's
Compensation for the Plan Year up to the Integration Level determined by
dividing the allocation by such Compensation (the base contribution
percentage); or
(B) the Maximum Disparity Rate.
(iv) Step Four. Any remaining contributions or
forfeitures will be allocated to each Participant's Account in the ratio that
each Participant's total Compensation for the Plan Year bears to all
Participants' total Compensation for that year.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in (a) or (b) above to the
contrary, forfeitures arising under a Participant's money purchase pension
contribution subaccount will only be used to reduce the contributions of the
Participant's Employer who adopted this Plan, and forfeitures arising under a
Participant's profit sharing contribution subaccount will be reallocated only
for the benefit of Employees of the Participant's Employer who adopted this
Plan.
5.4 COORDINATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY INTEGRATION. If the Employer
maintains plans involving integration with Social Security other than this
Plan, and if any Participant is eligible to participate in more than one of
such plans, all such plans will be considered to be integrated if the extent of
the integration of all such plans does not exceed one hundred percent (100%).
For purposes of the preceding sentence, the extent of integration of a plan is
the ratio (expressed as a percentage) which the actual benefits, benefit rate,
offset rate, or Employer Contribution rate under the plan bears to the
integration limitation applicable to such plan. If the Employer enters into
both the money purchase pension Adoption Agreement and the profit sharing
Adoption Agreement under this Plan, integration with Social Security may only
be selected in one Adoption. Agreement.
5.5 WITHDRAWALS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. Any distribution to a
Participant or his Beneficiary, any amount transferred from a Participant's
Account directly to the Trustee of any other qualified plan described in
section 401(a) of the Code or to a qualified annuity plan described in section
403(a) of the Code, or any withdrawal by a Participant shall be charged to the
appropriate subaccount(s) of the Participant as of the date of the distribution
or the withdrawal.
5.6 DETERMINATION OF VALUE OF TRUST FUND AND OF NET EARNINGS OR
LOSSES. As of each Valuation Date the Trustee shall determine for the period
then ended the sum of the net earnings or losses of the Trust (excluding with
respect to Shares and other assets specifically allocated to a specific
Participant's subaccount, (i) dividends and capital gain distributions from
Shares, (ii) receipts or income attributable to insurance policies, (iii)
income gains and/or losses attributable to a Participant's loans made pursuant
to ARTICLE 13 or to any other Assets) which shall reflect accrued but unpaid
interest, dividends, gains, or losses realized from the sale, exchange or
collection of assets, other income received, appreciation in the fair market
value of assets, depreciation in the fair market value of assets,
administration expenses, and taxes and other expenses paid. Gains or losses
realized and adjustments for appreciation or depreciation in fair market value
shall be computed with respect to the difference between such value as of the
preceding Valuation Date or date of purchase, whichever is applicable, and the
value as of the date of disposition or the current Valuation Date, whichever is
applicable.
5.7 ALLOCATION OF NET EARNINGS OR LOSSES.
(a) As of each Valuation Date the net earnings or losses
of the Trust (excluding with respect to Shares and other assets specifically
allocated to a specific Participant's subaccount, (i) dividends and capital
gain distributions from Shares, (ii) dividends or credits attributable to
insurance policies, (iii) income gains and/or losses attributable to a
Participant's loans made pursuant to ARTICLE 13 or to any other assets, all of
which shall be allocated to such Participant's subaccount) for the valuation
period then ending shall be allocated to the Accounts of all Participants (or
Beneficiaries) having credits in the fund both on such date and at the
beginning of such valuation period. Such allocation shall be made by the
application of a fraction, the numerator of which is the value of the Account
of a specific Participant (or Beneficiary) as of the immediately preceding
Valuation Date, reduced by any distributions therefrom since such preceding
Valuation Date, and the denominator of which is the total value of all such
Accounts as of the preceding Valuation Date, reduced by any distributions
therefrom since such preceding Valuation Date.
(b) To the extent that Shares and other assets are
specifically allocated to a specific Participant's subaccount: (i) dividends
and capital gain distributions from Shares; (ii) dividends or credits
attributable to insurance policies; and (iii) income gains and/or losses
attributable to a Participant's loans made pursuant to ARTICLE 13 or to any
other assets, all shall be allocated to such Participant's subaccount.
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5.8 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. The Plan
Administrator shall maintain accurate records with respect to the contributions
made by or on behalf of Participants under the Plan, and shall furnish the
Trustee with written instructions directing the Trustee to allocate all Plan
contributions to the Trust among the separate Accounts of Participants in
accordance with section 5.1 above, In making any such allocation, the Trustee
shall be fully entitled to rely on the instructions furnished by the Plan
Administrator, and shall be under no duty to make any inquiry or investigation
with respect there to.
ARTICLE 6
LIMITATIONS ON ALLOCATIONS
6.1 EMPLOYERS WHO DO NOT MAINTAIN OTHER QUALIFIED PLANS.
(a) If the Participant does not participate in, and has
never participated in another qualified plan or a welfare benefit fund, as
defined in section 419(e) of the Code, maintained by the Employer, or an
individual medical account, as defined in section. 415(1)(2) of the Code,
maintained by the Employer, which provides in Annual Addition as defined in
section 6.5(a), the amount of Annual Additions that may be credited to the
Participant's Account for any Limitation Year will not exceed the lesser of the
Maximum Permissible Amount or any other limitation contained in this Plan. If
the Employer Contribution that would otherwise be contributed or allocated to
the Participant's Account would cause the Annual Additions for the Limitation
Year to exceed the Maximum Permissible Amount, the amount contributed or
allocated will be reduced so that the Annual Additions for the Limitation Year
will equal the Maximum Permissible Amount.
(b) Prior to determining the Participant's actual
Compensation for the Limitation Year, the Employer may determine the Maximum
Permissible Amount for a Participant on the basis of a reasonable estimation of
the Participant's Compensation for the Limitation Year, uniformly determined
for all Participants similarly situated.
(c) As soon as is administratively feasible after the end
of the Limitation Year, the Maximum Permissible Amount for the Limitation Year
will be determined on the basis of the Participant's actual Compensation for
the Limitation Year.
(d) If, pursuant to subsection (c) or as a result of the
allocation of forfeitures, there is an Excess Amount the excess will be
disposed of as follows:
(i) Any nondeductible voluntary Employee
contributions, to the extent they would reduce the Excess Amount, will be
returned to the Participant;
(ii) If after the application of paragraph (i) an
Excess Amount still exists, and the Participant is covered by the Plan at the
and of the Limitation Year, the Excess Amount in the Participant's Account will
be used to reduce Employer Contributions (including any allocation of
forfeitures) for such Participant in the next Limitation Year, and each
succeeding Limitation Year if necessary;
(iii) if after the application of paragraph (i) an
Excess Amount still exists, and the Participant is not covered by the Plan at
the end of the Limitation Year, the Excess Amount will be held unallocated in a
suspense account. The suspense account will be applied to reduce future
Employer Contributions (including allocation of any forfeitures) for all
remaining Participants in the next Limitation Year, and each succeeding
Limitation Year if necessary;
(iv) if a suspense account is in existence at any
time during the Limitation Year pursuant to this section, it will not
participate in the allocation of the Trust's investment gains and losses. If a
suspense account is in existence at any time during a particular Limitation
Year, all amounts in the suspense account must be allocated and reallocated to
Participants' Accounts before any Employer or any Employee contributions may be
made to the Plan for that Limitation Year. Excess accounts may not be
distributed to Participants or former Participants.
6.2 EMPLOYERS WHO MAINTAIN OTHER QUALIFIED MASTER OR PROTOTYPE
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS.
(a) This section applies if, in addition to this Plan,
the Participant is covered under another qualified master or prototype defined
contribution plan maintained by the Employer, a welfare benefit fund, as
defined in section 419(e) of the Code maintained by the Employer or an
individual medical account, a defined in section 415(1)(2) of the Code,
maintained by the Employer which provides an Annual Addition as defined in
section 6.5(a), during any Limitation Year. The Annual Additions that may be
credited to a Participant's Account under this Plan for any such Limitation
Year will not exceed the Maximum Permissible Amount reduced by the Annual
Additions credited to a Participant's Account under the other plans and welfare
benefit funds for the same Limitation Year. If the Annual Additions with
respect to the Participant under other defined contribution plans and welfare
benefit funds maintained by the Employer are less than the Maximum Permissible
Amount and the Employer Contribution that would otherwise be contributed or
allocated to the Participant's Account under this Plan would cause the Annual
Additions for the Limitation Year to exceed this limitation, the amount
contributed or allocated will be reduced so that the Annual Additions under all
such plans and funds for the Limitation Year will equal the Maximum Permissible
Amount. If the Annual Additions with respect to the Participant under such
other defined contribution plans and welfare benefit funds in the aggregate are
equal to or greater than the Maximum Permissible Amount, no amount will be
contributed or allocated to the Participant's Account under this Plan for the
Limitation Year.
(b) Prior to determining the Participant's actual
Compensation for the Limitation Year, the Employer may determine the Maximum
Permissible Amount for a Participant in the manner described in section 6.1
(b).
(c) As soon as is administratively feasible after the end
of the Limitation Year, the Maximum Permissible Amount for the Limitation Year
will be determined on the basis of the Participant's actual Compensation for
the Limitation Year.
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(d) If, pursuant to section 6.2(c), or as a result of the
allocation of forfeitures, a Participants Annual Additions under this Plan and
such other plans would result in an Excess Amount for a Limitation Year, the
Excess Amount will be deemed to consist of the Annual Additions last allocated,
except that Annual Additions attributable to a welfare benefit fund or
individual medical account will be deemed to have been allocated first
regardless of the actual allocation date.
(e) If an Excess Amount was allocated to a Participant on
an allocation date of this Plan which coincides with an allocation date of
another plan, the Excess Amount attributed to this Plan will be the product of
(i) the total Excess Amount allocated as of such
date, times
(ii) the ratio of (1) the Annual Additions
allocated to the Participant for the Limitation Year as of such date under this
Plan to (2) the total Annual Additions allocated to the Participant for the
Limitation Year as of such date under this and all the other qualified master
or prototype defined contribution plans.
(f) Any Excess Amount attributed to this Plan will be
disposed of in the manner described in section 6.1 (d).
6.3 EMPLOYERS WHO, IN ADDITION TO THIS PLAN, MAINTAIN OTHER
QUALIFIED PLANS WHICH ARE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS OTHER THAN MASTER OR
PROTOTYPE PLANS. If the Participant is covered under another qualified defined
contribution plan maintained by the Employer which is not a Master or Prototype
Plan, Annual Additions which may be credited to the Participant's Account under
this Plan for any Limitation Year will be limited in accordance with section
6.2 as though the other plan were a Master or Prototype Plan unless the
Employer provides other limitations in the Adoption Agreement.
6.4 EMPLOYERS WHO, IN ADDITION TO THIS PLAN, MAINTAIN A QUALIFIED
DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN. If the Employer maintains, or at any time maintained, a
qualified defined benefit plan covering any Participant in this Plan, the sum
of the Participant's Defined Benefit Fraction and Defined Contribution Fraction
will not exceed 1.0 in any Limitation Year. The Annual Additions which may be
credited to the Participant's Account under this Plan for any Limitation Year
will be limited in accordance with the Adoption Agreement.
6.5 DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, for
purposes of this ARTICLE only, the following definitions and rules of
interpretation shall apply:
(a) Annual Additions. The sum of the following amounts
credited to a Participant's Account for the Limitation Year:
(i) Employer Contributions;
(ii) Employee contributions;
(iii) forfeitures; and
(iv) amounts allocated after March 31, 1984 to an
individual medical account; as defined in section 415(l)(2) of the Code, which
is part of a pension or annuity plan maintained by the Employer, are treated as
Annual Additions to a defined contribution plan. Also, amounts derived from
contributions paid or accrued after December 31, 1985, in taxable years ending
after such date, which are attributable to post-retirement medical benefits
allocated to the separate account of a key employee, as defined in section
419A(d)(3) of the Code, under a welfare benefit fund, as defined in section
419(e) of the Code, maintained by the Employer, are treated as Annual Additions
to a defined contribution plan.
For this purpose, any Excess Amount applied under sections 6.1 (d) or 6.2(f) in
the Limitation Year to reduce Employer Contributions will be considered Annual
Additions for such Limitation Year.
(b) Compensation. A Participant's earned income, wages,
salaries, and fees for professional services and other amounts received for
personal services actually rendered in the course of employment with the
Employer maintaining the Plan (including, but not limited to, commissions paid
salesmen, compensation for services on the basis of a percentage of profits,
commissions on insurance premiums, tips and bonuses), and excluding the
following:
(i) Employer contributions to a plan of deferred
compensation which are not includable in the Employee's gross income for the
taxable year in which contributed, or Employer Contributions under a simplified
employee pension plan to the extent such contributions are excluded from the
Employee's gross income, or any distributions from a plan of deferred
compensation;
(ii) Amounts realized from the exercise of a
nonqualified stock option, or when restricted stock (or property) held by the
Employee either becomes freely transferable or is no longer subject to a
substantial risk of forfeiture;
(iii) Amounts realized from the sale, exchange or
other disposition of stock acquired under a qualified stock option; and
(iv) Other amounts which received special tax
benefits, or contributions made by the Employer (whether or not under a salary
reduction agreement) towards the purchase of an annuity described in section
403(b) of the Code (whether or not the amounts are actually excludable from the
gross income of the Employee).
For purposes of applying the limitations of this
ARTICLE, Compensation for a Limitation Year is the Compensation actually paid
or includable in gross income during such year.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
for a Participant in a defined contribution plan who is Totally and Permanently
Disabled (as defined in section 22(e)(3) of the Code) is the Compensation such
Participant would have received for the Limitation Year if the Participant had
been paid at the rate of Compensation paid Immediately before becoming
permanently and totally disabled; such imputed Compensation for the disabled
Participant may
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be taken into account only if the Participant is not a Highly-Compensated
Employee (as defined in section 414(q) of the Code), and contributions made on
behalf of such Participant are nonforfeitable when made.
(c) DEFINED BENEFIT FRACTION. A fraction, the numerator
of which is the sum of the Participant's Projected Annual Benefits under all the
defined benefit plans (whether or not terminated) maintained by the Employer,
and the denominator of which is the lesser of one hundred percent (100%) of the
dollar limitation determined for the Limitation Year under sections 415(b) and
(d) of the Code or one hundred forty percent (140%) of highest average
compensation, including any adjustments under section 415(b) of the Code.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Participant was a
Participant as of the first day of the first Limitation Year beginning after
December 31, 1986, in one or more defined benefit plans maintained by the
Employer which were in existence on May 6, 1986, the denominator of this
fraction will not be less than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the
sum of the annual benefits under such plans which the Participant had accrued
as of the close of the last Limitation Year beginning before January 1, 1987
disregarding any changes in the terms and conditions of the plan after May 5,
1986. The preceding sentence applies only if the defined benefit plans
individually and in the aggregate satisfied the requirements of section 415 of
the Code for all Limitation Years beginning before January 1, 1987.
(d) DEFINED CONTRIBUTION DOLLAR LIMITATION. Thirty
thousand dollars ($30,000) or, if greater, one-fourth (1/4) of the defined
benefit dollar limitation set forth in section 415(b)(1) of the Code as in
effect for the Limitation Year.
(e) DEFINED CONTRIBUTION FRACTION. A fraction, the
numerator of which is the sum of the Annual Additions to the Participant's
Account under all the defined contribution plans (whether or not terminated)
maintained by the Employer for the current and all prior Limitation Years
(including the Annual Additions attributable to the Participant's nondeductible
voluntary contributions to all defined benefit plans, whether or not
terminated, maintained by the Employer, and the Annual Additions attributable
to all welfare benefit funds, as defined in section 419(e) of the Code and
individual medical accounts, as defined in section 415(1)(2) of the Code,
maintained by the Employer), and the denominator of which is the sum of the
maximum aggregate amounts for the current and all prior Limitation Years of
service with the Employer (regardless of whether a defined contribution plan
was maintained by the Employer). The maximum aggregate amount in any Limitation
Year is the lesser of one hundred percent (100%) of the dollar limitation in
effect under section 415(c)(1)(A) of the Code or thirty-five percent (35%) of
the Participant's Compensation for such year.
If the Participant was a Participant as of the end of the
first day of the first Limitation Yew beginning after December 31, 1986, in one
or mom defined contribution plans maintained by the Employer which were in
existence on May 6, 1986, the numerator of this fraction will be adjusted if the
sum of this fraction and the Defined Benefit Fraction would otherwise exceed
1.0 under the terms of this Plan. Under the adjustment, an amount equal to the
product of (1) the excess of the sum of the fractions over 1.0 times (2) the
denominator of this fraction, will be permanently subtracted from the numerator
of this fraction. The adjustment is calculated using the fractions as they
would be computed as of the end of the last Limitation Year beginning before
January 1, 1987, and disregarding any changes in the terms and conditions of
the Plan made after May 5, 1986, but using the section 415 limitation
applicable to the first Limitation Year beginning on or after January 1, 1987.
the Annual Addition for any Limitation Year beginning before January 1, 1987,
shall not be recomputed to treat all Employee contributions as Annual
Additions.
(f) EMPLOYER. For purposes of this ARTICLE, Employer
shall mean the employer that adopts this Plan, and all members of a controlled
group of corporations (as defined in section 414(b) of the Code as modified by
section 415(h) of the Code), all commonly controlled trades or businesses (as
defined in section 414(c) of the Code as modified by section 415(h) of the
Code), or affiliated service groups (as defined in section 414(m) of the Code)
of which the adopting Employer is a part and any other entity required to be
aggregated with the Employer pursuant to regulations under section 414(o) of
the Code.
(g) EXCESS AMOUNT. The excess of the Participant's Annual
Addition for the Limitation Year over the Maximum Permissible Amount.
(h) HIGHEST AVERAGE COMPENSATION. The average
compensation for the three consecutive Plan Years that produce the highest
average.
(i) LIMITATION YEAR. A Plan Year, or the twelve (12)
consecutive month period elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement. All
qualified plans maintained by the Employer must use the same Limitation Year.
If the Limitation Year is amended to a different twelve (12) consecutive month
period, the new Limitation Year must begin on a date within the Limitation Year
in which the amendment is made.
(j) MASTER OR PROTOTYPE PLAN. A plan the form of which
is the subject of a favorable opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service.
(k) MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT. The maximum Annual
Addition that may be contributed or allocated to a Participant's Account under
the Plan for any Limitation Year shall not exceed the lesser of:
(i) the Defined Contribution Dollar Limitation;
or
(ii) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Participant's
Compensation for the Limitation Year.
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The Compensation limitation referred to in subsection (b)
shall not apply to any contribution for medical benefits (within the meaning of
section 401(h) or section 419A(f)(2) of the Code) which is otherwise treated as
an Annual Addition under section 415(l)(1) or section 419A(d)(2) of the Code.
If a short Limitation Year is created because of an amendment
changing the Limitation Year to a different twelve (12) consecutive month
period, the Maximum Permissible Amount will not exceed the Defined Contribution
Dollar Limitation multiplied by the following fraction:
Number of Months in the Short Limitation Year
12
(l) PROJECTED ANNUAL BENEFIT. The annual retirement
benefit (adjusted to an actuarially equivalent straight life annuity if such
benefit is expressed in a form other than a straight life annuity or Qualified
Joint and Survivor Annuity) to which the Participant would be entitled under
the terms of the Plan assuming:
(i) the Participant will continue employment
until Normal Retirement Age under the Plan (or current age, if later), and
(ii) the Participant's Compensation for the current
Limitation Year and all other relevant factors used to determine benefits under
the Plan will remain constant for all future Limitation Years.
ARTICLE 7
TRUST FUND
7.1 RECEIPT OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY TRUSTEE. All contributions to the
Trust that we received by the Trustee, together with any earnings thereon,
shall be held, managed and administered by the Trustee named in the Adoption
Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Trust Agreement
and the Plan. The Trustee may use a Custodian designated by the Sponsor to
perform recordkeeping and custodial functions. The Trustee shall be subject to
the proper directions of the Employer or the Plan Administrator made in
accordance with the terms of the Plan and ERISA.
7.2 INVESTMENT RESPONSIBILITY.
(a) If the Employer elects in the Adoption Agreement to
exercise investment authority and responsibility, the selection of the
investments in which assets of the Trust are invested shall be the
responsibility of the Plan Administrator and each Participant will have a
ratable interest in all assets of the Trust.
(b) If the Adoption Agreement so provides and the
Employer elects to permit each Participant or Beneficiary to select the
investments in his Account, no person, including the Trustee and the Plan
Administrator, shall be liable for any loss or for any breach of fiduciary duty
which results from such Participant's or Beneficiary's exercise of control.
(c) If the Adoption Agreement so provides and the
Employer elects to permit each Participant or Beneficiary to select the
investments in his Account, the Employer or the Plan Administrator must
complete a schedule of Participant designations.
(d) If Participants and Beneficiaries are permitted to
select the investment in their Accounts, all investment related expenses,
including administrative fees charged by brokerage houses, will be charged
against the Accounts of the Participants.
(e) The Plan Administrator may at any time change the
selection of investments in which the assets of the Trust are invested, or
subject to such reasonable restrictions as may be imposed by the Sponsor for
administrative convenience, may submit an amended schedule of Participant
designations. Such amended documents may provide for a variance in the
percentages of contributions to any particular investment or a request that
Shares in the Trust be reinvested in whole or in part in other Shares.
7.3 INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS. The Sponsor may impose reasonable
investment limitations an the Employer and the Plan Administrator relating to
the type of permissible investments in the Trust or the minimum percentage of
Trust assets to be invested in Shares.
ARTICLE 8
VESTING
8.1 NONDEDUCTIBLE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND EARNINGS. The
Participant's nondeductible voluntary contribution subaccount shall be fully
vested and nonforfeitable at all times and no forfeitures will occur as a
result of an Employee's withdrawal of nondeductible voluntary contributions.
8.2 ROLLOVERS, TRANSFERS AND EARNINGS. The Participant's rollover
subaccount and direct transfer subaccount shall be fully vested and
nonforfeitable at all times.
8.3 EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS AND EARNINGS. Notwithstanding the
vesting schedule elected by the Employer in the Adoption Agreement, the
Participant's money purchase pension contribution subaccount and profit sharing
contribution subaccount shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable upon the
Participant's death, disability, attainment of Normal Retirement Age, or, if the
Adoption Agreement provides for an Early Retirement Date, attainment of the
required age and completion of the required service, In the absence of any of
the preceding events, the Participant's money purchase contribution subaccount
and his profit sharing contribution subaccount shall vest in accordance with a
minimum vesting
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schedule specified in the Adoption Agreement. The schedule must be at least as
favorable to Participants as either schedule (a) or (b) below.
(a) Graduated vesting according to the following schedule:
Years of Service Vested Percentage
---------------- -----------------
Less than 2 0%
2 but less than 3 20%
3 but less than 4 40%
4 but less than 5 60%
5 but less than 6 80%
6 or more 100%
(b) Full one hundred percent (100%) vesting after three (3) Years of
Service.
8.4 AMENDMENTS TO VESTING SCHEDULE.
(a) If the Plan's vesting schedule is amended, or the Plan is
amended in any way that directly or indirectly affects the computation of the
Participant's nonforfeitable percentage or if the Plan is deemed amended by an
automatic change to or from a top-heavy vesting schedule, each Participant with
at least three (3) Years of Service with the Employer may elect, within a
reasonable period after the adoption of the amendment or change, to have the
nonforfeitable percentage computed under the Plan without regard to such
amendment or change. For any Participants who do not have at least one (1) Hour
of Service in any Plan Year beginning after December 31, 1988, the preceding
sentence shall be applied by substituting "five (5) Years of Service" for
"three (3) Years of Service" where such language appears.
(b) The period during which the election may be made shall commence
with the date the amendment is adopted or deemed to be made and shall end on
the latest of:
(i) sixty (60) days after the amendment is adopted;
(ii) sixty (60) days after the amendment becomes effective;
or
(iii) sixty (60) days after the Participant is issued written
notice of the amendment by the Employer or Plan Administrator.
(c) No amendment to the Plan shall be effective to the extent that
it has the effect of decreasing a Participant's accrued benefit.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a Participant's Account balance may be
reduced to the extent permitted under section 412(c)(8) of the Code. For
purposes of this paragraph, a Plan amendment which has the effect of decreasing
a Participant's Account balance or eliminating an optional form of benefit,
with respect to benefits attributable to service before the amendment shall be
treated as reducing an accrued benefit. Furthermore, if the vesting schedule of
a Plan is amended, in the case of an Employee who is a Participant as of the
later of the date such amendment is adopted or the date it becomes effective,
the nonforfeitable percentage (determined as of such date) of such Employee's
right to his Employer-derived accrued benefit will not be less than his
percentage computed under the Plan without regard to such amendment.
8.5 DETERMINATION OF YEARS OF SERVICE. For purposes of determining the
vested and nonforfeitable percentage of the Participant's Employer Contribution
subaccounts, all of the Participant's Years of Service with the Employer or an
Affiliated Employer shall be taken into account. If specified in the Adoption
Agreement, Years of Service with a predecessor employer will be treated as
service for the Employer; provided, however, if the Employer maintains the plan
of a predecessor employer, Years of Service with such predecessor employer will
be treated as service with the Employer without regard to any election.
8.6 FORFEITURE OF NONVESTED AMOUNTS.
(a) For Plan Years beginning before 1985, any portion of a
Participant's Account that is not vested shall be forfeited by him as of the
last day of the Plan Year in which a Break in Service occurs. For Plan Years
beginning after 1984, any portion of a Participant's Account that is not vested
shall be forfeited by him as of the last day of the Plan Year in which his
fifth consecutive Break in Service occurs. Any amounts thus forfeited shall be
reallocated as provided in ARTICLE 5 and shall not be considered part of a
Participant's Account in computing his vested interest. The remaining portion of
the Participant's Account will be nonforfeitable.
(b) If a distribution is made at a time when a Participant has a
vested right to less than one hundred percent (100%) of the value of the
Participant's Account attributable to Employer Contributions and forfeitures,
as determined in accordance with the provisions of section 8.3, and the
nonvested portion of the Participant's Account has not yet been forfeited in
accordance with paragraph (a) above:
(i) a separate remainder subaccount shall be established
for the Participant's interest in the Plan as of the time of the distribution,
and
(ii) at any relevant time the Participant's vested portion
of the separate remainder subaccount shall be equal to an amount ("X")
determined by the following formula:
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X = P(AB + (R x D)) - (R x D)
For purposes of applying the formula: P is the vested percentage at
the relevant time; AB is the Account balance at the relevant time; D is the
amount of the distribution; and R is the ratio of the Account balance at the
relevant time to the Account balance after distribution.
8.7 REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFIT. If a benefit is forfeited because a
Participant or Beneficiary cannot be found, such benefit will be reinstated if
a claim is made by the Participant or Beneficiary.
ARTICLE 9
JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS
9.1 GENERAL. The provisions of this ARTICLE shall apply to any
Participant who is credited with at least one (1) Hour of Service with the
Employer on or after August 23, 1984, and such other Participants as provided
in section 9.7.
9.2 QUALIFIED JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY. Unless an optional form of
benefit is selected pursuant to a Qualified Election within the ninety (90) day
period ending on the Annuity Starting Date, a married Participant's Vested
Account Balance will be paid in the form of a Qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity and an unmarried Participant's Vested Account Balance will be paid in
the form of a life annuity. The Participant may elect to have such annuity
distributed upon attainment of the Earliest Retirement Age under the Plan.
9.3 QUALIFIED PRERETIREMENT SURVIVOR ANNUITY. Unless an optional form of
benefit has been selected within the Election Period pursuant to a Qualified
Election, if a Participant dies before the Annuity Starting Date, then the
Participant's Vested Account Balance shall be applied toward the purchase of an
annuity for the life of the Surviving Spouse. The Surviving Spouse may elect to
have such annuity distributed within a reasonable period after the
Participant's death.
9.4 DEFINITIONS.
(a) Election Period.
(i) The period which begins on the first day of the Plan Year
in which the Participant attains age thirty-five (35) and ends on the date of
the Participant's death. If a Participant separates from service prior to the
first day of the Plan Year in which age thirty-five (35) is attained, with
respect to the Account balance as of the date of separation, the Election
Period shall begin on the date of separation.
(ii) A Participant who has not yet attained age thirty-five (35)
as of the end of any current Plan Year may make a special Qualified Election to
waive the qualified preretirement survivor annuity for the period beginning on
the date of such election and ending on the first day of the Plan Year in
which the Participant will attain age thirty-five (35). Such election shall not
be valid unless the Participant receives a written explanation of the qualified
preretirement survivor annuity in such terms as are comparable to the
explanation required under section 9.5. Qualified preretirement survivor
annuity coverage will be automatically reinstated as of the first day of the
Plan Year in which the Participant attains age thirty-five (35). Any new waiver
on or after such date shall be subject to the full requirements of this ARTICLE.
(b) Earliest Retirement Age. The earliest date on which, under the
Plan, the Participant could elect to receive retirement benefits.
(c) Qualified Election.
(i) A waiver of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity or a
qualified preretirement survivor annuity. Any waiver of a Qualified Joint and
Survivor Annuity or a qualified preretirement survivor annuity shall not be
effective unless:
(1) the Participant's Spouse consents in writing to the
election;
(2) the election designates a specific Beneficiary,
including any class of Beneficiaries or any contingent Beneficiaries, which may
not be changed without spousal consent (or the Spouse expressly permits
designations by the Participant without any further spousal consent);
(3) the Spouse's consent acknowledges the effect of the
election; and
(4) the Spouse's consent is witnessed by a Plan
representative or notary public. Additionally, a Participant's waiver of the
Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity shall not be effective unless the election
designates a form of benefit payment which may not be changed without spousal
consent (or the Spouse expressly permits designations by the participant
without any further spousal consent). If it is established to the satisfaction
of a Plan representative that there is no Spouse or that the Spouse cannot be
located, a waiver will be deemed a Qualified Election.
(ii) Any consent by a Spouse obtained under this provision (or
establishment that the consent of Spouse may not be obtained) shall be
effective only with respect to such Spouse. A consent that permits designations
by the Participant without any requirement of further consent by such Spouse
must acknowledge that the Spouse has the right to limit consent to a specific
Beneficiary, and a specific form of benefit where applicable, and that the
Spouse voluntarily elects to relinquish either or both of such rights.
A revocation of a prior waiver may be made by a Participant without the consent
of the Spouse at any time before the commencement of benefits. The number of
revocations shall not be limited. No consent obtained under this provision
shall be valid unless the Participant has received notice as provided in
section 9.5.
(d) Qualified Joint And Survivor Annuity. An immediate annuity for
the life of the Participant with a survivor annuity for the life of the Spouse
which equals fifty percent (50%) of the amount of the annuity which is payable
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during the joint lives of the Participant and the Spouse and which is the
amount of benefit which can be purchased with the Participant's Vested Account
Balance.
(e) Spouse(Surviving Spouse). The Spouse or Surviving Spouse of the
Participant, provided that a former spouse will be treated as the Spouse or
Surviving Spouse and a current Spouse will not be treated as the Spouse or
Surviving Spouse to the extent provided under a qualified domestic relations
order as described in section 414(p) of the Code.
(f) Annuity Starting Date. The first day of the first period for
which an amount is paid as an annuity or any other form.
(g) Vested Account Balance. The aggregate value of the Participant's
Vested Account Balances derived from Employer and Employee contributions
(including rollovers and direct transfers), whether vested before upon death,
including the proceeds of insurance contracts if any, on the Participant's life,
The provisions of this ARTICLE shall apply to a Participant who is vested in
amounts attributable to Employer Contributions, Employee contributions (or both)
at the time of death or distribution.
9.5 Notice Requirements
(a) In the case of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity, the Plan
Administrator shall no less than thirty (30) days and no more than ninety (90)
days prior to the Annuity Starting Date, provide each Participant a written
explanation of:
(i) the terms and conditions of a Qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity;
(ii) the Participant's right to make and the effect of an
election to waive the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity form of
benefit;
(iii) the rights of a Participant's Spouse; and
(iv) the right to make, and the effect of, a revocation of a previous
election to waive the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity.
(b) In the case of a qualified preretirement survivor annuity as
described in section 9.3, the Plan Administrator shall provide each Participant
within the applicable period for such Participant a written explanation of the
qualified preretirement survivor annuity in such terms and in such manner as
would be comparable to the explanation provided for meeting the requirements of
subsection (a) applicable to a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity.
(c) The applicable period for a Participant is whichever of the following
periods ends last:
(i) the period beginning with the first day of the Plan Year in
which the Participant attains age thirty-two (32) and ending with the
close of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year in which the
Participant attains age thirty-five (35);
(ii) a reasonable period ending after the individual becomes a
Participant;
(iii) a reasonable period ending after subsection (e) ceases to
apply to the Participant;
(iv) a reasonable period ending after this ARTICLE first applies
to the Participant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice must be provided within a reasonable
period ending after separation form service in the case of a participant who
separates from service before attaining age thirty-five (35).
(d) For purposes of applying subsection (c), a reasonable period ending
after the enumerated events described above in subsections (ii), (iii) and (iv)
is the end of the two-year period beginning one (1) year prior to the date the
applicable event occurs, and ending on (1) year after that date. In the case of
a Participant who separates from service before the Plan year in which age
thirty-five (35) is attained, notice shall be provided within the two (2) year
period beginning one (1) year prior to separation and ending one (1) year after
separation. If such a participant thereafter returns to employment with the
Employer, the applicable period for such Participant shall be redetermined.
(e) Notwithstanding the other requirements of this section, the
respective notices prescribed by this section need not be given to a
Participant if:
(i) the Plan "fully subsidizes" the cost of a Qualified Joint and
Survivor Annuity or qualified preretirement survivor annuity; and
(ii) the Plan does not allow the Participant to waive the Qualified
Joint and Survivor Annuity or qualified preretirement survivor annuity and does
not allow a married Participant to designate a nonspouse Beneficiary.
For purposes of this subsection, plan fully subsidizes the costs of a
benefit if no increase in cost, or decrease in benefits to the Participant may
result from the Participant's failure to elect another benefit.
9.6 Safe Harbor Rules
(a) This section shall apply to a Participant in a profit sharing plan,
and to any distribution, made on or after the first day of the first Plan year
beginning after December 31, 1988, from or under a separate account
attributable solely to accumulated deductible Employee contributions, as
defined in section 72(o)(5)(B) of the Code, and maintained on behalf of a
Participant in a money purchase pension plan (including a target benefit plan)
if the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) the Participant does not or cannot elect payments in the form of
a life annuity; and
(ii) on the death of a Participant, the Participant's Vested Account
Balance will be paid to the Participant's Surviving Spouse, but if there is no
Surviving Spouse, or if the Surviving Spouse has consented in a manner
conforming to a Qualified Election, then to the Participant's Designated
Beneficiary.
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(b) The Surviving Spouse may elect to have distribution of the
Vested Account Balance commence within the ninety (90) day period following the
date of the Participant's death. The Account balance shall be adjusted for
gains or losses occurring after the Participant's death in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan governing the adjustment of Account balances for other
types of distributions.
(c) This section shall not be operative with respect to a
Participant in a profit sharing plan if the plan is a direct or indirect
transferee of a defined benefit plan, money purchase plan, a target benefit
plan, stock bonus, or profit sharing plan which is subject to the survivor
annuity requirements of sections 401(a)(11) and 417 of the Code. If this
section is operative, then the provisions of the ARTICLE, other than section
9.7, shall be inoperative.
(d) The Participant may waive the spousal death benefit described in
this section at any time provided that no such waiver shall be effective unless
it satisfies the conditions of section 9.4(c) (other than the notification
requirement referred to therein) that would apply to the Participant's waiver
of the qualified preretirement survivor annuity.
(e) For purposes of this section, Vested Account Balance shall mean,
in the case of a money purchase pension plan or a target benefit plan, the
Participant's separate Account balance attributable solely to accumulated
deductible Employee contributions within the meaning of section 72(o)(5)(B) of
the Code. In the case of a profit sharing plan, Vested Account Balance shall
have the same meaning as provided in section 9.4(g).
9.7 TRANSITIONAL RULES.
(a) Any living Participant not receiving benefits on August 23,
1984, who would otherwise not receive the benefits prescribed by the previous
sections of this ARTICLE must be given the opportunity to elect to have the
prior sections of this ARTICLE apply if such Participant is credited with at
least one (1) Hour of Service under this Plan or a predecessor plan in a Plan
Year beginning on or after January 1, 1976, and such Participant had at least
ten (10) years of vesting service when he or she separated from service.
(b) Any living Participant not receiving benefits on August 23,
1984, who was credited with at least one (1) Hour of Service under this Plan or
a predecessor plan on or after September 2, 194, and who is not otherwise
credited with any service in a Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 1976,
must be given the opportunity to have his or her benefits paid in accordance
with subsection (d).
(c) The respective opportunities to elect (as described in
subsections (a) and (b) above) must be afforded to the appropriate
Participants during the period commencing on August 23, 1984, and ending on the
date benefits would otherwise commence to said Participants.
(d) Any Participant who has elected pursuant to subsection (b) and
any Participant who does not elect under subsection (a) or who meets the
requirements of subsection (a) except that such Participant does not have at
least ten (10) years of vesting service when he or she separates from service,
shall have his or her benefits distributed in accordance with all of the
following requirements if benefits would have been payable in the form of a
life annuity:
(i) Automatic Joint and Survivor Annuity. If benefits in the
form of a life annuity become payable to a married Participant who:
(1) begins to receive payments under the Plan on or after
Normal Retirement Age; or
(2) dies on or after Normal Retirement Age while still
working for the Employer; or
(3) begins to receive payments on or after the qualified
early retirement age; or
(4) separates from service on or after attaining Normal
Retirement age; (or qualified early retirement age) and under satisfying the
eligibility requirements for the payments of benefits under the Plan and
thereafter dies before beginning to receive such benefits; then such benefits
will be received under this Plan in the form of a Qualified Joint and Survivor
Annuity, unless the Participant has elected otherwise during the Election
Period. The Election Period must begin at least six (6) months before the
Participant attains qualified early retirement age and end not more than ninety
(90) days before the commencement of benefits. Any election hereunder will be
in writing and may be changed by the Participant at any time.
(ii) Election of Early Survivor Annuity. A Participant who is
employed after attaining the qualified early retirement age will be given the
opportunity to elect, during the Election Period, to have a survivor annuity
payable on death. If the Participant elects the survivor annuity, payments
under such annuity must not be less than the payments which would have been
made to the Spouse under the Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity if the
Participant had retired on the day before his or her death. Any election under
this provision will be in writing and may be changed by the Participant at any
time. The Election Period begins on the later of (1) the 90th day before the
Participant attains the qualified early retirement age; or (2) the date on
which participation begins, and ends on the date the Participant terminates
employment.
(e) The following terms shall have the meanings specified herein:
(i) Qualified Early Retirement Age. The latest of:
(1) the earliest date, under the Plan, on which the
Participant may elect to receive retirement benefits;
(2) the first day of the 120th month beginning before the
Participant reaches Normal Retirement Age; or
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(3) the date the Participant begins participation.
(ii) Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity. An annuity for
the life of the Participant with a survivor annuity for the life of the Spouse
as described in section 9.4(d).
ARTICLE 10
DISTRIBUTION PROVISIONS
10.1 VESTING ON DISTRIBUTION BEFORE BREAK IN SERVICE.
(a) If an Employee terminates service, and the value of the
Employee's vested Account balance derived from Employer and Employee
Contributions is not greater than three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500),
the Employee will receive a distribution of the value of the entire vested
portion of such Account balance and the nonvested portion will be treated as a
forfeiture. For purposes of this section, if the value of an Employee's
vested Account balance is zero, the Employee shall be deemed to have received a
distribution of such vested Account balance. A Participant's vested Account
balance shall not include accumulated deductible Employee contributions within
the meaning of section 72(o)(5)(B) of the Code for Plan Years beginning prior
to January 1, 1989.
(b) If an Employee terminates service and elects, in accordance with
the ARTICLE, to receive the value of his Vested Account Balance, the nonvested
portion will be treated as a forfeiture. If the Employee elects to have
distributed less than the entire vested portion of the Account balance derived
from Employer Contributions, the part of the nonvested portion that will be
treated as a forfeiture is the total nonvested portion multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of the distribution attributable
to Employer Contributions and the denominator of which is the total value of
the vested Employer derived Account balance.
(c) If an Employee receives a distribution pursuant to this section
and the Employee resumes employment covered under this Plan, the Employee's
Employer-derived Account balance will be restored to the amount on the date of
distribution if the Employee repays to the Plan the full amount of the
distribution attributable to Employer Contributions before the earlier of five
(5) years after the first date on which the Participant is subsequently
reemployed by the Employer, or the date the Participant incurs five (5)
consecutive one (1) year Breaks in Service following the date of the
distribution. If an Employee is deemed to receive a distribution to this
section, and the Employee resumes employment covered under this Plan before the
date the Participant incurs five (5) consecutive one (1) year Breaks in
Service, upon the reemployment of such Employee, the Employer-derived Account
balance of the Employee will be restored to the amount on the date of such
deemed distribution.
10.2 RESTRICTIONS ON IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) If the value of a Participant's vested Account balance derived
from Employer and Employee contributions exceeds(or at the time of any prior
distribution exceeds) three thousand five hundred dollars (3,500) and the
Account balance is immediately distributable, the Participant and the
Participant's Spouse (or where either the Participant or the Spouse has died,
the survivor) must consent to any distribution of such Account balance. The
consent of the Participant and the Participant's Spouse shall be obtained in
writing within the ninety (90) day period ending on the Annuity Starting Date.
The Annuity Starting Date is the first day of the first period for which an
amount is paid as an annuity or any other form. The Plan Administrator shall
notify the Participant and the Participant's Spouse of the right to defer any
distribution until the Participant's Account balance is no longer immediately
distributable. Such notification shall include a general description of the
material features, and an explanation of the relative values of, the optional
forms of benefit available under the Plan in a manner that would satisfy the
notice requirements of section 417(a)(3), and shall be provided no less than
thirty (30) days and no more than ninety (90) days prior to the Annuity
Starting Date.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), only the
Participant need consent to the commencement of a distribution in the form of a
Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity while the Account balance is immediately
distributable. (Furthermore, if payment in the form of a Qualified Joint and
Survivor Annuity is not required with respect to the Participant pursuant to
section 9.6 of the Plan, only the Participant need consent to the distribution
of an Account balance that is immediately distributable).
Neither the consent of the Participant nor the Participant's Spouse shall be
required to the extent that a distribution is required to satisfy section
401(a)(9) or section 415 of the Code. In addition, upon termination of this
Plan if the Plan does not offer an annuity option (purchased from a commercial
provider), the Participant's Account balance may, without the Participant's
consent, be distributed to the Participant or transferred to another defined
contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership plan as defined in
section 4975(e)(7) of the Code) within the same controlled group.
(c) An Account balance is immediately distributable if any part of
the Account balance could be distributed to the Participant (or Surviving
Spouse) before the Participant attains *or would have attained if not deceased)
the later of Normal Retirement Age or age sixty-two (62).
(d) For purposes of determining the applicability of the foregoing
consent requirements to distributions made before the first day of the first
Plan Year beginning after December 31, 1988, the Participant's vested Account
balance shall not include amounts attributable to accumulated deductible
Employee contributions within the meaning of section 72*o)(5)(B) of the Code.
10.3 COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS.
(a) Unless the Participant elects otherwise, distribution of
benefits will begin no later than the 60th day after the latest of the close of
the Plan Year in which:
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(i) the Participant attains age sixty-five (65) (or
Normal Retirement Age, if earlier);
(ii) the 10th anniversary of the year in which the
Participant commenced participant in the Plan occurs; or
(iii) the Participant terminates service with the
Employer.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of a
Participant and Spouse to consent to a distribution while a benefit is
immediately distributable, within the meaning of section 10.2 of the Plan, shall
be deemed to be an election to defer commencement of payment of any benefit
sufficient to satisfy this section.
10.4 EARLY RETIREMENT WITH AGE AND SERVICE REQUIREMENT. If a
Participant separates from service before satisfying the age requirement for
early retirement, but has satisfied the service requirement, the Participant
will be entitled to elect an early retirement benefit upon satisfaction of such
age requirement.
10.5 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF ANNUITIES. Any annuity contract
distributed herefrom must be nontransferable.
10.6 CONFLICTS WITH ANNUITY CONTRACTS. The terms of any annuity
contract purchased and distributed by the Plan to a Participant or Spouse shall
comply with the requirements of this Plan.
ARTICLE 11
TIMING AND MODES OF DISTRIBUTION
11.1 GENERAL RULES.
(a) Subject to ARTICLE 9, the requirements of this ARTICLE
shall apply to any distribution of a Participant's interest and will take
precedence over any inconsistent provisions of this Plan. Unless otherwise
specified, the provisions of this ARTICLE apply to calendar years beginning
after December 31, 1984.
(b) All distributions required under this ARTICLE shall be
determined and made in accordance with the income tax regulations under section
401(a)(9) of the Code, including the minimum distribution incidental benefit
requirement of section 1.40(a)(9)-2 of the proposed regulations.
11.2 REQUIRED BEGINNING DATE. The entire interest of a Participant
must be distributed or begin to be distributed no later than the Participant's
Required Beginning Date.
11.3 LIMITS ON DISTRIBUTION PERIODS. As of the first Distribution
Calendar Year, distributions, if not made in single-sum, may only be made over
one of the following periods (or a combination thereof):
(a) the life of the Participant;
(b) the life of the Participant and a Designated Beneficiary;
(c) a period certain not extending beyond the Life Expectancy
of the Participant; or
(d) a period certain not extending beyond the joint and last
survivor expectancy of the Participant and a Designated Beneficiary.
11.4 DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT TO BE DISTRIBUTED EACH YEAR.
(a) Individual Account.
(i) If a Participant's Benefit is to be distributed
over (1) a period not extending beyond the Life Expectancy of the Participant or
the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and the
Participant's Designated Beneficiary or (2) a period not extending beyond the
Life Expectancy of the Designated Beneficiary, the amount required to be
distributed for each calendar year, beginning with distribution for the first
Distribution Calendar Year, must at least equal the quotient obtained by
dividing the Participant's Benefit by the Applicable Life Expectancy.
(ii) For calendar years beginning before January 1,
1989, if the Participant's Spouse is not the Designated Beneficiary, the method
of distribution selected must assure that at least fifty percent (50%) of the
present value of the amount available for distribution is paid within the Life
Expectancy of the Participant.
(iii) For calendar years beginning after December 31,
1988, the amount to be distributed each year, beginning with distributions for
the first Distribution Calendar Year shall not be less than the quotient
obtained by dividing the Participant's Benefit by the lesser of (1) the
Applicable Life Expectancy or (2) if the Participant's Spouse is not the
Designated Beneficiary, the applicable divisor determined from the table set
forth in Q&A-4 of section 1.40(a)(9)-2 of the proposed regulations.
Distributions after the death of the Participant shall be distributed using the
Applicable Life Expectancy in subsection (a)(i) above as the relevant divisor
without regard to proposed regulations section 1.40(a)(9)-2.
(iv) The minimum distribution required for the
Participant's first Distribution Calendar Year must be made on or before the
Participant's Required Beginning Date. The minimum distribution for other
calendar years, including the minimum distribution for the Distribution
Calendar Year in which the Employee's Required Beginning Date occurs, must be
made on or before December 31, of that Distribution Calendar Year.
(b) Other Forms. If the Participant's benefit is distributed
in the form of an annuity purchased from an insurance company, distributions
thereunder shall be made in accordance with the requirements of section
401(a)(9) of the Code and the proposed regulations thereunder.
11.5 DEATH DISTRIBUTION PROVISIONS.
(a) Distribution Beginning Before Death. If the Participant
dies after distribution of his or her interest has begun, the remaining portion
of such interest will continue to be distributed at least as rapidly as under
the method of distribution being used prior to the Participant's death.
(b) Distribution Beginning After Death. If the Participant
dies before distribution of his or her interest begins, distribution of the
Participant's entire interest shall be completed by December 31 of the calendar
year
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containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant's death except to the extent
that an election is made to receive distributions in accordance with (i) or (ii)
below:
(i) if any portion of the Participant's interest is payable
to a Designated Beneficiary, distributions may be made over the life or over a
period certain not greater than the Life Expectancy of the Designated
Beneficiary commencing on or before December 31 of the calendar year immediately
following the calendar year in which the Participant died;
(ii) if the Designated Beneficiary is the Participant's
Surviving Spouse, the date distributions are required to begin in accordance
with (i) above shall not be earlier than the later of (1) December 31 of the
calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant
died and (2) December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant would
have attained age seventy and one-half (70 1/2).
(c) If the Participant has not made an election pursuant to this
section by the time of his or her death, the Participant's Designated
Beneficiary must elect the method of distribution no later than the earlier of
(1) December 31 of the calendar year in which distributions would be required to
begin under this section; or (2) December 31 of the calendar year which contains
the fifth anniversary of the date of death of the Participant. If the
Participant has no Designated Beneficiary, or if the Designated Beneficiary does
not elect a method of distribution, distribution of the Participant's entire
interest must be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the
fifth anniversary of the Participant's death.
(d) For purposes of subsection (b) above, if the Surviving Spouse
dies after the Participant, but before payments to such Spouse begin, the
provisions of subsection (b), with the exception of paragraph (ii) therein,
shall be applied as if the Surviving Spouse were the Participant.
(e) For purposes of this section, any amount paid to a child of
the Participant will be treated as if it had been paid to the Surviving Spouse
if the amount becomes payable to the Surviving Spouse when the child reaches the
age of majority.
(f) For the purposes of this section, distribution of a
Participant's interest is considered to begin on the Participant's Required
Beginning Date (or, if subsection (d) above is applicable, the date distribution
is required to begin to the Surviving Spouse pursuant to subsection (b) above).
If distribution is in the form of an annuity described in section 11.4(b) above
irrevocably commences to the Participant before the Required Beginning Date, the
date distribution is considered to begin is the date distribution actually
commences.
11.6 DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY. Subject to the rules of ARTICLE 9, a
Participant (or former Participant) may designate from time to time any person
or persons (who may be designated contingently or successively and may be an
entity other than a natural person) as his Beneficiary who will be entitled to
receive any undistributed amounts credited to the Participant's separate
Account under the Plan at any time of the Participant's death. Any such
beneficiary designation by a Participant shall be made in writing in the manner
prescribed by the Plan Administrator, and shall be effective only when filed
with the Plan Administrator during the Participant's lifetime. A Participant
my change or revoke his Beneficiary designation at any time in the manner
prescribed by the Plan Administrator. If any portion of the Participant's
Account is invested in insurance pursuant to ARTICLE 14, the Beneficiary of the
benefits under the insurance policy shall be the person or persons designated
under the policy. If the Designated Beneficiary (or each of the Designated
Beneficiaries) predeceases the Participant, the Participant's Beneficiary
designation shall be ineffective. If no Beneficiary designation is in effect
at the time of the Participant's death, his Beneficiary shall be his estate.
11.7 DEFINITIONS.
(a) APPLICABLE LIFE EXPECTANCY. The Life Expectancy (or
joint and last survivor expectancy) calculated using the attained age of the
Participant (or Designated Beneficiary) as of the Participant's (or Designated
Beneficiary's) birthday in the applicable calendar year reduced by one (1) for
each calendar year which as elapsed since the date Life Expectancy was first
calculated. If Life Expectancy is being recalculated, the Applicable Life
Expectancy shall be the Life Expectancy as so recalculated. The applicable
calendar year shall be the first Distribution Calendar Year, and if Life
Expectancy is being recalculated such succeeding calendar year.
If annuity payments commence in accordance with section 11.4(b) before the
Required Beginning Date, the applicable calendar year is the year such payments
commence. If distribution is in the form of an immediate annuity purchased
after the Participant's death with the Participant's remaining interest, the
applicable calendar year is the year of purchase.
(b) DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY. The individual who is designated
as the Beneficiary under the Plan in accordance with section 401(a)(9) and the
proposed regulations thereunder.
(c) DISTRIBUTION CALENDAR YEAR. A calendar year for which a
minimum distribution is required. For distributions beginning before the
Participant's death, the first Distribution Calendar Year is the calendar year
immediately preceding the calendar year which contains the Participant's
Required Beginning Date. For distributions beginning after the Participant's
death, the first Distribution Calendar Year is the calendar year in which
distributions are required to begin pursuant to section 11.5 above.
(d) LIFE EXPECTANCY.
(i) Life Expectancy and joint and last survivor
expectancy are computed by use of the expected return multiples in Table V and
VI of section 1.72-9 of the income tax regulations.
(ii) Unless otherwise elected by the Participant (or
Spouse, in the case of distributions described in section 11.5(b)(ii)above) by
the time distributions are required to begin, life expectancies shall be
recalculated
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annually. Such election shall be irrevocable as to the Participant (or Spouse)
and shall apply to all subsequent years. The Life Expectancy of a non-
Spouse Beneficiary may not be recalculated.
(e) Participant's Benefit.
(i) The Account balance as of the last valuation date in the
calendar year immediately preceding the Distribution Calendar Year
(valuation calendar year) increased by the amount of any contributions or
forfeitures allocated to the Account balance as of dates in the valuation
calendar year after the valuation date and decreased by distributions made in
the valuation calendar year after the valuation date.
(ii) For purposes of subsection (i) above, if any portion of
the minimum distribution for the first Distribution Calendar Year is made in
the second Distribution Calendar Year on or before the Required Beginning Date,
the amount of the minimum distribution made in the second Distribution Calendar
Year shall be treated as if it had been made in the immediately preceding
Distribution Calendar Year.
(f) Required Beginning Date.
(i) General Rule. The Required Beginning Date of a Participant
is the first day of April of the calendar year following the calendar year in
which the Participant attains age seventy and one-half (70 1/2).
(ii) Transitional Rules. The Required Beginning Date of a
Participant who attains age seventy and one-half (70 1/2) before January 1,
1988, shall be determined in accordance with (1) or (2) below:
(1) Non-Five-Percent Owners. The Required Beginning Date
of a Participant who is not a Five Percent (5%) Owner is the first day of April
of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the later of
retirement or attainment of age seventy and one-half (70 1/2) occurs.
(2) Five Percent Owners. The Required Beginning Date of a
Participant who is a Five Percent (5%) Owner during any year beginning after
December 31, 1979, is the first day of April following the later of:
(A) the calendar year in which the Participant
attains age seventy and one-half (70 1/2); or
(B) the earlier of the calendar year with or within
which ends the Plan Year in which the Participant becomes a Five Percent (5%)
Owner, or the calendar year in which the Participant retires. The Required
Beginning Date of a Participant who is not a Five Percent (5%) Owner who
attains age seventy and one-half (70 1/2) during 1988 and who has not retired
as of January 1, 1989, is April 1, 1990.
(iii) Five Percent Owner. A Participant is treated as a Five
Percent (5%) Owner for purposes of this section if such Participant is a Five
Percent (5%) Owner as defined in section 416(i) of the Code (determined in
accordance with section 416 but without regard to whether the Plan is to-heavy)
at any time during the Plan Year ending with or within the calendar year in
which such owner attains age sixty-six and one-half (66 1/2) or any subsequent
year.
(iv) Once distributions have begun to a Five Percent (5%) Owner
under this section, they must continue to be distributed, even if the
Participant ceases to be a Five Percent (5%) Owner in a subsequent year.
11.8 Transitional Rule.
(a) Notwithstanding the other requirements of this ARTICLE and
subject to the requirements of ARTICLE 9, distribution on behalf of any
Employee, including a Five Percent (5%) Owner, may be made in accordance with
all of the following requirements (regardless of when such distribution
commences):
(i) The distribution by the Trust is one which would not have
disqualified such trust under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code as
in effect prior to amendment by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984.
(ii) The distribution is in accordance with a method of
distribution designated by the Employee whose interest in the Trust is being
distributed or, if the Employee is deceased, by a Beneficiary of such Employee.
(iii) Such designation was in writing, was signed by the
Employee or the Beneficiary, and was made before January 1, 1984.
(iv) The Employee had accrued a benefit under the Plan as of
December 31, 1983.
(v) The method of distribution designated by the Employee or
the Beneficiary specifies the time at which distributions will be made, and in
the case of any distribution upon the Employee's death, the Beneficiaries of
the Employee listed in order of priority.
(b) A distribution upon death will not be covered by this
transitional rule unless the information in the designation contains the
required information described above with respect to the distributions to be
made upon the death of the Employee.
(c) For any distribution which commences before January 1, 1984, but
continues after December 31, 1983, the Employee, or the Beneficiary, to whom
such distribution is being made, will be presumed to have designated the method
of distribution under which the distribution is being made if the method of
distribution was specified in writing and the distribution satisfies the
requirements in subsections (a)(i) and (a)(v).
(d) If a designation is revoked, any subsequent distribution must
satisfy the requirements of section 401(a)(9) of the Code and the proposed
regulations thereunder. If a designation is revoked subsequent to the date
distributions are required to begin, the Trust must distribute by the end of
the calendar year following the calendar year in which the revocation occurs
the total amount not yet distributed which would have been required to have
been distributed to satisfy section 401(a)(9) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder but for the section 242(b)(2) election.
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For calendar years beginning after December 31, 1988, such distributions must
meet the minimum distribution incidental benefit requirements in section
1.401(a)(9)-2 of the proposed regulations. Any changes in the designation will
be considered to be a revocation of the designation. However, the mere
substitution or addition of another beneficiary (one not named in the
designation)under the designation will not be considered to be a revocation of
the designation, so long as such substitution or addition does not alter the
period over which distributions are to be made under the designation, directly
or indirectly (for example, by altering the relevant measuring life). In the
case in which an amount is transferred or rolled over from one plan to another
plan, the rules in Q&A J-2 and Q&A J-3 shall apply.
11.9 OPTIONAL FORMS OF BENEFIT
(a) Except to the extent benefits are required to be paid in the form
of an automatic joint and survivor annuity under ARTICLE 9, any amount which a
Participant shall be entitled to receive under the Plan shall be distributed in
one or a combination of the following ways:
(i) in a lump-sum payment of cash, the amount of which
shall be determined by redeeming all Shares credited to the Participant's
Account under the Plan as of the date of distribution;
(ii) in a lump-sum payment including a distribution in kind
of all Shares credited to the Participant's Account under the Plan as of the
date of distribution;
(iii) in substantially equal monthly, quarterly, or annual
installment payments of cash, or the distribution of Shares in kind, over a
period certain not to exceed the Life Expectancy of the Participant or the joint
and last survivor Life Expectancy of the Participant and his Beneficiary,
determined in each case as of the earlier of: (1) the end of the Plan Year in
which occurs the event entitling the Participant to a distribution of benefits,
or (2) the date such installments commence;
(iv) if permitted by the Sponsor, in monthly, quarterly, or
annual installment payments of cash, or the distribution of Shares in kind, so
that the amount distributed in each Plan Year equals the quotient obtained by
dividing the Participant's Account at the beginning of that Plan Year by the
joint and last survivor Life Expectancy of the participant and the Beneficiary
for that Plan Year. The Life Expectancy will be computed using the recomputation
method described in section 11.7(d). Unless the Spouse of the retired
Participant is the Beneficiary, the actuarial present value of all expected
payments to the retired Participant must be more than fifty percent (50%) of the
actuarial present value of payments to the retired Participant and the
Beneficiary; or
(v) by application of the Participant's vested Account to
the purchase of a nontransferable immediate or deferred annuity contract, on an
individual or group basis. Unless the Spouse of the retired Participant is the
Beneficiary, the actuarial present value of all expected payments to the
retired Participant must be more than fifty percent (50%) of the actuarial
present value of payments to the retired Participant and the Beneficiary.
(b) If the Participant fails to select a method of distribution,
except as may be required by ARTICLE 9, all amounts which he is entitled to
receive under the Plan shall be distributed to him in a lump-sum payment.
ARTICLE 12
WITHDRAWALS
12.1 WITHDRAWAL OF NONDEDUCTIBLE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. Subject to the
Qualified Election requirements of ARTICLE 9 and section 12.3, any Participant
who has made nondeductible voluntary contributions may, upon thirty (30) days
notice in writing filed with the Plan Administrator, have paid to him all or
any portion of the fair market value of his nondeductible voluntary contribution
subaccount.
12.2 HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS. If the Adoption Agreement so provides and
the Employer elects, this section applies only to the profit sharing
contribution subaccount and only if the profit sharing allocation formula
selected in the Adoption Agreement is not integrated with Social Security.
(a) Demonstration of Need. Subject to the Qualified Election
requirements of ARTICLE 9 and section 12.3, if a Participant establishes an
immediate and heavy financial need for funds because of a hardship resulting
form the purchase or renovation of a primary residence, the education of the
participant or a member of his immediate family, or (including special
education), the medial or personal expenses of the Participant or a member of
his immediate family, or other demonstrable emergency as determined by the Plan
Administrator on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, the Participant shall
be permitted, subject to the limitations of subsection (b) below, to make a
hardship withdrawal of an amount credited to his profit sharing contribution
subaccount under the Plan.
(b) Amount of Hardship Withdrawal. The amount of any hardship
withdrawal by a Participant under subsection (a) above shall not exceed the
amount required to meet the immediate financial need created by the hardship
and not reasonably available from other resources of the Participant.
(c) Prior Withdrawal of Nondeductible Voluntary Participant
Contributions. A Participant shall not be permitted to make a hardship
withdrawal under subsection (a) above unless he has already withdrawn, in
accordance with section 12.1, any amount credited to his nondeductible
voluntary contributions subaccount.
12.3 MANNER OF MAKING WITHDRAWALS. Any withdrawal by a Participant under
the Plan shall be made only after the Participant files a written request with
the plan Administrator specifying the nature of the withdrawal (and the reasons
therefor, if a hardship withdrawal), and the amount of funds requested to be
withdrawn. Upon approving any withdrawal, the Plan Administrator shall furnish
the Trustee with written instructions directing the Trustee to make the
withdrawal in a lump-sum payment of cash to the Participant. In making any
withdrawal payment, the Trustee shall be fully
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entitled to rely on the instructions furnished by the Plan Administrator, and
shall be under no duty to make any inquiry or investigation with respect
thereto. Unless section 9.6 is applicable, if the Participant is married, his
Spouse must consent to the withdrawal pursuant to a Qualified Election (as
defined in section 9.4(c)) within the ninety (90) day period ending on the date
of the withdrawal.
12.4 LIMITATIONS ON WITHDRAWALS. The Plan Administrator may prescribe
uniform and nondiscriminatory rules and procedures limiting the number of times
a Participant may make a withdrawal under the Plan during any Plan Year, and
the minimum amount a Participant may withdraw on any single occasion.
13.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) If the Adoption Agreement so provides and the Employer so elects,
loans shall be made available to any Participant or Beneficiary who is
party-in-interest (as defined in section 3(14) of ERISA) on a reasonably
equivalent basis. A Participant or Beneficiary who is not a party-in-interest
(as defined in section 3(14) of ERISA) shall not be eligible to receive a loan
under this ARTICLE.
(b) Loans shall not be made available to Highly-Compensated
Employees (as defined in section 414(q) of the Code) in an amount greater than
the amount made available to other Employees.
(c) Loans must be adequately secured and bear a reasonable interest
rate.
(d) No participant loan shall exceed the present value of the
Participant's Vested Account Balance.
(e) Unless section 9.6 is applicable, a Participant must obtain the
consent of his or her Spouse, if any, to use of the Account balance as security
for the loan. Spousal consent shall be obtained no earlier than the beginning
of the ninety(90) day period that ends on the date on which the loan is to be
so secured. The consent must be in writing, must acknowledge the effect of the
loan, and must be witnessed by a Plan representative or notary public. Such
consent shall thereafter be binding with respect to the consenting Spouse or any
subsequent Spouse with respect to that loan. A new consent shall be required if
the Account balance is used for renegotiation, extension, renewal or other
revision of the loan.
(f) In the event of default, foreclosure on the note and attachment
of security will not occur until a distributable event occurs under the Plan.
(g) Loans will not be made to any shareholder-employee or
Owner-Employee. For purposes of this requirement, a shareholder-employee means
an Employee or officer of an electing small business (subchapter S) corporation
who owns (or is considered as owning within the meaning of section 318(a)(1)
of the Code), on any day during the taxable year of such corporation, more than
five percent(5%) of the outstanding stock of the corporation.
(h) If a valid spousal consent has been obtained in accordance with
subsection (e), then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the
portion of the Participant's Vested Account Balance used as a security interest
held by the Plan by reason of a loan outstanding to the Participant shall be
taken into account for purposes of determining the amount of the Account
balance payable at the time of death or distribution, but only if the reduction
is used as repayment of the loan. If less than one hundred percent (100%) of
the Participant's Vested Account Balance (determined without regard to the
preceding sentence) is payable to the Surviving Spouse, then the Account
balance shall be adjusted by first reducing the Vested Account Balance by the
amount of the security used as repayment of the loan, and then determining the
benefit payable to the Surviving Spouse.
13.2 ADMINISTRATION OF LOAN PROGRAM.
(a) The Plan's loan program will be administered by the Plan
Administrator.
(b) Loan requests shall be made on a form prescribed by the Plan
Administrator and shall comply with section 13.4.
(c) Loan request that comply with all the requirements of this
ARTICLE shall be approved by the Plan Administrator.
(d) The rate of interest to be charged on loans shall be determined
under section 13.5.
(e) The only collateral that may be used as security for a loan, and
the limitations and requirements applicable, are determined under
section 13.6.
(f) The rules regarding defaults are set forth in section 13.9.
13.3 AMOUNT OF LOAN. Loans to any Participant or Beneficiary will not be
made to the extent that such loan, when added to the outstanding balance of all
other loans to the Participant or Beneficiary, would exceed the lesser of:
(a) fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) reduced by the excess (if any) of
the highest outstanding balance of loans during the one (1) year period ending
on the day before the loan is made, over the outstanding balance of loans from
the Plan on the date the loan is made; or
(b) one-half(1/2) the present value of the nonforfeitable accrued
benefit of the Participant.
(c) For the purpose of the above limitation, all loans from all
plans of the Employer and other members of a group of employers described in
sections 414(b), 414(c) and 414(m) of the Code are aggregated.
13.4 MANNER OF MAKING LOANS. A request by a Participant for a loan shall
be made in writing to the Plan Administrator and shall specify the amount of
the loan, and the subaccount(s) or Shares of the Participant from which the loan
should be made. The terms and conditions on which the Plan Administrator shall
approve loans under the Plan shall be applied on a uniform and
nondiscriminatory basis with respect to all Participants. If a Participant's
request for a loan is
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approved by the Plan Administrator, the Plan Administrator shall furnish the
Trustee with written instructions directing the Trustee to make the loan in a
lump-sum payment of cash to the Participant. In making any loan payment under
this ARTICLE, the Trustee shall be fully entitled to rely on the instructions
furnished by the Plan Administrator and shall be under no duty to make any
inquiry or investigation with respect thereto.
13.5 TERMS OF LOAN. Loans shall be made on such terms and subject to
such limitations as the Plan Administrator shall prescribe. Furthermore, any
loan shall, by its terms, require that repayment (principal and interest) be
amortized in level payments, not less frequently than quarterly, over a period
not extending beyond five (5) years from the date of the loan, unless such loan
is used to acquire a dwelling unit which, within a reasonable time (determined
at the time the loan is made) will be used as the principal residence of the
Participant. The rate of interest to be charged shall be determined by the Plan
Administrator in accordance with the rates quoted by representative financial
institutions in the local area for similar loans.
13.6 SECURITY FOR LOAN. Any loan to a Participant under the Plan
shall be secured by the pledge of all the Participant's right, title, and
interest in the Trust. Such pledge shall be evidenced by the execution of a
promissory note by the Participant which shall provide that, in the event of
any default by the participant on a loan repayment, the Plan Administrator
shall be authorized (to the extent permitted by law) to deduct the amount of
the loan outstanding and any unpaid interest due thereon from the Participant's
wages or salary to be thereafter paid by the Employer, and to take any and all
other actions necessary and appropriate to enforce collection of the unpaid
loan. An assignment or pledge of any portion of the Participant's interest in
the Plan and a loan, pledge, or assignment with respect to any insurance
contract purchased under the Plan, will be treated as a loan under this
section. In the event the value of the Participant's vested Account at any time
is less than one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the outstanding loan
balance, the Plan Administrator shall request additional collateral of
sufficient value to adequately secure the repayment of the loan. Failure to
provide such additional collateral upon a request of the Plan Administrator
shall constitute an event of default.
13.7 SEGREGATED INVESTMENT. Loans shall be considered a Participant
directed investment and, for the limited purposes of allocated earnings and
losses pursuant to ARTICLE 5, shall not be considered a part of the common fund
under the Trust.
13.8 REPAYMENT OF LOAN. The Plan Administrator shall have the sole
responsibility for ensuring that a Participant timely makes all loan
repayments, and for notifying the Trustee in the event of any default by the
Participant on the loan. Each loan repayment shall be paid to the Trustee and
shall be accompanied by written instructions from the Plan Administrator that
identify the Participant on whose behalf the loan repayment was being made.
13.9 DEFAULT ON LOAN.
(a) In the event of a termination of the Participant's
employment with the Affiliated Employers or a default by a Participant on a
loan repayment, all remaining payments on the loan shall be immediately due and
payable. The Employer shall, upon the direction of the Plan Administrator, to
the extent permitted by law, deduct the total amount of the loan outstanding
and any unpaid interest due thereon from the wages or salaries payable to the
Participant by the Employer in accordance with the Participant's promissory
note. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall take any and all other actions
necessary and appropriate to enforce collection of the unpaid loan. However,
attachment of the Participant's Account pledged as security will not occur
until a distributable event occurs under the Plan.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term "default" shall
mean failure, by a period of at least ten (10) days, to make any loan payment
(whether principal or interest or both) that is due and payable. Neither the
Plan Administrator nor any other fiduciary is required to give any written or
oral notice of default.
13.10 UNPAID AMOUNTS. Upon the occurrence of a Participant's
retirement or death, or upon a Participant's fifth consecutive Break in Service
or earlier distribution, the unpaid balance of any loan, including any unpaid
interest, shall be deducted from any payment or distribution from the Trust to
which such Participant or his Beneficiary may be entitled. If after charging
the Participant's Account with the unpaid balance of the loan, including any
unpaid interest, there still remains an unpaid balance of any such loan and
interest, then the remaining unpaid balance of such loan and interest shall be
charged against any property pledged as security with respect to such loan.
ARTICLE 14
INSURANCE
14.1 INSURANCE. If the Adoption Agreement so provides and the
Employer elects to allocate or permit Participants to allocate a portion of
their Accounts to purchase life insurance, the ensuing subsections of this
ARTICLE shall apply:
14.2 POLICIES. The Plan Administrator shall instruct the Trustee
to procure one or more life insurance policies on the Participant's life, the
terms of which shall conform to the requirements of the Plan and the Code. The
policies and the companies which write them shall be subject to the approval of
the Plan Administrator and the Trustee. The Trustee shall procure and hold such
policies in the name of the nominee. The Trustee shall be the sole owner of all
contracts purchased hereunder, and it shall be so designated in each policy and
application therefor.
14.3 BENEFICIARY. The Participant shall have the right to name the
Beneficiary and to choose the benefit option under the policy for the
Beneficiary. The Trustee shall designate the Beneficiary of all such policies
in accordance with the written directions of the Plan Administrator and the
policy terms. Such designations may be outlined in the original application as
forwarded to the issuing company. However, the Plan Administrator shall have
available and shall furnish the
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Participant with the necessary forms for any Beneficiary designation or change
of Beneficiary and it will keep a copy of all executed designations as part of
its records. Upon a Participant's death, the Plan Administrator will promptly
furnish the Trustee a copy of the last designation and shall authorize the
Trustee to complete such forms as the insurance company may require in order to
effect the benefit option.
14.4 PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS. Subject to the provisions of sections 7.3 and
14.5, premium payments to the insurer may be made only by the Trustee with
respect to any insurance policy purchased on behalf of a Participant and shall
constitute first an investment of a portion of the funds of the Participant's
Employer Contribution subaccounts up to the maximum amount of such subaccounts
permitted to be applied toward such premium payments, as provided in section
14.5. If a Participant's subaccounts lack sufficient assets to pay premiums on
a life insurance policy due on his behalf, the Trustee, at the direction of the
Plan Administrator, acting upon the request of the Participant, shall borrow
under the policy loan provisions, if any, the amount necessary to pay such
premiums, using the cash value of the insurance as security, or the Trustee may
liquidate assets held in the Participant's Account, in the same order, of
sufficient value to pay such premiums. Any loans shall be repaid by the
application of earnings, contributions, or forfeitures to the Account of the
Participant insured by such policy. In the absence of the Plan administrator's
direction to borrow or to liquidate assets to pay premiums, the life insurance
policy shall be put on a paid-up-basis or, if it has no cash value, canceled.
14.5 LIMITATION ON INSURANCE PREMIUMS. The Trustee shall not pay, nor
shall anyone on behalf of the Trustee pay, any life insurance premium for any
Participant out of the Participant's Employer Contribution subaccounts unless
the amount of such payment, plus all premiums previously so paid on behalf of
the Participant, is less than fifty percent (50%) of the Employer Contributions
and forfeitures allocated to the Participant's Employer Contribution
subaccounts as determined on the date such premium is paid with respect to
reserve life insurance policies and shall be less than twenty-five percent
(25%) thereof with respect to nonreserve (term) policies, or, if both reserve
life and term insurance are purchased on the life of any Participant, the sum
of the term insurance premium plus one-half (1/2) of the reserve life premiums
may not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the Employer Contributions made on
behalf of such Participant. For purposes of these incidental insurance
provisions, reserve life insurance contracts are contracts with both
nondecreasing death benefits and nonincreasing premiums. Dividends received on
life insurance policies shall be considered a reduction of premiums paid in
such computations.
If payment of premiums on a Participant's life insurance policy is
prohibited because of the limitation, the Trustee, as directed by the Plan
Administrator, shall permit the Participant to maintain that part of the
coverage made available by the prohibited premiums, either by payment of the
amount of the prohibited premium by the Participant from sources other than the
Trust or by distributing the policy to the extent of the Participant's vested
interest to the Participant and eliminating it from the Trust.
Nothing contained in the foregoing provisions of section 14.4 and
this section shall be deemed to authorize the payment of any premium or
premiums for any Participant which would result in a failure to maintain any
mandatory investment in Shares required by the Sponsor in the account or
subaccounts of any such Participant.
14.6 INSURANCE COMPANY. No insurance company which may issue any policies
for the purposes of this Plan shall be required to take or permit any action
contrary to the provisions of said policies, nor shall such insurance company
be deemed to be a party to, or responsible for the validity of, this Plan for
any purpose. No such insurance company shall be required to look into the terms
of this Plan or question any action of the Trustee hereunder, nor be
responsible to see that any action of the Trustee is authorized by the terms of
this Plan. Any such issuing insurance company shall be fully discharged from
any and all liability for any amount paid to the Trustee or paid in accordance
with the direction of the Trustee, as the case may be, or for any change made
or action taken by such insurance company upon such direction and no such
insurance company shall be obliged to see the distribution or further
application of any monies paid by it. The certificate of the Trustee signed by
one of its trust officers, assistant secretary, or other authorized
representative thereof, may be received by any insurance company as conclusive
evidence of any of the matters mentioned in the Plan and any insurance company
shall be fully protected in taking or permitting any action on the faith
thereof and shall incur no liability or responsibility for so doing.
14.7 DISTRIBUTION OF POLICIES. Upon a Participant's death, the Trustee,
upon direction of the Plan Administrator, shall procure the payment of the
proceeds of any policy held by the Participant in accordance with its terms and
this Plan. The Trustee shall be required to pay over all the proceeds of any
policy to the Participant's Designated Beneficiary in accordance with the
distribution provisions of the Plan. A Participant's Spouse will be the
Designated Beneficiary unless a Qualified Election has been made in accordance
with section 9.4(c) of the Plan. Under no circumstances shall the Trust retain
any part of the proceeds. Subject to the joint and survivor annuity
requirements of ARTICLE 9, the policies shall be converted or distributed upon
commencement of benefits in accordance with the provisions of this section.
Upon a Participant's retirement at or after his Normal Retirement Age, unless
there is a single sum distribution in which case any policy shall be
distributed, any such policy shall be converted paid-up contract and delivered
to the Participant but the Plan Administrator may, with the Participant's
consent, direct that a portion or all of such cash value of the policy be
converted to provide retirement income as permitted within the terms of the
policy and this Plan. Upon a Participant's retirement due to Total and
Permanent Disability, any such policy shall be held for his account and
assigned or delivered to the Participant in addition to any other benefits
provided by this Plan. Upon a Participant's termination of employment for
reasons other than death, Total and Permanent Disability, or retirement as
stated above, to the extent of life insurance
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purchased by Employer Contributions, he shall be entitled to a vested interest
in any policy held for his account as his interest is vested in the remainder
of his Employer Contribution subaccounts (exclusive of any such policy).
Whenever the Participant is entitled to one hundred percent (100%), then such
policy shall be assigned and delivered to the Participant in accordance with its
terms and the terms of the Plan. Whenever the Participant is entitled to
vesting of less than one hundred percent(100%), then the Participant shall be
entitled to a vested interest of the cash surrender value of any such policy
equal to his percent of vested interest in his Employer Contribution
subaccounts, exclusive of the policy, and one of the following distribution
procedures shall apply:
(a) If the nonvested portion of the cash surrender value of all
policies held for the Participant's Account is less than the amount of his
vested termination benefit exclusive of the policies, then, such policy shall
be assigned to the Participant and the remainder of the Participant's vested
interest in the Participant's Employer Contribution subaccounts shall be
reduced by the cash surrender value of the nonvested portion of all policies,
after which it shall be paid or distributed to the Participant in accordance
with the terms of the Plan; or
(b) If the nonvested portion of the cash surrender value of all
policies held for the Participant's Account exceeds the Participant's vested
interest in the Employer Contribution subaccount exclusive of such policies,
the Participant shall be given the opportunity to purchase such policies by
paying to the Trustee the amount of such excess within thirty (30) days after
notice to him of the amount to be paid. Upon receipt of such payment said policy
shall be assigned and delivered to the Participant to the full satisfaction of
all termination benefits under this Plan. Any such policy not so purchased
shall be surrendered by the Trustee for its cash value and the proceeds thereof
deposited in the Trust for reallocation pursuant to ARTICLE 5.
It is the intention hereof that the total termination benefit of a
Participant whose interest is not fully vested shall be equal to the sum of the
vested percentage of his Employer Contribution subaccounts exclusive of all
such policies and the same percentage of the cash value of all such policies
held for his Account. To the extent possible under the foregoing provisions,
such total termination benefits shall be satisfied by the transfer and delivery
to the Participant of one or more such policies with the balance, if any, to be
paid in cash or in kind.
14.8 POLICY FEATURES. The Trustee shall arrange, where possible, that all
policies purchased for the benefit of a Participant shall have the same dividend
option which shall be on the premium reduction plan, and as nearly as may be
possible all policies issued under the Plan shall have the same anniversary
date. To the extent any dividends or credits earned on insurance policies are
not applied toward the next premiums due, they shall be allocated to the
Participant's Employer Contribution subaccount in the same manner as a
Participant's directed investment.
14.9 CHANGED CONDITIONS. From time to time because of changed conditions,
the Trustee, acting at the direction of the Plan Administrator upon the
election of the Participant concerned, shall obtain an additional contract or
policy or make such change in the contracts or policies maintained by the
Trustee on the life of the Participant as may be required by such changed
conditions, within the limits permitted by the insurance company which issued
or is requested to issue a contract and the limits established by this Plan.
14.10 CONFLICTS. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the
Plan and the provisions of any contract issued hereunder, the terms of the Plan
shall control.
ARTICLE 15
ADMINISTRATION
15.1 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIDUCIARIES; ALLOCATION OF FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITY. A fiduciary of the Plan shall have only those specific powers,
duties, responsibilities, and obligations as are explicitly given him under the
Plan and Trust Agreement. In general, the Employer shall have the sole
responsibility for making contributions to the Plan required under ARTICLE 4;
appointing the Trustee and the Plan Administrator; and determining the funds
available for investment under the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall have the
sole responsibility for the administration of the Plan, as more fully described
in section 15.2. It is intended that each fiduciary shall be responsible only
for the proper exercise of his own powers duties, responsibilities, and
obligations under the Plan and Trust Agreement, and shall not be responsible
for any act or failure to act of another fiduciary. A fiduciary may serve in
more than one fiduciary capacity with respect to the Plan.
15.2 POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.
(a) ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan Administrator shall have all
powers necessary to administer the Plan, including the power to construe and
interpret the Plan documents; to decide all questions relating to an
individual's eligibility to participate in the Plan; to determine the amount,
manner and timing of any distribution of benefits or withdrawal under the Plan;
to approve and ensure the repayment of any loan to a Participant under the
Plan; to resolve any claim for benefits in accordance with section 15.7; and to
appoint or employ advisors, including legal counsel to render advice with
respect to any of the Plan Administrator's responsibilities under the Plan.
Any construction, interpretation, or application of the Plan by the Plan
Administrator shall be final, conclusive, and binding. All actions by the Plan
Administrator shall be taken pursuant to uniform standards applied to all
persons similarly situated. The Plan Administrator shall have no power to add
to, subtract from, or modify any of the terms of the Plan, or to change or add
to any benefits provided by the Plan, or to waive or fail to apply any
requirements of eligibility for a benefit under the Plan.
(b) RECORDS AND REPORTS. The Plan Administrator shall be responsible
for maintaining sufficient records to reflect the Eligibility Computation
Periods in which an Employee is credited with one or more Years of Service
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for purposes of determining his eligibility to participate in the Plan, and the
Compensation of each Participant for purposes of determining the amount of
contributions that may be made by or on behalf of the Participant under the
Plan. The Plan Administrator shall be responsible for submitting all required
reports and notifications relating to the Plan to Participants or their
Beneficiaries, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Labor.
(c) Furnishing Trustee with Instructions. The Plan Administrator
shall be responsible for furnishing the Trustee with written instructions
regarding all contributions to the Trust, all distributions to Participants in
accordance with ARTICLE 10 all withdrawals by Participants in accordance with
ARTICLE 12, all loans to Participants in accordance with ARTICLE 13 and all
purchases of life insurance in accordance with ARTICLE 14. In addition, the
Plan Administrator shall be responsible for furnishing the Trustee with any
further information respecting the Plan which the Trustee may request for the
performance of its duties or for the purpose of making any returns to the
Internal Revenue Service or Department of Labor as may be required of the
Trustee.
(d) Rules and Decisions. The Plan Administrator may adopt such
rules as it deems necessary, desirable, or appropriate in the administration of
the Plan. All rules and decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be applied
uniformly and consistently to all Participants in similar circumstances. When
making a determination or calculation, the Plan Administrator shall be entitled
to rely upon information furnished by a Participant or Beneficiary, the
Employer, the legal counsel of the Employer, or the Trustee.
(e) Application and Forms for Benefits. The Plan Administrator may
require a Participant or Beneficiary to complete and file with it an
application for a benefit, and to furnish all pertinent information requested
by it. The Plan Administrator may rely upon all such information so furnished
to it, including the Participant's or Beneficiary's current mailing address.
(f) Facility of Payment. Whenever, in the Plan Administrator's
opinion, a person entitled to receive a payment of a benefit or installment
thereof is under a legal disability or is incapacitated in any way so as to be
unable to manage his financial affairs, it may direct the Trustee to make
payments to such person or to the legal representative or to a relative or
friend of such person for that person's benefit, or it may direct the Trustee
to apply the payment for the benefit of such person in such manner as it
considers advisable.
15.3 ALLOCATION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The Plan Administrator
may, by written instrument, allocate among its members or employees any of its
duties and responsibilities not already allocated under the Plan or may
designate persons other than members or employees to carry out any of the Plan
Administrator's duties and responsibilities under the Plan. Any such duties or
responsibilities thus allocated must be described in the written instrument. If
a person other than an Employee of the Employer is so designated, such person
must acknowledge in writing his acceptance of the duties and responsibilities
allocated to him.
15.4 APPOINTMENT OF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. The Employer shall designate
in the Adoption Agreement the Plan Administrator who shall administer the
Employer's Plan. Such Plan Administrator may consist of an individual, a
committee of two or more individuals, whether or not, in either such case, the
individual or any of such individuals are Employees of the Employer, a
consulting firm or other independent agent, the Trustee (with its consent), or
the Employer itself. The Plan Administrator shall be charged with the full
power and the responsibility for administering the Plan in all its details. If
no Plan Administrator has been appointed by the Employer, or if the person
designated as Plan Administrator by the Employer is not serving as such for any
reason, the Employer shall be deemed to be the Plan Administrator of the Plan.
The Plan Administrator may be removed by the Employer, or may resign by giving
notice in writing to the Employer, and in the event of the removal,
resignation, or death, or other termination of service by the Plan
Administrator, the Employer shall, as soon as practicable, appoint a successor
Plan Administrator, such successor thereafter to have all of the rights,
privileges, duties, and obligations of the predecessor Plan Administrator.
15.5 EXPENSES. The Employer shall pay all expenses authorized and
incurred by the Plan Administrator in the administration of the Plan except to
the extent such expenses are paid from the Trust.
15.6 LIABILITIES. The Plan Administrator and each person to whom duties
and responsibilities have been allocated pursuant to section 15.3 may be
indemnified and held harmless by the Employer with respect to any alleged
breach of responsibilities performed or to be performed hereunder. The Employer
and each Affiliated Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor
against all claims, liabilities, fines, and penalties, and all expenses
reasonably incurred by or imposed upon him (including, but not limited to,
reasonable attorney's fees) which arise as a result of actions or failure to
act in connection with the operation and administration of the Plan.
15.7 CLAIMS PROCEDURE.
(a) Filing a Claim. Any Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan
may file a written claim for a Plan benefit with the Plan Administrator or with
a person named by the Plan Administrator to receive claims under the Plan.
(b) Notice of Denial of Claim. In the event of a denial or
limitation of any benefit or payment due to or requested by any Participant or
Beneficiary under the Plan ("claimant"), claimant shall be given a written
notification containing specific reasons for the denial or limitation of his
benefit. The written notification shall contain specific reference to the
pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial or limitation of his benefit is
based. In addition, it shall contain a description of any other material or
information necessary for the claimant to perfect a claim, and an explanation
of why such material or information is necessary. The notification shall
further provide appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the
claimant wishes to submit his claim for review. This written notification shall
be given to a claimant within ninety (90)
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days after receipt of his claim by the Plan Administrator unless special
circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If such an
extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension
shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of said ninety (90)
day period, and such notice shall indicate the special circumstances which make
the postponement appropriate.
(c) Right of Review. In the event of a denial or limitation of his
benefit, the claimant or his duly authorized representative shall be permitted
to review pertinent documents and to submit to the Plan Administrator issues and
comments in writing. In addition, the claimant or his duly authorized
representative may make a written request for a full and fair review of his
claim and its denial by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that such
written request must be received by the Plan Administrator (or its delegate to
receive such requests) within sixty (60) days after receipt by the claimant of
written notification of the denial or limitation of the claim. The sixty (60)
day requirement may be waived by the Plan Administrator in appropriate cases.
(d) Decision on Review. A decision shall be rendered by the Plan
Administrator within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the request for
review, provided that where special circumstances require an extension of time
for processing the decision, it may be postponed on written notice to the
claimant (prior to the expiration of the initial sixty (60) day period) for an
additional sixty (60) days, but in no event shall the decision by rendered more
than one hundred twenty (120) days after the receipt of such request for
review. Any decision by the Plan Administrator shall be furnished to the
claimant in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons for the decision
and the specific Plan provisions on which the decision is based.
(e) Court Action. No Participant or Beneficiary shall have the
right to seek judicial review of a denial of benefits, or to bring any action
in any court to enforce a claim for benefits prior to filing a claim for
benefits or exhausting his rights to review under this section.
ARTICLE 16
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND MERGER
16.1 SPONSOR'S POWER TO AMEND. The Sponsor may amend any part of the
Plan. For purposes of Sponsor's amendments, the mass submitted shall be
recognized as the agent of the Sponsor. If the Sponsor does not adopt the
amendments made by the mass submitted, it will no longer be identical to or a
minor modifier of the mass submitted plan.
16.2 AMENDMENT BY ADOPTING EMPLOYER.
(a) The Employer may:
(i) change the choice of options in the Adoption Agreement;
(ii) add overriding language in the Adoption Agreement when
such language is necessary to satisfy section 415 or section 416 of the Code
because of the required aggregation of multiple plans; and
(iii) add certain model amendments published by the Internal
Revenue Service which specifically provide that their adoption will not cause
the Plan to be treated as individually designed.
(b) An Employer that amends the Plan for any other reason, including
a waiver of the minimum funding requirement under section 412(d) of the Code,
will no longer participate in this prototype plan and will be considered to
have an individually designed plan.
16.3 VESTING UPON PLAN TERMINATION. In the event of the termination or
partial termination of the Plan, the Account balance of each affected
Participant will be nonforfeitable.
16.4 VESTING UPON COMPLETE DISCONTINUANCE OF CONTRIBUTIONS. In the event
of a complete discontinuance of contributions under the Plan, the Account
balance of each affected Participant will be nonforfeitable.
16.5 MAINTENANCE OF BENEFITS UPON MERGER. In the event of a merger or
consolidation with, or transfer of assets to any other plan, each Participant
will receive a benefit immediately after such merger, consolidation or transfer
(if the Plan then terminated) which is at least equal to the benefit the
Participant was entitled to immediately before such merger, consolidation or
transfer (if the Plan had been terminated).
16.6 SPECIAL AMENDMENTS. The Employer may from time to time make any
amendment to the Plan that may be necessary to satisfy section 415 or 416 of
the Code. Any such amendment will be adopted by the Employer by completing
overriding Plan language in the Adoption Agreement. In the event of such an
agreement, the Employer must obtain a separate determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service to continue reliance on the Plan's qualified status.
ARTICLE 17
MISCELLANEOUS
17.1 EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES.
(a) All assets of the Trust shall be retained for the exclusive
benefit of Participants and their Beneficiaries, and shall be used only to pay
benefits to such persons or to pay the fees and expenses of the Trust. The
assets of the Trust shall not revert to the benefit of the Employer, except as
otherwise specifically provided in section 17.1(b).
(b) To the extent permitted or required by ERISA and the Code,
contributions to the Trust under this Plan are subject to the following
conditions:
(i) If a contribution or any part thereof is made to the
Trust by the Employer under a mistake of fact, such contribution or part
thereof shall be returned to the Employer within one (1) year after the date
the contribution is made.
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(ii) In the event the Plan is determined not to meet the initial
qualification requirements of section 401 of the Code, contributions made in
respect of any period for which such requirements are not met shall be returned
to the Employer within one (1) year after the Plan is determined not to meet
such requirements, but only if the application for the qualification is made by
the time prescribed by law for filing the Employer's return for the taxable
year in which the Plan is adopted, or such later date as the Secretary of the
Treasury may prescribe.
(iii) Contributions to the Trust are specifically conditioned on
their deductibility under the Code and, to the extent a deduction is disallowed
for any such contribution, such amount shall be returned to the Employer within
one (1) year after the date of the disallowance of the deduction.
17.2 NONGUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be
construed as a contract of employment between the Employer and any Employee, or
as a right of any Employee to be continued in the employment of the Employer,
or as a limitation of the right of the Employer to discharge any of its
Employees, with or without cause.
17.3 RIGHTS TO TRUST ASSETS. No Employee, Participant, or Beneficiary
shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the Trust upon
termination of employment or otherwise, except as provided under the Plan. All
payments of benefits under the Plan shall be made solely out of the assets of
the Trust.
17.4 NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS. No benefit or interest available
hereunder will be subject to assignment or alienation, either voluntarily or
involuntarily. The preceding sentence shall also apply to the creation,
assignment, or recognition of a right to any benefit payable with respect to a
Participant pursuant to a domestic relations order, unless such order is
determined to be a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in section
414(p) of the Code, or any domestic relations order entered before January 1,
1985.
17.5 AGGREGATION RULES.
(a) Except as provided in ARTICLE 6, all Employees of the Employer
or any Affiliated Employer will be treated as employed by a single employer.
(b) If this Plan provides contributions or benefits for one or more
Owner-Employees who control both the business for which this Plan is
established and one or more other trades or businesses, this Plan and the plan
established for other trades or businesses must, when looked at as a single
plan, satisfy sections 401(a) and (d) of the Code for the Employees of this
and all other trades or businesses.
(c) If the Plan provides contributions or benefits for one or more
Owner-Employees who control one or more other trades or businesses, the
employees of the other trades or businesses must be included in a plan which
satisfies sections 401(a) and (d) of the Code and which provides contributions
and benefits not less favorable than provided for Owner-Employees under this
Plan.
(d) If an individual is covered as an Owner-Employee under the plans
of two or more trades or businesses which are not controlled and the individual
controls a trade or business, then the contributions or benefits of the
employees under the plan of the trades or businesses which are controlled must
be as favorable as those provided for him under the most favorable plan of the
trade or business which is not controlled.
(e) For purposes of paragraphs (b), (c) and (d), an Owner-Employee,
or two or more Owner-Employees, will be considered to control a trade or
business if the Owner-Employee, or two or more Owner-Employees together:
(i) own the entire interest in an unincorporated trade or
business; or
(ii) in the case of a partnership, own more than fifty percent
(50%) of either the capital interest or the profits interest in the partnership.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, an Owner-Employee, or two or
more Owner-Employees shall be treated as owning an interest in a partnership
which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a partnership which such
Owner-Employee, or such two or more Owner-Employees, are considered to control
within the meaning of the preceding sentence.
17.6 FAILURE OF QUALIFICATION. If the Employer's plan fails to attain or
retain qualification, such plan will no longer participate in this
master/prototype plan and will be considered an individually designed plan.
17.7 APPLICABLE LAW. Except to the extent otherwise required by ERISA, as
amended, this Plan shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the state in which the Employer's principal place of business is located, as
specified in the Adoption Agreement.
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DETERMINATION LETTERS
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE Department of the Treasury
Description: Prototype Standardized Profit Sharing Plan
50241605001 Case: 9012605 EIN: 74-1894784
01 Plan: 001 Letter Serial No: D248294a
Washington D.C. 20224
Person to Contact: Ms. Arrington
AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC. Telephone Number: (202) 566-4576
ELEVEN GREENWAY PLAZA Refer Reply to: E:EP:Q:ICU
SUITE 1919
HOUSTON, TX 77046 Date: 07/10/90
</TABLE>
Dear Applicant:
In our opinion, the form of the plan identified above is acceptable under
section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code for use by employers for the benefit
of their employees. This opinion relates only to the acceptability of the form
of the plan under the Internal Revenue Code. It is not an opinion of the effect
of other Federal or local statutes.
You must furnish a copy of this letter to each employer who adopts this plan.
You are also required to send a copy of the approved form of the plan, any
approved amendments and related documents to each Key District Director of
Internal Revenue Service in whose jurisdiction there are adopting employers.
Our opinion on the acceptability of the form of the plan is not a ruling or
determination as to whether an employer's plan qualifies under Code section
401(a). An employer who adopts this plan will be considered to have a plan
qualified under Code section 401(a) provided all the terms of the plan are
followed, and the eligibility requirements and contribution or benefit
provisions are not more favorable for officers, owners, or highly compensated
employees than for other employees. Except as stated below, the Key District
Director will not issue a determination letter with regard to this plan.
Our opinion does not apply to the form of the plan for purposes of Code section
401(a)(16) if: (1) an employer ever maintained another qualified plan for one
or more employees who are covered by this plan, other than a specified paired
plan within the meaning of section 7 of Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-6 I.R.S. 14; or
(2) after December 31, 1985, the employer maintains a welfare benefit fund
defined in Code section 419(e), which provides postretirement medical benefits
allocated to separate accounts for key employees as defined in Code section
419A(d)(3). In such situations, the employer should request a determination as
to whether the plan, considered with all related qualified plans and, if
appropriate, welfare benefit funds, satisfies the requirements of Code section
401(a)(16) as to limitations on benefits and contributions in Code section 415.
The plan identified above is not a replacement plan as defined in section 3.10
of Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-6 I.R.S. 14. Therefore, an adopting employer may not
rely on this opinion letter to extend the remedial amendment period under
section 401(b) of the Code and regulations thereunder.
If you, the plan sponsor, have any questions concerning the IRS processing of
this case, please call the above telephone number. This number is only for use
of the plan sponsor. Individual participants and/or adopting employers with
questions concerning the plan should contact the plan sponsor. The plan's
adoption agreement must include the sponsor's address and telephone number for
inquiries by adopting employers.
If you write to the IRS regarding this plan, please provide your telephone
number and the most convenient time for us to call in case we need more
information. Whether you call or write, please refer to the Letter Serial
Number and File Folder Number shown in the heading of this letter.
You should keep this letter as a permanent record. Please notify us if you
modify or discontinue sponsorship of the plan.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
Chief, Employee Plans Qualifications Branch
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Plan Description: Prototype Standardized Money Purchase Pension Plan
M: 50241605001-002 Case: 9812606 EIN: 74-1894784
BPD: 01 Plan: 802 Letter Serial No: D248295a
Washington DC 20224
Person to Contact: Ms. Arrington
AIM DISTRIBUTORS INC
Telephone Number: (202) 566-4576
ELEVEN GREENWAY PLAZA
SUITE 1919 Refer Reply to: E:EP:Q:ICU
HOUSTON, TX 77046
Date: 07/10/90
</TABLE>
Dear Applicant:
In our opinion, the form of the plan identified above is acceptable under
section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code for use by employers for the benefit
of their employees. This opinion relates only to the acceptability of the form
of the plan under the Internal Revenue Code. It is not an opinion of the effect
of other Federal or local statutes.
You must furnish a copy of this letter to each employer who adopts this plan.
You are also required to send a copy of the approved form of the plan, any
approved amendments and related documents to each Key District Director of
Internal Revenue Service in whose jurisdiction there are adopting employers.
Our opinion on the acceptability of the form of the plan is not a ruling or
determination as to whether an employer's plan qualifies under Code section
401(a). An employer who adopts this plan will be considered to have a plan
qualified under Code section 401(a) provided all the terms of the plan are
followed, and the eligibility requirements and contribution or benefit
provisions are not more favorable for officers, owners, or highly compensated
employees than for other employees. Except as stated below, the Key District
Director will not issue a determination letter with regard to this plan.
Our opinion does not apply to the form of the plan for purposes of Code section
401(a)(16). If: (1) an employer ever maintained another qualified plan for one
or more employees who are covered by this plan, other than a specified paired
plan within the meaning of section 7 of Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-6 I.R.S. 14; or
(2) after December 31, 1985, the employer maintains a welfare benefit fund
defined in Code section 419(e), which provides postretirement medical benefits
allocated to separate accounts for key employees as defined in Code section
419A(d)(3). In such situations, the employer should request a determination as
to whether the plan, considered with all related qualified plans and, if
appropriate, welfare benefit funds, satisfies the requirements of Code section
401(a)(16) as to limitations on benefits and contributions in Code section 415.
The plan identified above is not a replacement plan as defined in section 3.10
of Rev. Proc. 89-9, 1989-6 I.R.S. 14. Therefore, an adopting employer may not
rely on this opinion letter to extend the remedial amendment period under
section 401(b) of the Code and regulations thereunder.
If you, the plan sponsor, have any questions concerning the IRS processing of
this case, please call the above telephone number. This number is only for use
of the plan sponsor. Individual participants and/or adopting employers with
questions concerning the plan should contact the plan sponsor. The plan's
adoption agreement must include the sponsor's address and telephone number for
inquiries by adopting employers.
If you write to the IRS regarding this plan, please provide your telephone
number and the most convenient time for us to call in case we need more
information. Whether you call or write, please refer to the Letter Serial
Number and File Folder Number shown in the heading of this letter.
You should keep this letter as a permanent record. Please notify us if you
modify or discontinue sponsorship of this plan.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
Chief, Employee Plans Qualifications Branch
<PAGE>
TRUST AGREEMENT
70
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PROTOTYPE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION TRUST
71
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE
PROTOTYPE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION TRUST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE PAGE
- ------- ----
ARTICLE I ACCOUNTS
1.1 Establishing Accounts 4
1.2 Charges Against Accounts 4
1.3 Prospectus to be Provided 4
ARTICLE II RECEIPT OF CONTRIBUTIONS 4
ARTICLE III INVESTMENT POWERS OF THE TRUSTEE
3.1 Investment of Account Assets 4
3.2 Directed Investments 5
3.3 General Investment Powers 5
3.4 Investment in Combined Funds 5
3.5 Other Powers of the Trustee 6
3.6 General Powers 6
3.7 Valuation of Trust 6
3.8 Bonding 6
3.9 Duties not Assigned 6
ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS FROM A PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT 6
ARTICLE V REPORTS OF THE TRUSTEE AND THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR 7
ARTICLE VI TRUSTEE'S FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE TRUST 7
ARTICLE VII DUTIES OF THE EMPLOYER AND THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
7.1 Information and Data to be Furnished 7
the Trustee
7.2 Limitation of Duties 7
ARTICLE VIII LIABILITY OF THE TRUST
8.1 Trustee's Liability 7
ARTICLE IX DELEGATION OF POWERS
9.1 Delegation by the Trustee 8
9.2 Delegation with Employer Approval 8
ARTICLE X AMENDMENT 8
ARTICLE XI RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE 8
ARTICLE XII TERMINATION OF THE TRUST
12.1 Term of the Trust 9
12.2 Termination by the Trustee 9
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ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 No Diversion of Assets 9
13.2 Notices 9
13.3 Multiple Trustees 9
13.4 Conflict with Plan 9
13.5 Applicable Law 9
13.6 Returned Contributions 9
13.7 General Undertaking 9
13.8 Invalidity of Certain Provisions 9
13.9 Counterpart Originals 9
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TRUST AGREEMENT
The employer identified at the end of this Trust Agreement (the
"Employer") has established a prototype Money Purchase Pension and/ or Profit
Sharing Plan sponsored by the AIM Family of Funds (the "Plan") for the benefit
of Participants therein pursuant to section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986. As part of the Plan, the Employer has requested such person or persons
(individual, corporate, or other entity), as may be designated in the Adoption
Agreement, to serve as Trustee pursuant to the Trust established for the
investment of contributions under the Plan upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Trust Agreement.
Unless the context of this Trust Agreement clearly indicates otherwise,
the terms defined in ARTICLE 2 of the Plan entered into by the Employer, of
which this Trust Agreement forms a part, shall, when used herein, have the same
meaning as in the Plan.
ARTICLE I
ACCOUNTS
1.1 ESTABLISHING ACCOUNTS. The Trustee shall open and maintain a Trust
account for the Plan and, as part thereof, Participants' Accounts for such
individuals as the Plan Administrator shall, from time to time, give written
notice to the Trustee as being Participants in the Plan. The Trustee shall also
open and maintain such other subaccounts as may be appropriate or desirable to
aid in the administration of the Plan. Separate subaccounts shall be maintained
for each Participant and shall be credited with the contributions made by the
Employer and with forfeitures allocated to each such Participant pursuant to
the Plan (and all earnings thereon). If nondeductible voluntary contributions
by Participants are permitted by the Plan, the Trustee shall open and maintain
as a part of the Trust a separate subaccount for each Participant who makes
such nondeductible voluntary contributions, each such subaccount to be credited
with the Participant's voluntary contributions (and all earnings attributable
to such contributions). If trustee transfers or rollover contributions from
another qualified plan are received, the Trustee shall open and maintain a
separate rollover subaccount for each Participant, each such subaccount to be
credited with the Participant's trustee transfers or rollover contributions
(and all earnings attributable to such contributions).
1.2 CHARGES AGAINST ACCOUNTS. Upon receipt of written instructions from
the Plan Administrator, the Trustee shall charge the appropriate subaccount of
the Participant for any withdrawals or distributions made under the Plan and
any forfeiture, which may be required under the Plan, of unvested interests
attributable to Employer Contributions. The Plan Administrator will give
written instructions to the Trustee specifying the manner in which Employer
Contributions and any forfeiture of the nonvested portion of Accounts, as
allocated by the Plan Administrator in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan, are to be credited to the various Accounts maintained for Participants.
1.3 PROSPECTUS TO BE PROVIDED. The Plan Administrator shall ensure that
a Participant who makes a nondeductible voluntary contribution has previously
received or receives a copy of the then current prospectus relating to the
Shares. Delivery of such a nondeductible voluntary contribution, pursuant to
the provisions of the Plan by the Plan Administrator to the Trustee shall
entitle the Trustee to assume that the Participant has received such a
prospectus.
ARTICLE II
RECEIPT OF CONTRIBUTIONS
The Trustee shall accept and hold in the Trust contributions made by the
Employer and Participants under the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall give
written instructions to the Trustee specifying the Participants' Accounts to
which contributions are to be credited, the amount of each such credit which is
attributable to Employer Contributions, and the amount, if any, which is
attributable to the Participant's nondeductible voluntary contributions. If
written instructions are not received by the Trustee, or is such instructions
are received but are deemed by the Trustee to be unclear, upon notice to the
Employer and Plan Administrator, the Trustee may elect to hold all or part of
any such contribution in cash, without liability for rising security prices or
distributions made, pending receipt by it from the Plan Administrator of
written instructions or other clarification, or the Trustee may return the
contribution to the Employer. If any contributions or earnings are less than
any minimum which the then current prospectus for the Shares requires, the
Trustee may hold the specified portion of contributions or earnings in cash,
without interest, until such time as the proper amount has been contributed or
earned so that the investment in the Shares required under the Plan may be
made. All payments to the Trust shall be remitted in U.S. currency or other
property to the Trustee at the address specified by it. Any payments not in U.S.
currency may, in the sole discretion of the Trustee, be refused.
ARTICLE III
INVESTMENT POWERS OF THE TRUSTEE
3.1 INVESTMENT OF ACCOUNT ASSETS. The Trustee shall invest the amount of
each contribution made hereunder and all earnings on the Trust in full and
fractional Shares in accordance with the current prospectus for such Shares, in
such amounts and proportions as shall from time to time be designated by the
Plan Administrator on forms provided by the Sponsor, and shall credit such
Shares to the Accounts of each Participant on whose behalf or by whom the
contributions are made and any forfeitures are allocated. All dividends and
capital gain distributions received on the Shares held by the Trustee in each
Account, shall, if received in cash, be reinvested in such Shares in accordance
with the current prospectus for such Shares and shall in any event be credited
to such Account. If any distribution on Shares may be received at the election
of the shareholder in additional Shares, the Trustee shall so elect. The Trustee
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shall deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Plan
Administrator, all notices, prospectuses, financial statements, proxies, and
proxy soliciting materials relating to Shares held hereunder. The Trustee shall
not vote any of the Shares held hereunder, except in accordance with the
written instructions of the Plan Administrator. If no such written instructions
are received, such Shares shall not be voted. The obligations of the Trustee
hereunder may be delegated by it as provided in Sections 9.1 and 9.2.
The Trustee shall sell Shares and purchase Shares to accomplish any change
in investments desired by the Employer as indicated on any amended Adoption
Agreement or other instructions in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
Notwithstanding the above, if periodic payments are being made to a
Participant pursuant to ARTICLE IV hereof, any dividends received on Shares held
in such Participant's Account, which dividends are invested at an offering price
which includes a sales charge, need not be invested in additional Shares but may
be held for distribution to the Participant in periodic payments. In such
instances, the Trustee may make any election necessary to receive any such
dividends in cash.
3.2 DIRECTED INVESTMENTS. When so instructed by the Plan Administrator,
the Trustee shall invest all or any portion of the individual Account of any
Participant in accordance with the direction of the Employer or such
Participant in lieu of participation in the general assets of the Trust. Such
directed investments shall be accounted for separately for each Participant.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall not have any discretion,
and is specifically prohibited from exercising any control or discretion, with
respect to such directed investments. Each Participant who directs the
investment of his Account shall be solely and absolutely responsible for the
investment or reinvestment of all directed investment assets held on is behalf
in Trust, and, except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall not
question any such direction, review any securities or other such assets, or make
suggestions with respect to the investment, retention or disposition of any such
assets; provided that:
(a) If any contributions are transmitted to otherwise received or
held as directed investment assets without investment directions from the
Participant, the Trustee shall retain such amounts in a noninterest-bearing
savings account in a federally insured institution for the benefit of the
Participant.
(b) The Trustee may establish such reasonable rules and regulations,
applied on a uniform basis to all Participants, with respect to the
requirements for, and the form and manner of, effectuating any transaction with
respect to directed investment assets including, without limitation, minimum
amounts, rules applicable to conversion of directed investments into general
assets of the Trust, and appropriate adjustments (based on fair market values)
to Accounts to reflect any such conversion, as the Trustee shall determine to
be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Any such rules and regulations
shall be binding upon all persons interested in the Trust.
(c) The Trustee may establish a procedure for the periodic review of
directed investment assets to determine, in light of the facts and
circumstances reasonably known to it, whether any actual or proposed investment
of such assets constitutes or would constitute a prohibited transaction as that
term is defined in sections 406-408 of ERISA and the corresponding provisions
of the Code. If the Trustee determines that any investment constitutes or would
constitute a prohibited transaction, the Trustee shall promptly communicate
this determination to the Plan Administrator, and shall recommend that the
investment be prevented or disposed of, as the case may be, and may recommend
any other action authorized or required by law, to prevent or remedy the
transaction.
(d) In accordance with and pursuant to uniform and nondiscriminatory
rules established under and in accordance with the Plan, the Trustee may deny
the Plan Administrator's application to allow a directed investment proposed by
a Participant.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event
shall the Trustee engage in any transaction that would be prohibited under
ERISA.
3.3 GENERAL INVESTMENT POWERS. Subject to any investment limitations or
minimum requirements for investments in Shares imposed by the Sponsor, and
subject to investment instructions given by the Plan Administrator, the Trustee
shall be authorized and empowered to invest and reinvest all or any part of the
Trust in any property, real or personal or mixed, including, but not being
limited to, capital or common stock (whether voting or nonvoting or whether or
not currently paying a dividend), preferred or preference stock (whether voting
or nonvoting or whether or not paying a dividend), Shares of regulated
investment companies, convertible securities, corporate and governmental
obligations, leaseholds, ground rents, mortgages, and other interests in
realty, trust, and participation certificates, oil, mineral or gas properties,
royalty interests or rights, including equipment pertaining thereto, notes and
other evidences of indebtedness or ownership, secured or unsecured, contracts,
choses in action, and warrants, and other instruments entitling the owner
thereof to subscribe to or purchase any of the aforesaid. Subject to any
investment limitations or requirements imposed by the Sponsor relating to the
type of permissible investments in the Trust or the minimum percentage of Trust
assets to be invested in Shares, and subject to the provisions of ARTICLE VIII
hereof, in making and retaining such investments and reinvestments pursuant
hereto, the Trustee shall not be bound as to the character of any investments
by any statute, rule of court, or custom governing the investment of Trust
funds.
3.4 INVESTMENT IN COMBINED FUNDS. If the Trustee is a banking
institution, subject to any investment limitations or minimum requirements for
investment in Shares imposed by the Sponsor, and subject to investment
instructions given by the Plan Administrator, it may, subject to the election
of the Sponsor or the Employer, cause funds
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of this Trust to be invested in its commingled funds for qualified employee
benefit plan trusts and such commingled funds are hereby adopted and made a
part of the Plan of which this Trust is a part, and any funds of this Trust
invested in any such commingled funds shall be subject to all the provisions
thereof, as the same may be amended from time to time.
3.5 OTHER POWERS OF THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee is authorized and empowered
with respect to the Trust:
(a) Subject to any investment limitations or minimum requirements
for investment in Shares imposed by the Sponsor, and subject to investment
instructions given by the Plan Administrator, to sell, exchange, convey,
transfer, or otherwise dispose of, either at public or private sale, any
property, real or personal or mixed, at any time held by it, for such
consideration and on such terms and conditions as to credit or otherwise as
the Trustee may deem best.
(b) Subject to the provisions of section 3.1, to vote in person or
by proxy any stocks, bonds, or other securities held by it; to exercise any
options appurtenant to any stocks, bonds, or other securities, or to exercise
any rights to subscribe for additional stocks, bonds, or other securities, and
to make any and all necessary payments therefor, to join in, or to dissent
from, and to oppose, the reorganizations, consolidation, liquidation, sale, or
merger of corporations, or properties in which if may be interested as Trustee,
upon such terms and conditions as it may deem wise.
(c) To make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all documents
of transfer and conveyance and any and all other instruments that may be
necessary or appropriate to carry out the powers herein granted.
(d) To register any investment held in the Trust in the name of the
Trust or in the name of a nominee, and to hold any investment in bearer form,
but the books and records of the Trustee shall at all times show that all such
investments are part of the Trust.
(e) To employ suitable agents and counsel (who may also be agents
and/or counsel for the Employer or the Sponsor) and to pay their reasonable
expenses and compensation.
(f) To borrow or raise monies for the purpose of the Trust from any
source and, for any sum so borrowed to issue its promissory note as Trustee and
to secure the repayment thereof by pledging all or any part of the Trust fund,
but nothing herein contained shall obligate the Trustee to render itself liable
individually for the amount of any such borrowing; and no person loaning money
to the Trustee shall be bound to see the application of money loaned or to
inquire into the validity or propriety of any such borrowing.
Each and all of the foregoing powers may be exercised without a court
order or approval. No one dealing with the Trustee need inquire concerning the
validity or propriety of anything that is done or need see to the application
of any money paid or property transferred to or upon the order of the Trustee.
3.6 GENERAL POWERS. The Trustee shall have all of the powers necessary or
desirable to do all acts, take all such proceedings, and exercise all such
rights and privileges, whether or not expressly authorized herein, which it may
deem necessary or proper for the administration and protection of the property
of the Trust and to accomplish any action provided for in the Plan.
3.7 VALUATION OF TRUST. The Trustee, as of the Valuation Date, and at
such other time or times as it determines, shall determine the net worth of the
assets of the Trust. In determining such net worth, the assets of the Trust
shall be evaluated at their fair market value and all expenses shall be
deducted. The Trustee may adopt such methods of valuation as it deems advisable.
3.8 BONDING. Except to the extent otherwise required by law, the Trustee
shall not be required to obtain any bonds in connection with its duties
hereunder. The cost of any bond obtained may be charged as an expense of the
Trust, but if not so charged, shall be paid by the Employer.
3.9 DUTIES NOT ASSIGNED. The duties of the Trustee with respect to the
Plan are limited to those assumed by the Trustee by the terms of this Trust. The
Trustee shall not be deemed, by virtue hereof, to be the administrator or
sponsor of the Plan, and shall not be responsible for filing reports, returns
or disclosures with any government agency except as may otherwise be required
by its duties as Trustee under applicable law.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM A PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT
Distributions from the Trust shall be made by the Trustee in accordance
with proper written directions of the Plan Administrator in accordance with the
provisions of section 15.2 of the Plan, and the Plan Administrator shall have
the sole responsibility for determining that the directions given conform to
provisions of the Plan and applicable law, including (without limitation)
responsibility for calculating the vested interests of the Participant, for
calculating the amounts payable to a Participant pursuant to ARTICLE 11 of the
Plan, and for determining the proper person to whom benefits are payable under
the Plan. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the Plan, the interest of
Participants and Beneficiaries in the Trust and in the net earnings and profits
thereof may not be assigned or used by a Participant or Beneficiary as
collateral for a loan and shall not be subject to garnishment, attachment, levy
or execution of any kind for the debts or defaults of the Trustee or of any
person, natural or legal, having interest in the Trust.
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ARTICLE V
REPORTS OF THE TRUSTEE AND THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all receipts,
investments, disbursements, and other transactions required to be performed
hereunder with respect to the Trust. The Trustee shall file with the Plan
Administrator a written report or reports reflecting the receipts,
disbursements, and other transactions effected by it with respect to the Trust
during such Plan Year and the assets and liabilities of the Trust at the close
of the Plan Year. Such report or reports shall be open to inspection by any
Participant for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days immediately following
the date on which it is filed with the Plan Administrator. Except as otherwise
prescribed by ERISA, upon the expiration of such one hundred eighty (180) day
period, the Trustee shall be forever released and discharged from all liability
and accountability to anyone with respect to its acts, transactions, duties,
obligations, or responsibilities as shown in or reflected by such report,
except with respect to any such acts or transactions as to which the Plan
Administrator shall have filed written objections with the Trustee within such
one hundred eighty (180) day period, and except for willful misconduct or lack
of good faith on the part of the Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
TRUSTEE'S FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE TRUST
The Trustee's fees for performing its duties hereunder shall be such
reasonable amounts as shall be established by it from time to time. The Trustee
shall furnish the Employer with its current schedule of fees and shall give
written notice to the Employer whenever its fees are changed or revised. Such
fees, any taxes of any kind whatsoever which may be levied or assessed upon or
in respect of the Trust, to the extent incurred by the Trustee and any and all
reasonable expenses incurred by the Trustee in the performance of its duties,
including fees for legal services rendered to the Trustee, shall, unless paid by
the Employer, be paid from the Trust in the manner provided in the Plan.
Unless paid by the Employer, all fees of the Trustee and taxes and other
expenses charged to a Participant's Account may be collected by the Trustee
from the amount of any contribution to be credited or distribution to be
charged to such Account or may be paid by redeeming or selling assets credited
to such Account.
ARTICLE VII
DUTIES OF THE EMPLOYER AND THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
7.1 INFORMATION AND DATA TO BE FURNISHED THE TRUSTEE. In addition to
making the contributions called for in ARTICLE II hereof, the Employer, through
the Plan Administrator, agrees to furnish the Trustee with such information and
data relative to the Plan as is necessary for the proper administration of the
Trust established hereunder.
7.2 LIMITATION OF DUTIES. Neither the Employer nor any of its officers,
directors, or partners, nor the Plan Administrator shall have any duties or
obligations with respect to this Trust Agreement, except those expressly set
forth herein and in the Plan.
ARTICLE VIII
LIABILITY OF THE TRUST
8.1 TRUSTEE'S LIABILITY
(a) The Employer shall indemnify and save the Trustee (including its
affiliates, representatives and agents) harmless from and against any
liability, cost or other expense, including, but not limited to, the payment of
attorneys' fees that the Trustee may incur in connection with this Trust
Agreement or the Plan unless such liability, cost or other expense (whether
direct or indirect) arises from the Trustee's own willful misconduct or gross
negligence. The Employer recognizes that a burden of litigation may be imposed
upon the Trustee as a result of some act or transaction for which it has no
responsibility or over which it has no control under this Trust Agreement.
Therefore, the Employer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless and, if
requested, defend the Trustee (including its affiliates, representatives and
agents) from any expenses (including counsel fees, liabilities, claims,
damages, actions, suits or other charges) incurred by the Trustee in
prosecuting or defending against any such litigation.
(b) The Trustee shall not be liable for, and the Employer will
indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee (including its affiliates,
representatives and agents) from and against all liability or expense
(including counsel fees) because of (i) any investment action taken or omitted
by the Trustee in accordance with any direction of the Employer or a
Participant, or investment inaction in the absence of directions from the
Employer or a Participant or (ii) any investment action taken by the Trustee
pursuant to an order to purchase or sell securities placed by the Employer or a
Participant directly with a broker, dealer or issuer. It is understood that
although, when the Trustee is subject to the direction of the Employer or a
Participant the Trustee will perform certain ministerial duties with respect to
the portion of the Fund subject to such direction (the "Directed Fund"), such
duties do not involve the exercise of any discretionary authority or other
authority to manage and control assets of the Directed Fund and will be
performed in the normal course of business by officers and employees of the
Trustee or its affiliates, representatives or agents who may be unfamiliar with
investment management. It is agreed that the Trustee is not undertaking any
duty or obligation, express or implied, to review, and will not be deemed to
have any knowledge of or responsibility with respect to, any transaction
involving the investment of the Directed Fund as a result of the performance of
its ministerial duties. Therefore, in the event that "knowledge" of the Trustee
shall be a prerequisite to imposing a duty upon or determining liability of the
Trustee under the Plan or this Trust or any law or regulation regulating the
conduct of the Trustee with
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respect to the Directed Fund, as a result of any act or omission of the
Employer or any Participant, or as a result of any transaction engaged in by
any of them, then the receipt and processing of investment orders and other
documents relating to Plan assets by an officer or other employee of the
Trustee or its affiliates, representatives or agents engaged in the performance
of purely ministerial functions shall not constitutes "knowledge" of the
Trustee.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Trust
Agreement, the Trustee shall discharge its duties hereunder with the care,
skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a
prudent man acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use
in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims. Any
investment selected by the Trustee without specific direction from the Employer
shall be selected to diversify the investments of the Trust fund so as to
minimize the risk of large losses, unless in the circumstances it is clearly
prudent not to do so. The Trustee shall perform its duties in accordance with
this Trust Agreement insofar as this Trust Agreement is consistent with the
provisions of ERISA. To the extent not prohibited by ERISA, the Trustee shall
not be responsible in any way for any action or omission of the Employer or the
Plan Administrator with respect to the performance of their duties and
obligations set forth in the Plan. To the extent not prohibited by ERISA, the
Trustee shall not be responsible for any action or omission of any of its
agents, or with respect to reliance upon advice of its counsel (whether or not
such counsel is also counsel to the Employer or to the Plan Administrator),
provided that such agents or counsel were prudently chosen by the Trustee and
that the Trustee relied in good faith upon the action of such agent or the
advice of such counsel. The Trustee shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the Employer against liability or losses occurring by reason of any act or
omission of the Trustee under this Trust Agreement, unless such act or omission
is due to its own willful nonfeasance, malfeasance, or misfeasance or other
breach of duty under ERISA, to the extent that such indemnification does not
violate ERISA or any other federal or state laws.
ARTICLE IX
DELEGATION OF POWERS
9.1 DELEGATION BY THE TRUSTEE. With respect to Shares held by the Plan,
the Trustee hereby delegates to the custodian or other agent designated by the
Sponsor the functions designated in (a) through (d) hereunder, other than the
investment, management or control of the Trust assets. With respect to assets
other than Shares, the Trustee may delegate in writing pursuant to a procedure
permitted and established by the Sponsor, to a person (individual, corporate,
or other entity) designated by the Sponsor as an agent or custodian, any of the
powers or functions of the Trustee hereunder other than the investment,
management or control of the Trust assets, including (without limitation):
(a) custodianship of all or any part of the assets of the Trust;
(b) maintaining and accounting for the Trust and for Participants
and other Accounts as a part thereof;
(c) distribution of benefits as directed by the Plan Administrator;
and
(d) Preparation of the annual report on the status of the Trust.
The agent or custodian so appointed may act as agent for the Trustee,
without investment responsibility, for fees to be mutually agreed upon by the
Employer and the agent or custodian and paid in the same manner as Trustee's
fees. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission of the
agent or custodian arising from any such delegation, except to the extent
provided in ARTICLE VIII.
9.2 DELEGATION WITH EMPLOYER APPROVAL. The Trustee (whether or not a bank
or trust company) and the Employer may, by mutual agreement, arrange for the
delegation by the Trustee to the Plan Administrator or any agent of the
Employer of any powers of functions of the Trustee hereunder other than the
investment and custody of the Trust assets. The Trustee shall not be
responsible for any act or omission of such person or persons arising from any
such delegation, except to the extent provided in ARTICLE VIII.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
As provided in section 16.1 of the Plan, and subject to the limitations
set forth herein, the prototype Adoption Agreement, Plan and Trust Agreement
may be amended at any time, in whole or in part, by the Sponsor. The Trustee
hereby delegates authority to the Sponsor, and to any successor Sponsor, to so
amend the prototype Adoption Agreement, Plan and Trust Agreement and the
Trustee hereby agrees that it shall be deemed to have consented to any
amendment so made which does not increase the duties of the Trustee without its
consent.
ARTICLE XI
RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE
The Trustee may resign at any time upon thirty (30) days notice in writing
to the Employer, and may be removed by the Sponsor or Employer at any time upon
thirty (30) days notice in writing to the Trustee. Upon such resignation or
removal, the Sponsor or Employer shall appoint a successor Trustee or
Trustees. Upon receipt by the Trustee of written acceptance of such
appointment by the successor Trustee, the Trustee shall transfer and pay over
to such successor the assets of the Trust and all records pertaining thereto,
provided that any successor Trustee shall agree not to dispose of any such
records without the Trustee's consent. The successor Trustee shall be entitled
to rely upon all accounts, records, and other documents received by it from the
Trustee, and shall not incur any liability whatsoever for such reliance. The
Trustee is authorized, however, to reserve such sum of money or property as it
may deem advisable
78
<PAGE>
for payment of all its fees, compensation, costs, and expenses, or for payment
of any other liabilities constituting a charge on or against the reasonable
assets of the Trust or on or against the Trustee, with any balance of such
reserve remaining after the payment of all such items to be paid over to the
successor Trustee. Upon the assignment, transfer, and payment over of the
assets of the Trust, and obtaining a receipt thereof from the successor
Trustee, the Trustee shall be released and discharged from any and all claims,
demands, duties, and obligations arising out of the Trust and its management
thereof, excepting only claims based upon the Trustee's willful misconduct or
lack of good faith. The successor Trustee shall hold the assets paid over to
it under terms similar to those of this Trust Agreement under a trust that will
qualify under section 401 of the Code. If within thirty (30) days after the
Trustee's resignation or removal, the Employer or Sponsor has not appointed a
successor Trustee which has accepted such appointment, the Trustee may apply to
a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment or a successor or appoint
such successor itself.
ARTICLE XII
TERMINATION OF THE TRUST
12.1 TERM OF THE TRUST. This Trust shall continue as to the Employer so
long as the Plan is in full force and effect. If the Plan ceases to be in full
force and effect, this Trust shall thereupon terminate unless expressly
extended by the Employer.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 NO DIVERSION OF ASSETS. At no time shall it be possible for any part
of the assets of the Trust to be used for or diverted to purposes other than
for the exclusive benefit of Participants and their Beneficiaries or revert to
the Employer, except as specifically provided in the Plan or this Trust
Agreement.
13.2 NOTICES. Any notice from the Trustee to the Employer or from the
Employer to the Trustee provided for in the Plan and Trust shall be effective
if sent by first class mail to their respective last address of record.
13.3 MULTIPLE TRUSTEES. In the event that there shall be two (2) or more
of the Trustees serving hereunder, any action taken or decision made by any
such Trustee may be taken or made by a majority of them with the same effect as
if all had joined therein, if there be more than two (2), or unanimously if
there be two (2).
13.4 CONFLICT WITH PLAN. In the event of any conflict between the
provisions of the Plan and those of this Trust Agreement, the Plan shall
prevail.
13.5 APPLICABLE LAW. Except to the extent otherwise required by ERISA,
as amended, this Trust Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws
of the state where the Trustee has its principal place of business.
13.6 RETURNED CONTRIBUTIONS.
(a) A contribution made by the Employer by a mistake of fact shall,
if the Administrator so directs, be returned to the Employer within one (1)
year after its repayment. The Administrator shall, in its sole discretion,
determine whether the contribution was made by mistake of fact based upon such
evidence as it deems appropriate.
(b) A contribution made by the Employer that is conditioned on
deductibility under section 404 of the Code shall, to the extent such deduction
is disallowed, be returned to the Employer within one (1) year after the
disallowance, if the Administrator so directs.
13.7 GENERAL UNDERTAKING. All parties to this Trust and all persons
claiming any interest whatsoever hereunder agree to perform any and all acts
and execute any and all documents and papers which may be necessary or
desirable for the carrying out of the Trust or any of its provisions.
13.8 INVALIDITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS. If any provision of this Trust
shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provisions hereof and the Trust shall be construed
and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
13.9 COUNTERPART ORIGINALS. This Trust may be executed in one or more
counterpart originals.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employer and the Trustee(s) have signed this Trust
effective as of the date specified in the Adoption Agreement.
----------------------------
Attest: [NAME OF EMPLOYER]
------------------ BY: ---------------------
Secretary President
TRUSTEE(S)
----------------------------
----------------------------
79
<PAGE>
-------------------------------------
)
) SS
)
I,_______________________________________, a notary public in and for the
jurisdiction above named, do hereby certify that _____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
did personally appear before me and do acknowledge that they executed the
foregoing Trust as their free act and deed.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this_____ day of ______________, 19____.
-------------------------------------
Notary Public
My Commission
Expires:
--------------------
80
<PAGE>
EMPLOYEE NOTICES
81
<PAGE>
SPD, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
Room N-5644
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20210
Re:
Dear Sir or Madam:
Enclosed is a copy of the _____________ Summary Plan Description. This copy is
(Plan Name)
respectfully being submitted to Department of Labor in order to satisfy the
disclosure requirements of ERISA for Qualified Plans.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your earliest
convenience.
Sincerely,
Plan Sponsor
82
<PAGE>
MODEL
SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION
OF THE
-------------------------------
[INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER)
PROFIT SHARING PLAN
Copyright 1990 Investment Company Institute March 1990
83
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
<S> <C> <C>
I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 3
II. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS .......................... 3
A. Terms With Special Meanings ...................................... 3
B. Participation .................................................... 4
C. Individual Accounts .............................................. 4
D. Contributions .................................................... 4
E. Allocations ...................................................... 5
F. Vesting .......................................................... 7
G. Forfeitures ...................................................... 8
H. Distributions of Benefits ........................................ 8
I. Investment of Plan Assets ........................................ 9
J. Withdrawals ...................................................... 10
K. Loans ............................................................ 10
L. Insurance ........................................................ 10
III. CLAIMS PROCEDURE ....................................................... 11
IV. CHANGES TO THE PLAN .................................................... 11
V. GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................... 11
VI. NON-APPLICATION OF PBGC GUARANTEES ..................................... 12
VII. SPECIAL RIGHTS UNDER ERISA ............................................. 12
</TABLE>
84
<PAGE>
MODEL
SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION
OF THE
-------------------------------
(INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER)
PROFIT SHARING PLAN
I. INTRODUCTION
_____________________________[INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER] (the "Employer") is
pleased to be able to provide you with the ____________________ [INSERT NAME OF
EMPLOYER] Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan" or the "Profit Sharing Plan"). The
Plan is effective as of ________________________________[INSERT EFFECTIVE DATE].
The Plan is a defined contribution plan, to which the Employer makes
contributions to an account held in your name. With this type of plan, the
retirement benefit you receive will depend on the investment performance of the
amounts that are in your account. The Plan is designed to provide retirement
income to employees who remain with the Employer until retirement and to those
who have a vested interest in their account when they terminate their employment
with the Employer.
Only the main features of the Plan am explained in this Summary Plan
Description. Any questions which are not answered here should be referred to
_________________________________________________(INSERT NAME OF DEPARTMENT OR
PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR PARTICIPANT INFORMATION), if there is any
inconsistency between the Plan as described in this Summary Plan Description
and the Plan document itself, the terms of the Plan document will govern.
Copies of the Plan document and the Trust Agreement are available for your
inspection during regular working hours.
II. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS
A. TERMS-WITH SPECIAL MEANINGS
Certain words and terms used in this Summary have special meanings.
Many of these terms am defined in this section, while others are
explained in the text of the Summary. To assist you in identifying
these terms within the text; they are capitalized.
1. BENEFICIARY. Your designated Beneficiary is the person you name
to receive your benefit distribution in the event of your death.
If you are married, you will need written consent from your
spouse to name someone other than your spouse as your
Beneficiary.
2. BREAK IN SERVICE. A Break in Service occurs if you complete
less than 501 Hours of Service with the Employer during a Plan
Year.
3. COMPENSATION. Compensation is the total compensation paid to you
by the Employer during any portion of a Plan Year during which
you were a Plan Participant. If you an self employed, your
Compensation is your earned income less your deductible
contributions to any qualified retirement plans.
4. HOURS OF SERVICE. Each hour for which you are paid or entitled to
be paid by the Employer. In addition, uncompensated authorized
leaves of absence that do not exceed two years, military leave
while your reemployment rights are protected by law, and absences
from work for maternity or paternity reasons may be credited as
Hours of Service for the purpose of determining whether you had a
Break in Service.
5. PARTICIPANT. A Participant is an employee who has met the
requirements for participating in this Plan, and whose account
has been neither completely forfeited nor distributed.
6. PLAN YEAR. The Plan Year is the 12-month period ending on the
date shown in section V of this Summary.
7. SPONSOR. The Sponsor is the organization which has made this Plan
available to the Employer.
8. TRUST. The Trust is a fund maintained by the Trustee for the
investment of Plan assets, including the amount in your account.
9. YEAR OF SERVICE. A Year of Service is the applicable 12-month
period during which you complete 1,000 [INSERT NUMBER OF HOURS)
or more Hours of Service. For eligibility purposes, the
applicable 12-month period Is your first year of employment or
any Plan Year,
85
<PAGE>
beginning after your hire date. For vesting purposes, the
applicable 12-month period is the Plan Year.
B. PARTICIPATION
You will be eligible to participate in the Plan after you have met the
following eligibility requirements:
[CHECK ALL APPLICABLE ITEMS]
X You have reached age 21
- -
X You have completed 1 Year (s) of Service.
- -
X You are not a member of a collective bargaining unit.
- -
X You are not a nonresident alien.
- -
The first entry date, or date in which you can first participate in
the Plan if you meet these requirements, is _________________________ [INSERT
EFFECTIVE DATE). Thereafter, the entry date(s) will be January 1 & July 1 of
each year.
Once you become a Participant, you will remain a Participant as long
as you do not incur a Break in Service. If you do incur a Break in Service, and
are later reemployed by the Employer, you will be reinstated as a Participant
and any previous Hours of Service will be reinstated as of the date of your
reemployment.
C. INDIVIDUAL-ACCOUNTS
A separate account will be maintained for you within the Plan. This
account will be further divided into subaccounts, which will be
credited with the different types of contributions that are described
in the next section, the subaccounts that will be maintained for you
are as follows:
1. PROFIT SHARING CONTRIBUTION SUBACCOUNT. This subaccount will be
credited with your share of Employer Profit Sharing
Contributions, forfeitures (if any), distributions from this
subaccount, and the earnings and losses attributable to this
subaccount.
2. TRUSTEE TRANSFER AND ROLLOVER SUBACCOUNTS. These subaccounts will
be credited with any rollover contributions or transfer
contributions you may make to the Plan, any distributions from
this subaccount, and the earnings and losses attributable to this
subaccount. Include the following item if your plan permits
voluntary employee contributions:
3. NONDEDUCTIBLE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION SUBACCOUNT. This subaccount
will be credited with your Voluntary Employee Contributions, any
distributions from this subaccount, and the earnings and losses
attributable to this subaccount.
D. CONTRIBUTIONS
X 1. EMPLOYER PROFIT SHARING CONTRIBUTIONS. The Employer will make
- Profit Sharing Contributions to the Plan each Plan Year in
accordance with the following contribution formula:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING]:
X Contributions will be made in an amount to be determined
each year by the Employer.
_ Contributions will be made in an amount equal to ___________
INSERT CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE] of each Participant's
Compensation, plus any discretionary amount the Employer may
choose to contribute.
2. ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS AND DIRECT TRANSFERS. If you have
participated in other pension or profit sharing plans, you will
be permitted to make a rollover contribution to the Plan of
certain amounts you may receive from those other plans. You will
also be permitted, with the approval of
86
<PAGE>
the Plan Administrator, to authorize a direct transfer to the
Plan of amounts that are attributable to your participation
in other pension or profit sharing plans.
CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS VOLUNTARY
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS:
3. VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS. To increase your
retirement benefits from this Plan, you may choose to make
voluntary contributions to the Plan of up to NA [INSERT
MAXIMUM VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE] of your
compensation. Such contributions will not be permitted,
however, for Plan Years beginning after __________ [THE PLAN
YEAR IN WHICH THE PLAN IS ADOPTED]. The minimum contribution
you must make if you choose to make a voluntary,contribution
is as follows:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
___ The minimum voluntary contribution is __________[INSERT
MINIMUM VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE] of your
Compensation.
X There is no minimum voluntary contribution.
E. ALLOCATIONS.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ALLOCATIONS. Each Plan Year the Employer may make a
Profit Sharing Contribution to the Plan in accordance with the formula
described in the previous section . If the Employer chooses to make a Profit
Sharing Contribution for a year, your account will be allocated a share of
that contribution. If you are an employee as of the last day of the Plan Year.
X Unless you terminate your employment during the Plan year with not more
- than 500 Hours of Service. (You will receive an allocation, however, if
you die, retire or become disabled during the Plan Year).
Under some circumstances, special minimum allocation rules may result in your
receiving an allocation even if you do not meet any of the requirements set
forth above.
AMOUNT OF ALLOCATION. If you are eligible, your account will be
credited with a portion of the Profit Sharing Contribution (and any
forfeitures) as follows:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
X * Your account will be credited with a portion of the Profit Sharing
- - Contribution that is equal to the ratio of your Compensation to the
Compensation of all Participants for such year.
For example, if your Compensation for a Plan Year was $10,000 and the
total Compensation of all Participants was $100,000, your account would
be credited with $10,000/$100,000 = 1/10 of the total contribution made
by the Employer for that Plan Year.
[CHOOSE IF YOUR PLAN IS INTEGRATED WITH SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU HAVE
NOT ADOPTED THE MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN)
__ * Profit Sharing Contributions WILL be allocated to eligible Participants
in four steps as follows:
Step One: Your account will be credited with a portion of the Profit
Sharing Contribution that is equal to the ratio of your Compensation to
the Compensation of all Participants for such year, but only up to a
maximum of three percent of each Participant's Compensation.
Step Two: Your account will be credited with a portion of the balance
of the Profit Sharing Contribution (after the allocation in Step One)
that is equal to the ratio of your Compensation in excess of the Plan's
Integration Level to the Compensation in excess of the Plan's
Integration Level of all Participants for such year, but only up to a
maximum of three percent of any Participant's Compensation in excess of
the Plan's Integration Level.
For example, if the Plan's Integration Level were $51,300 and your
Compensation were $61,300, your Compensation in excess of the
Integration Level would be $10,000. If the total Compensation in excess
of the Integration Level of all Participants were $70,000, your account
would be credited with $10,000/$70,000 = 1/7 of the total allocation
made under Step Two (but only up to a maximum of three percent of your
Compensation in excess of the Plan's Integration Level, or $300).
87
<PAGE>
Step Three: Your account will be credited with a portion of the balance
of the Profit Sharing Contribution (after the allocations in Step One
and Step Two) that is equal to the ratio that the sum of your
Compensation plus your Compensation in excess of the Plan's Integration
Level bears to the sum of all Participants' Compensation plus their
Compensation in excess of the Plan's Integration Level for such year,
up to a maximum of the Maximum Profit Sharing Disparity Rate.
The Maximum Profit Sharing Disparity Rate is 2.7 percent if the
Integration Level equals the annual earnings subject to Social Security
(FICA) tax (the taxable wage base). If the Integration Level is lower
(see below), then the Maximum Profit Sharing Disparity Rate is
determined by the following formula:
If the Integration is:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The Applicable
More Than But Not More Than Percentage Is:
--------- ----------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
$0 X */ 2.7%
-
X of TWB 80% of TWB 1.3%
80% of TWB Y **/ 2.4%
--
</TABLE>
*/ X = the greater of $10,000 or 20% of the Taxable Wage Base.
- -
**/ Y = any amount more than 80% of the Taxable Wage Base but less
- -- than 100% of the Taxable Wage Base.
"TWB" means the Taxable Wage Base.
For example, if the Maximum Profit Sharing Disparity Rate is 2.7 percent, your
Compensation is $61,300, the Plan's Integration Level is $51,300, the total
Compensation of all Participants is $700,000 and the Compensation of all
Participants that is in excess of the Plan's Integration Level is $70,000, then
the ratio applied under Step Three would be:
(61,300 + 10,000)/(700,000 + 70,000) - 9.25%
However, this exceeds the Maximum Profit Sharing Disparity Rate, so 2.7 percent
is applicable instead, and your account would receive 2.7% of the Employer
contribution under this step.
STEP FOUR: Your account will be credited with a portion of the balance of the
Profit Sharing Contribution (after the allocations in Step One, Step Two and
Step Three) that is equal to the ratio of your Compensation to the Compensation
of all Participants for such year.
[CHOOSE IF YOUR PLAN IS INTEGRATED WITH SOCIAL SECURITY AND YOU HAVE ADOPTED THE
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN]:
__ Profit Sharing Contributions will be allocated to eligible Participants in
two steps as follows:
STEP ONE: Your account will be credited with a portion of the Profit Sharing
Contribution that is equal to the ratio that the sum of your Compensation plus
your Compensation in excess of the Plan's Integration Level bears to the sum of
all Participants' Compensation plus their Compensation in excess of the Plan's
Integration level for such year, up to a maximum that does not exceed the lesser
of two amounts. The first is the percentage determined by dividing the
allocation by your Compensation up to the Plan's Integration Level. The second
is the Maximum Disparity Rate.
The Maximum Disparity Rate is 5.7 percent if the Integration Level equals the
annual earnings subject to Social Security (FICA) tax (the taxable wage base).
If the Integration Level is lower (see below), then the Maximum Disparity Rate
is determined by the following formula:
If the Integration is:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The Applicable
More Than But Not More Than Percentage Is:
--------- ----------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
$0 X*/ 5.7%
-
</TABLE>
88
<PAGE>
X Of TWB 80% of TWB 4.3%
80% of TWB Y **/ 5.4%
*/ X - the greater of $ 10,000 or 20% of the Taxable
- Wage Base.
**/ Y - any amount more than 80% of the Taxable Wage
-- Base but less than 100% of the Taxable Wage
Base.
"TWB" means the Taxable Wage Base.
For example, if the Maximum Disparity Rate is 5.7 percent, your
Compensation is $61,300, the Plan's Integration Level is $51,300, the
total Compensation of all Participants is $700,000 and the
Compensation of all Participants that is in excess of the Plan's
Integration Level is $70,000, then the ratio applied under Step One
would be.
(61,300 + 10,000)/(700,000 + 70,000) = 9.25%
However, this exceeds the Maximum Disparity Rate, so 5.7 percent is
applicable instead. (This assumes the allocation as a percentage of
your Compensation up to the Plan's Integration Level would exceed 5.7
percent).
Step Two: Your account will be credited with a portion of the balance
of the Profit Sharing Contribution (after the allocation in Step One)
that is equal to the ratio of your Compensation to the Compensation
of all Participants for such year.
The Plan's Integration Level is equal to:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS)
__ The taxable wage base, which is the annual earnings subject to Social
Security (FICA) tax.
__ A dollar amount equal to $__________________________[INSERT DOLLAR AMOUNT].
__ A percentage of the taxable wage base equal to ___% of the annual earnings
subject to Social Security (FICA) tax.
Under some circumstances, special minimum allocation rules may result in your
receiving a larger allocation than you normally would. The amount that can be
allocated to your Account in any Plan Year, including forfeitures (if any), is
limited by rules applying to all qualified plans.
F. VESTING.
Vesting refers to the nonforfeitable interest you have in each of your
subaccounts. In other words, your vested interest in your account is the
amount you will receive when your account is distributed to you.
You will always have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest
in the amounts you have in your:
__ * Trustee Transfer and Rollover Subaccounts.
(CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM ONLY IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE
CONTRIBUTIONS]:
__ * Nondeductible Voluntary Contribution Subaccount.
You will earn a vested interest in your Profit Sharing Contribution
Subaccount in accordance with the following:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
__ * You will always have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest
in your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount.
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<PAGE>
__ * You will have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest
in your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount in the event of any of
the following:
* You reach your Normal Retirement Age or Early Retirement Date.
* You die or become disabled.
Otherwise, you will earn a vested interest in your Profit Sharing Contribution
Subaccount in accordance with the following schedule:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
__ * YEARS 0F SERVICE VESTED PERCENTAGE
---------------- -----------------
<S> <C>
1 year 0%
2 years 20%
3 years 40%
4 years 60%
5 years 80%
6 or more years 100%
</TABLE>
For example, if you are employed for six years, you will be entitled
to the entire amount in your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount.
However, if you terminate employment with the Employer after only four
years, even though you return to employment with the Employer six
years later, you will be entitled to receive only 60 percent of that
amount.
__ * You will be 100 percent vested after three years of service. If you
terminate employment prior to three years you will not have any vested
interest in your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount.
G. FORFEITURES.
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
__ * You have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest in the
amounts in your account at all times. Your account therefore will not
be subject to forfeitures.
__ * Forfeitures occur when you terminate employment before becoming fully
vested in your account, as explained in the section on "Vesting."
Effective for the first Plan Year beginning after 1984, any portion of
your Account that is not vested will be forfeited as of the last day
of the Plan Year in which your fifth consecutive Break in Service
occurs. Forfeited amounts will not be reinstated, even if you return
to service with the Employer. Such forfeitures will be allocated among
the Accounts of other Participants in the same manner as Profit
Sharing Contributions.
H. DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS.
1. ELIGIBILITY FOR DISTRIBUTION. You will be entitled to receive a
distribution of the vested amounts in your account upon
occurrence of any of the following:
* Your termination of employment with the Employer for any reason.
* Your total and permanent disability.
* Your death.
* Termination of the Plan.
* Your attainment of normal retirement age, which is:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS),
X * Age 65
-
__ * Age _____ [INSERT NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE] or the___________
INSERT ANNIVERSARY DATE) of the day you commenced
participation in the plan.
(CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS EARLY RETIREMENT):
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<PAGE>
__ * If you elect Early Retirement, attainment of your Early
Retirement Date, which is the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the date you reach age
____________________INSERT EARLY RETIREMENT AGE] and
complete __________ INSERT NUMBER OF YEARS] Years of
Service.
2. TIMING OF DISTRIBUTION. You will begin receiving benefit
distributions in accordance with the following;
* Generally, benefit distributions will commence not later than 60 days
after the end of the Plan Year in which you become eligible to receive
benefits.
* In the event of your death, your spouse, if you are married, will
generally be entitled to receive your benefit distribution. If you are
unmarried, or if your spouse has given written consent, your
designated Beneficiary will receive your benefit distribution, If you
have no spouse or designated Beneficiary, your benefit distribution
will go to your estate.
* If you so elect, you may defer commencement of the distribution of
your benefit beyond the date you first become eligible to receive that
distribution, to a date which you may specify. The date you specify
must not be later than the April 1 following the close of your taxable
year in which you attain age 70-1/2.
* If you attained age 70-1/2 before January 1, 1988, special rules apply
to your distributions.
If you wish to receive benefit distributions before attaining age 59-1/2, you
may be subject to a penalty tax, and you must notify the Plan Administrator in
writing that you am aware of the consequences of this tax.
3. FORM OF DISTRIBUTION. Your benefit will automatically
be distributed or a lump sum payment of cash, or a lump sum payment that
includes an in-kind distribution of all mutual fund shares credited to your
account.
I. INVESTMENT OF PLAN ASSETS
All contributions made to the Plan are kept in the Trust. A separate
account including all of the subaccounts described in the section on
"Participant Accounts," is maintained for you within that Trust. The assets of
the Trust are invested as follows:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
X * You must direct the Plan Administrator to invest the amounts in all of
- - your subaccounts in specified investments offered by the Sponsor.
__ * _____________________ (INSERT PERCENTAGE) of the assets of the Trust
are invested in shares or other investments offered by the Sponsor. The
remaining assets are invested in such other investments as are
acceptable to the Trustee.
__ * You ___ [INSERT "MAY" OR "MUST"] direct the Plan Administrator to
invest the amounts in the following subaccount in specified investments
offered by the Sponsor:
[CHECK ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
__ * The amounts in your Nondeductible Voluntary Contribution
Subaccount.
__ * The amounts in your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount.
__ * The amounts in your Trustee Transfer and Rollover
Subaccounts.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS WITHDRAWALS]:
J. WITHDRAWALS
You may make the following types of withdrawals from your account:
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<PAGE>
(CHECK ALL APPLICABLE ITEMS]
__ * If you have made Voluntary Employee Contributions to the Plan, you will
be permitted to withdraw the amounts in your Nondeductible Voluntary
Contribution Subaccount. If you are married, your spouse must consent
to the withdrawal.
__ * In the event of an imminent and heavy financial need due to the
purchase or renovation of a primary residence, the educational, medical
or personal expenses of you or a member of your immediate family, or
other hardship, you will be permitted to make a hardship withdrawal of
amounts credited to your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount.
All hardship withdrawals are subject to approval by the Plan
Administrator. Such withdrawals can only be made after prior
withdrawal of all amounts in your Nondeductible Voluntary Contribution
Subaccount, and after exhausting all other reasonable sources of
funds. If you are married, your spouse must consent to any withdrawals.
(CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF PLAN LOANS ARE PERMITTED):
__ K. LOANS.
This Plan contains provisions that permit you to borrow (with the
consent of your spouse) from the Plan part of your vested interest in your
account. Such a loan will not be made, however, if the total of all outstanding
loans to you from all pension and profit sharing plans of the Employer exceed
the lesser of $50,000 (taking into account the highest principal balance of any
loan outstanding at any time during the preceding 12 months) or one-half of the
value of your vested interest in your account.
The Plan Administrator will set the terms of all loans. The maximum
payment term for any loan will generally be five years. The interest rate will
be determined by the Plan Administrator. Your account will be security for the
loan.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS PARTICIPANTS TO PURCHASE LIFE
INSURANCE]:
__ L. INSURANCE.
The Plan contains provisions permitting you to designate a portion of
the amounts in your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount to purchase life
insurance. The portion of your Profit Sharing Contribution Subaccount which may
be used to purchase life insurance is equal to____________________ [INSERT
PERCENTAGE] of that subaccount.
III. CLAIMS PROCEDURE
You or your Beneficiary may file a written claim for benefits under
this Plan with the Plan Administrator at any time. If your claim is denied to
any extent by the Plan Administrator, a written notification must be sent to you
within 90 days. If you choose to appeal the decision, a request for review must
be made in writing to the Plan Administrator within 60 days of receipt of
written notification of the denial. Within 60 days after the appeal is filed, or
within 120 days, if there are special circumstances involved, the Plan
Administrator will issue a written decision.
IV. CHANGES TO THE PLAN
A. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Employer, together with the Sponsor, reserves the right to amend
the Plan at any time. You will be kept informed of any material amendments to
the Plan by updates to this Summary Plan Description.
B. TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Employer intends to continue this Plan indefinitely. However, the
Employer reserves the right to terminate the Plan at any time. if a termination
takes place, or If the Employer discontinues making contributions to the Plan,
you WILL have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest in all of the
amounts in your account. These amounts may be distributed to you at that time,
or may be distributed in accordance with the benefit distribution rules.
C. MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR TRANSFER OF THE PLAN
In the event of the merger, consolidation or transfer of assets or
liabilities of the Plan to any other plan, your benefits will not be decreased
from what they would have been prior to such an event.
V. GENERAL INFORMATION
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Name of Plan: ______________________________________________________
[INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER] Profit Sharing Plan
Employer: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
[INSERT NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF EMPLOYER)
Type of Plan: Profit Sharing Plan
Type of Administration: Trusteed
Employer's Fiscal Year: ______________________________________________________
Plan Year End: ______________________________________________________
Plan Administrator: ______________________________________________________
[INSERT NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR]
Trustees: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
[INSERT NAME, TITLE, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF EACH TRUSTEE]
Agent for Service of Legal
Process: ______________________________________________________
[INSERT NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON DESIGNATED AS AGENT
FOR SERVICE OF LEGAL PROCESS)
Employer Identification # ______________________________________________________
Plan Number: ______________________________________________________
Also, a complete list of the employers and employee organizations sponsoring the
Plan may be obtained by participants and beneficiaries upon written request to
the Plan administrator, and is available for examination by participants and
beneficiaries, as required by Labor Reg. Section 1.2520.104-bl and Section
2520.104b-30.
VI. NON-APPLICATION OF PBGC GUARANTEES
Because this Plan is a defined contribution plan, the benefits you will
receive are exempt from and not insured by the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
VII. SPECIAL RIGHTS UNDER ERISA
As a participant in the [INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER] Profit Sharing Plan, you
are entitled to certain rights and protections under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). ERISA provides that all Plan Participants
shall be entitled to:
* Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator's office and at
other specified locations, all Plan documents, including insurance
contracts, affecting the individual making the request, and copies of
all documents filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor,
such as annual reports and Plan descriptions.
* Obtain copies of all Plan documents and other Plan information upon
written request to the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may
make a reasonable charge for the copies.
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* Receive a summary of the Plan's annual financial report. The Plan
Administrator is required by law to furnish each Participant with a
copy of this summary annual report.
* obtain a statement of the total value of your account under the Plan
and your vested (nonforfeitable) portion of this account. This
statement must be requested in writing and is not required to be
given more than once a year, The Plan will provide the statement free
of charge.
In addition to creating rights for Plan Participants, ERISA imposes
duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the Plan. These
people who operate your plan, called "fiduciaries" of the Plan, have a duty to
do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan Participants and
Beneficiaries. No one, including your Employer, or any other person, may fire
you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from
obtaining a benefit under this Plan or exercising your rights under ERISA. If
your claim for a benefit is denied in whole or in part you must receive a
written explanation of the reason for the denial. You have the right to have
the Plan review and reconsider your claim.
Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above
rights. For instance, if you request materials from the Plan and do not receive
them within 30 days, you may file suit in a federal court. In such a case, the
court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up
to $100 a day until you receive the materials unless the materials were not sent
because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator. If you have a
claim for benefits which is denied or ignored in whole or in part, you may file
suit in a state or federal court. If it should happen that Plan fiduciaries
misuse the Plan's money, or if you are discriminated against for asserting your
rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may
file suit in a federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs
and legal fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and
fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous. if you have any
questions about your Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. If you
have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, you
should contact the nearest Area Office of the U.S. Labor-Management Services
Administration, Department of Labor.
94
<PAGE>
MODEL
SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION
OF THE
--------------------------------
[INSERT NAME OF EXPLOYER1
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN
Copyright 1990 Investment Company Institute March 1990
95
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
<S> <C>
I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 3
II. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS .......................... 3
A. Terms With Special Meanings ......................................... 3
B. Participation ....................................................... 4
C. Individual Accounts ................................................. 4
D. Contributions ....................................................... 4
E. Allocations ......................................................... 5
F. Vesting ............................................................. 6
G. Forfeitures ......................................................... 7
H. Distributions of Benefits ........................................... 7
I. Investment of Plan Assets ........................................... 8
J. Withdrawals ......................................................... 9
K. Loans ............................................................... 9
L. Insurance ........................................................... 9
III. CLAIMS PROCEDURE ....................................................... 9
IV. CHANGES TO THE PLAN .................................................... 9
V. GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................... 10
VI. NON-APPLICATION OF PBGC GUARANTEES ..................................... 11
VII. SPECIAL RIGHTS UNDER ERISA ............................................. 11
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
MODEL
SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION
OF THE
-------------------------------------
[INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER]
MONEY PURCHASE PENSION PLAN
I. INTRODUCTION
__________________________________ [INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER] (the
"Employer") is pleased to be able to provide you with the____________________
[INSERT NAME OF EMPLOYER] Money Purchase Pension Plan (the "Plan" or the
"Pension Plan"). The Plan is effective as of ____________________________
[INSERT EFFECTIVE DATE].
The Plan is a defined contribution plan, to which the Employer makes
contributions to an account hold in your name. With this type of plan; the
retirement benefit you receive will depend on the investment performance of the
amounts that are in your account. The Plan is designed to provide retirement
income to employees who remain with the Employer until retirement and to those
who have a vested interest in their account when they terminate their employment
with the Employer.
Only the main features of the Plan are explained in this Summary Plan
Description. Any questions which are not answered here should be referred to
____________________________ [INSERT NAME OF DEPARTMENT OR PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE
FOR PARTICIPANT INFORMATION]. If there is any inconsistency between the Plan as
described in this Summary Plan Description and the Plan document itself, the
terms of the Plan document will govern. Copies of the Plan document and the
Trust Agreement are available for your inspection during regular working hours.
II. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS
A. TERMS WITH SPECIAL MEANINGS
Certain words and terms used in this Summary have special meanings.
Many of these terms are fined in this section, while others are
explained in the text of the Summary. To assist you in identifying
these terms within the text, they are capitalized.
1. BENEFICIARY. Your designated Beneficiary is the person you name
to receive your benefit distribution in the event of your death.
If you are married, you will need written consent from your
spouse to name someone other than your spouse as your
Beneficiary.
2. BREAK IN SERVICE. A Break in Service occurs if you complete less
than 501 Hours of Service with the Employer during a Plan Year.
3. COMPENSATION. Compensation is the total compensation paid to you
by the Employer during any portion of a Plan Year during which
you were a Plan Participant. If you are self-employed, your
Compensation is your earned income less your deductible
contributions to any qualified retirement plans.
4. HOURS OF SERVICE. Each hour for which you are paid or entitled to
be paid by the Employer. In addition, uncompensated authorized
leaves of absence that do not exceed two years, military leave
while your reemployment rights are protected by law, and absences
from work for maternity or paternity reasons may be credited as
Hours of Service for the purpose of determining whether you had
a Break in Service.
5. PARTICIPANT. A Participant is an employee who has met the
requirements for participating in this Plan, and whose account
has been neither completely forfeited nor distributed.
6. Plan Year. The Plan Year is the 12-month period ending on the
date shown in section V of this Summary.
7. SPONSOR. The Sponsor is the organization which has made this Plan
available to the Employer.
8. TRUST. The Trust is a fund maintained by the Trustee for the
investment of Plan assets, including the amount in your account.
9. YEAR OF SERVICE. A Year of Service is the applicable 12-month
period during which you complete 1,000 or more Hours of Service.
For
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eligibility purposes, the applicable 12-month period is your
first year of employment or any Plan Year, For vesting purposes,
the applicable 12-month period is the Plan Year.
B. PARTICIPATION.
You will be eligible to participate in the Plan after you have met the
following eligibility requirements:
[CHECK ALL APPLICABLE ITEMS]
[X] o You have reached age 21.
[X] o You have completed 1 Year(s) of Service.
[X] o You are not a member of a collective bargaining unit.
[X] o You are not a nonresident alien.
The first entry date, or date in which you can first participate in
the Plan if you meet these requirements, is ________________ [INSERT EFFECTIVE
DATE]. Thereafter, do entry date(s) will be January 1 & July 1 of each Plan
Year.
Once you become a Participant, you will remain a Participant as long
as you do not incur a Break in Service. If you do incur a Break in Service, and
are later reemployed by the Employer, you will be reinstated as a Participant
and any previous Hours of Service will be reinstated as of the date of your
reemployment.
C. INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
A separate account will be maintained for you within the Plan. This account
will be further divided into subaccounts, which will be credited with the
different types of contributions that are described in the next section. The
subaccounts that will be maintained for you are as follows:
1. MONEY PURCHASE PENSION CONTRIBUTION SUBACCOUNT. This subaccount
will be credited with your share of Employer Money Purchase Pension
Contributions, distributions from this subaccount, and the earnings and losses
attributable to this subaccount.
2. TRUSTEE TRANSFER AND ROLLOVER SUBACCOUNTS. These subaccounts will
be credited with any rollover contributions or transfer contributions you
may make to the Plan, any distributions from the subaccount, and the earnings
and losses attributable to the subaccount.
(CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE
CONTRIBUTIONS]:
___ 3. NONDEDUCTIBLE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION SUBACCOUNT. This subaccount
will be credited with our Voluntary Employee Contributions, any distributions
from this subaccount, and the earnings and losses attributable to this
subaccount.
D. CONTRIBUTIONS
The Employer will make, or you will be permitted to make, the
following types of contributions. These contributions will be allocated to the
appropriate subaccounts within your account.
1. EMPLOYER MONEY PURCHASE PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS. The Employer
will make Money Purchase Pension Contributions to the Plan each
Plan Year in accordance with a formula based on your
Compensation. This formula is given in the section on
"Allocations."
2. ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS AND DIRECT TRANSFERS. If you have
participated in other pension or profit sharing plans, you will
be permitted to make a rollover contribution to the Plan of
certain amounts you may receive from those other plans.
You will also be permitted, with the approval of the Plan
Administrator, to authorize a direct transfer to the Plan of
amounts that are attributable to your participation in other
pension or profit sharing plans.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE
CONTRIBUTIONS].
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<PAGE>
3. VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS. To increase your
--- retirement benefits from this Plan, you may choose to make
voluntary contributions to the Plan of up to _____ (INSERT
MAXIMUM VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE) of your
Compensation. Such contributions will not be permitted, however,
for Plan Years beginning after _____________ (THE PLAN YEAR IN
WHICH THE PLAN IS ADOPTED). The minimum contribution you must
make if you choose to make a voluntary contribution is as
follows:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
- The minimum voluntary contribution is ____ [INSERT MINIMUM
--- VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE] of your Compensation.
X - There is no minimum voluntary contribution.
---
E. Allocations
1. ELIGIBILITY FOR ALLOCATIONS. Each Plan Year the Employer will make
a Money Purchase Pension Contribution to the Plan in accordance with the
formula based on your Compensation. Your account will be allocated a
contribution if you are an employee as of the last day of the Plan Year.
[X] o Unless you terminate your employment during the Plan Year with not
more than 500 [INSERT HOURS OF SERVICE REQUIREMENT] Hours of Service.
(You will receive an allocation, however, if you die, retire or become
disabled during the Plan Year).
Under some circumstances, special minimum allocation rules may result in your
receiving an allocation, even if you do not meet any of the requirements set
forth above.
2. AMOUNT OF ALLOCATION. If you are eligible, your account will be
credited with a Money Purchase Pension Contribution as follows:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]
o The Employer will make a contribution on your behalf equal to _______
(INSERT CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE) of your Compensation.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN IS INTEGRATED WITH SOCIAL
SECURITY]:
o The Employer will make a contribution equal to ______% of your
- --- Compensation up to the Plan's Integration Level, plus ____% of your
Compensation excess of the Plan's Integration Level.
The Plan's Integration Level is equal to:
(CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS):
[ ] o The taxable wage base, which is the annual earnings subject
to Social Security (FICA) tax.
[ ] o A dollar amount equal to ____ [INSERT DOLLAR AMOUNT].
[ ] o A percentage of the taxable wage base equal to ___% of the
annual earnings subject to Social Security (FICA) tax.
For example, suppose that the Plan's taxable wage base is
equal to $51,300, and that your Compensation during a Plan
Year totaled $61,300. You would receive an allocation of
____ [INSERT CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE] of your first $51,300
in Compensation, and
____ [INSERT EXCESS CONTRIBUTION PERCENTAGE] on the
remainder of $ 10,000.
Under some circumstances, special minimum allocation rules may cause you to
receive a larger allocation than you normally would. The amount that can be
allocated to your account in any Plan Year is limited by rules applying to all
qualified plans.
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<PAGE>
F. VESTING.
Vesting refers to the nonforfeitable interest you have in each of your
subaccounts. In other words, your vested interest in your account is the amount
you will receive when your account is distributed to you.
You will always have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest
in the amounts you have in your:
o Trustee transfer and rollover subaccounts.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE
CONTRIBUTIONS]:
o Nondeductible Voluntary Contribution Subaccount.
You will earn a vested interest in your Money Purchase Pension
Contribution Subaccount in accordance with the following:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
[ ] o You will always have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest
in your Money Purchase Pension Contribution Subaccount.
[ ] o You will have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest in your
Money Purchase Pension Contribution Subaccount in the event of any of
the following:
o You reach your Normal Retirement Age or Early Retirement Date.
o You die or become disabled.
Otherwise, you will earn a vested interest in your Money Purchase
Pension Contribution Subaccount in accordance with the following schedule:
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]
[ ] o YEARS OF SERVICE VESTED PERCENTAGE
---------------- -----------------
1 year 0%
2 years 20%
3 yam 40%
4 years 60%
5 years 80%
6 or more years 100%
For example, If you are employed for six years, you will be entitled
to the entire amount in your Money Purchase Pension Contribution
Subaccount. However, If you terminate employment with the Employer
after only four years, even though you return to employment with the
Employer six years later, you will be entitled to receive only 60
percent of that amount.
[ ] o You will be 100 percent vested after three years of service. If you
terminate employment prior to three years you will not have any vested
amount in your Money Purchase Pension Contribution Subaccount.
Any portion of your Money Purchase Pension Contribution Subaccount in
which you do not have a vested interest will be forfeited by you as of
the last day of the Plan Year in which your fifth consecutive Break in
Service occurs.
G. FORFEITURES
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
[ ] o You have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest in the
amounts in your account at all times. You will therefore not be
subject to forfeitures.
[ ] o Forfeitures occur when you terminate employment before becoming fully
vested in your account, as explained in the section on "Vesting."
Effective for the Trust Plan Year beginning after 1984, any portion of
your account that is not vested will be forfeited as of the last day
of the Plan Year in which your fifth consecutive Break in Service
occurs. Forfeited amounts will not be reinstated, even if you return
to service with the Employer. Such forfeitures either will be:
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<PAGE>
[CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
[ ] o Used by the Employer as a credit against its future
contributions to the Plan; or
[ ] o Reallocated among the accounts of remaining Participants in
proportion to their pay.
H. DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS.
1. ELIGIBILITY FOR DISTRIBUTION. You will be entitled to receive a
distribution of the vested amounts in your account upon occurrence of any of the
following:
o Your termination of employment with the Employer for any reason.
o Your total and permanent disability.
o Your death.
o Termination of the Plan.
o Your attainment of normal retirement age, which is:
[CHECK ONE Of THE FOLLOWING ITEMS]:
[X] o Age 65.
[ ] o Age ____ [INSERT NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE] or the ____________
[INSERT ANNIVERSARY DATE] of the day you commenced
participation in the Plan.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS EARLY RETIREMENT]:
[ ] o If you elect early retirement, attainment of your early
retirement date, which is the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the date you reach age _
(INSERT EARLY RETIREMENT AGE) and complete _________ [INSERT
NUMBER OF YEARS] Years of Service.
2. TIMING OF DISTRIBUTIONS. You will begin receiving benefit
distributions in accordance with the following:
o Generally, benefit distributions will commence not later then 60 days
after the end of the Plan Year in which you become eligible to receive
benefits.
o In the event of your death, your spouse, if you are married, will
generally be entitled to receive your benefit distribution. If you are
unmarried, or if your spouse has given written consent, your
designated Beneficiary will receive your benefit distribution. If you
have no spouse or designated Beneficiary, your benefit distribution
will go to your estate.
o If you so elect, you may defer commencement of the distribution of
your benefit beyond the date you first become eligible to receive that
distribution, to a date which you may specify. The date you specify
must not be later than the April 1 following the close of your taxable
year in which you attain age 70-1/2.
o If you attained age 70-1/2 before January 1, 1988, special rules apply
to your distributions.
If you wish to receive benefit distributions before attaining age
59-1/2, you may be subject to a penalty tax, and you must notify the Plan
Administrator in writing that you are aware of the consequences of this tax.
3. FORM OF DISTRIBUTION. Your benefit will automatically be
distributed in the form of a in a lump sum payment of cash, or a lump sum
payment that includes an in-kind distribution of all mutual fund shares credited
to your account.
I. INVESTMENT OF PLAN ASSETS
All contributions made to the Plan are kept in the Trust. A separate
account, including all of the subaccounts described in the section on
"Participant accounts," is maintained for you within that Trust. The assets of
the Trust are invested as follows:
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(CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS::
[X] o All of the assets of the Trust are invested in shares or other
investments offered by the Sponsor.
[ ] o _________ [INSERT PERCENTAGE] of the assets of the Trust are invested
in shares or other investments offered by the Sponsor. The remaining
assets are invested in such other investments as are acceptable to the
Trustee.
[ ] o You ______ [INSERT "may" OR "must"] direct the Plan Administrator to
invest the amounts in the following subaccount in specified
investments offered by the Sponsor:
(CHECK ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS):
[ ] o The amounts in your Nondeductible Voluntary Contribution Subaccount.
[ ] o The amounts in your Money Purchase Pension Contribution Subaccount.
[ ] o The amounts in your trustee transfer and rollover subaccounts.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE
CONTRIBUTIONS]:
[ ] J. WITHDRAWALS
If you have made Voluntary Employee Contributions to the Plan, you
will be permitted to withdraw the amounts in your Nondeductible Voluntary
Contribution Subaccount. If you are married, your spouse must consent to the
withdrawal.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF PLAN LOANS ARE PERMITTED]
[ ] K. LOANS
The Plan contains provisions that permit you to borrow from the Plan
part of your vested interest in your account. Such a loan will not be made,
however, if the total of all outstanding loans to you from all pension and
profit sharing plans of the Employer exceed the lower of $50,000 (taking into
account the highest principal balance of any loan outstanding at any time during
the preceding 12 months) or one-half of the value of your vested interest in
your account.
The Plan Administrator will set the terms of all loans. The maximum
payment term for any loan will generally be five years. The interest rate will
be determined by the Plan Administrator, your account will be security for the
loan.
[CHECK THE FOLLOWING ITEM IF YOUR PLAN PERMITS PARTICIPANTS TO PURCHASE
LIFE INSURANCE]:
[ ] L. INSURANCE.
The Plan contains provisions permitting you to designate a portion of
the amounts in your Money Purchase Pension Contribution Subaccount to purchase
life insurance. The portion of your Money Purchase Pension Contribution
Subaccount which may be used to purchase life insurance is equal to ________
[INSERT PERCENTAGE] of that subaccount.
III. CLAIMS PROCEDURE
You or your Beneficiary may file a written claim for benefits under this
Plan with the Plan Administrator at any time. If your claim is denied to any
extent by the Plan Administrator, a written notification must be sent to you
within 90 days. If you choose to appeal the decision, a request for review must
be made in writing to the Plan Administrator within 60 days of receipt for
written notification of the denial. Within 60 days after the appeal is filed, or
within 120 days, if there are special circumstances involved, the Plan
Administrator will issue a written decision.
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IV. CHANGES TO PLAN
A. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Employer, together with the Sponsor, reserves the right to amend
the Plan at any time. You will be kept informed of any material amendments to
the Plan by updates to this Summary Plan Description.
B. TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
The Employer intends to continue this Plan indefinitely. However, the
Employer reserves the right to terminate the Plan at any time. If a termination
takes place, or if the Employer discontinues making contributions to the Plan,
you will have a 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable interest in all of the
amounts in your account. These amounts may be distributed to you at that time,
or may be distributed in accordance with the benefit distribution rules.
C. Merger, Consolidation, or Transfer of the Plan
In the event of the merger, consolidation or transfer of assets or
liabilities of the Plan to any other plan, your benefits will not be decreased
from what they would have been prior to such an event.
V. GENERAL INFORMATION
NAME OF PLAN: _____________________________________________________
Money Purchase Pension Plan
EMPLOYER: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
TYPE OF PLAN: Money Purchase Pension Plan
TYPE OF ADMINISTRATION: Trusteed
EMPLOYER'S FISCAL YEAR: __________________________
PLAN YEAR END: __________________________
PLAN ADMINISTRATOR: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Trustees: _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
[INSERT NAME, TITLE, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF EACH TRUSTEE)
AGENT FOR SERVICE OF LEGAL PROCESS: __________________________________________
__________________________________________
INSERT NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON DESIGNATED
AS AGENT FOR SERVICE OF LEGAL PROCESS)
EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: __________________________________________
PLAN NUMBER: __________________________________________
Also, a complete list of the employers and employee organizations sponsoring the
Plan may be obtained by participants and beneficiaries upon written request to
the Plan administrator, and is available for examination by participants and
beneficiaries, as required by Labor Reg. Section 2520.104b-1 and Section
2520.104b-30.
V1. NON-APPLICATION OF PBGC GUARANTEES
Because this Plan is a defined contribution plan, the benefits you will
receive are exempt from and not insured by the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
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VII. SPECIAL RIGHTS UNDER ERISA
As a participant in the ________________________________ [INSERT NAME OF
EMPLOYER] Money Purchase Pension Plan, you are entitled to certain rights and
protections under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
ERISA provides that all Plan Participants shall be entitled to:
o Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator's office and at
other specified locations, all Plan documents, including insurance
contracts, affecting the individual making the request, and copies of
all documents filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor, such
as detailed annual reports and Plan descriptions. Obtain copies of all
Plan documents and other Plan information upon written request to the
Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge
for the copies.
o Receive a summary of the Plan's annual financial report. The Plan
Administrator is required by law to furnish each Participant with
a copy of this summary annual report.
o Obtain a statement of the total value of your account under the
Plan and your vested (nonforfeitable) portion of this account. This
statement must be requested in writing and is not required to be
given more than once a year. The Plan will provide the statement
free of charge.
In addition to creating rights for Plan Participants, ERISA imposes
duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the Plan. These
people who operate your plan, called "fiduciaries" of the Plan, have a duty to
do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan Participants and
Beneficiaries. No one, including your Employer, or any other person, may fire
you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from
obtaining a benefit under this Plan or exercising your rights under ERISA. If
your claim for a benefit is denied in whole or in part you must receive a
written explanation of the reason for the denial. You have the right to have
the Plan review and reconsider your claim.
Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights.
For instance, if you request materials from the Plan and do not receive them
within 30 days, you may file suit in a federal court. In such a case, the court
may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to
$100 a day until you receive the materials unless the materials were not sent
because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator. If you have a
claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file
suit in a state or federal court. If it should happen that Plan fiduciaries
misuse the Plan's money, or if you are discriminated against for asserting your
rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may
file suit in a federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs
and legal fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and
fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous. If you have any
questions about your Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. If you
have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, you
should contact the nearest Area Office of the U.S. Labor-Management Services
Administration, Department of Labor.
NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES
Current employees of ________________________________ are hereby notified that
(Name of Employer)
___________________________ has adopted the __________________________________
(Name of Adopting Employer) (Name of Plan or Plans)
as its employee retirement benefit plan.
The employee eligible to participate under this Plan are
____________________________________.
(Insert Eligible Class of Employees)
It is not expected that this Plan will be submitted to the Internal Revenue
Service for an advance determination as to whether or not the Plan meets the
qualification requirements of section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
However, this Plan is a prototype plan and the Internal Revenue Service has
previously issued a favorable opinion letter to the sponsor with regard to the
this plan.
As in interested party, you have the right to submit to the Key District
Director of the Internal Revenue Service, either individually or jointly with
other interested parties, your comments as to whether this Plan meets the
qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.
104
<PAGE>
You may also, either or jointly with other interested parties, request that the
Department of Labor submit, on your behalf, comments to the Key District
Director regarding qualification of this Plan.
If the Department of Labor declines to comment on all or some of the matters you
raise, you may, individually or jointly if your request was made to the
Department jointly, submit your comments on these matters directly to the Key
District Director as the following address:
___________________________________________
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF KEY DISTRICT DIRECTOR)
The Department of Labor may not comment on behalf of interested parties unless
requested to do so by the lesser of 10 employees or 10 percent of the employees
who qualify as interested parties. The number of persons needed for the
Department of Labor to comment with respect to this Plan is ___________________.
A request to the Department of Labor should be sent to the following address:
Administrator of Pension and Welfare Benefit Programs
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20216
Attention: 3001 Comment Request
Any comment you submit to the Key District to the Key District Director, or any
request to the Department of Labor must include the name of the Plan, the Plan
number, the opinion letter number, the adopting employer's identification
number, the name and address of the sponsor, and the name and address of the
Plan administrator. Any request to the Department of Labor must also include
the address of the Key District Director. This information can be found at the
end of this Notice.
A comment to the Key District must be received by
____________________________________.
(Date 45 Days After Plan is Adopted)
if you wish to preserve your right to comment to the Key District Director, or
by ____________________________________ if you wish to waive that right.
(Date 55 Days After Plan is Adopted)
If there are matters upon which you request the Department of Labor to comment
upon on your behalf, and the Department declines to do so, you may submit
comments on these matters directly to the Key District Director. These comments
must be received by the Key District Director within 15 days from the time the
Department of Labor notifies you that it will not comment on a particular
matter, or by ___________________________________ whichever is later.
(Date 75 Days After The Plan is Adopted).
Detailed instructions regarding the requirements for submitting comments may
be found in sections 6,7, and 8 of Revenue Procedure 80-30.
Additional information concerning this Plan (including, where applicable, a
description of the circumstances which may result in eligibility of loss of
benefits, a description of the source of financing of the plan, and copies of
section 6 of Revenue Procedure 80-30) is available at_________________________
(LOCATION)
during the hours of _________________, for inspection of copying. There may be
a normal charge for copying and/or mailing.
The following information will be needed for correspondence with the Department
of Labor or the Key District Director:
___________________________________
(Name of Adopting Employer)
105
<PAGE>
______________________________________
(Name of Plan or Plans)
______________________________________
Plan Identification Number(s)
______________________________________
(Opinion Letter Number)
______________________________________
(Name of Sponsor)
______________________________________
(Address of Sponsor)
______________________________________
(Adopting Employer's EIN)
______________________________________
(Name of Plan Administrator)
______________________________________
(Address of Plan Administrator)
______________________________________
(Address of Key District Director)
106
<PAGE>
FORMS
107
<PAGE>
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
ASSET TRANSFER FORM
AIM Fund Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 4739
Houston, TX 77210-4739
Phone Number 1-800-347-1919 (ext. 506)
THIS FORM SHOULD BE USED ONLY IF YOU ARE TRANSFERRING PLAN ASSETS DIRECTLY
TO AIM.
================================================================================
1. PRINT PLAN NAME AND ADDRESS HERE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan Name/Trustees
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip
Tax ID Number
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone ( )
-----------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
2. ACCOUNT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO AIM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account Number
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Resigning Trustee/Custodian
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attention Telephone
================================================================================
3. PLEASE TELL US WHERE TO INVEST THE MONEY YOU ARE TRANSFERRING
Please deposit proceeds in my [ ] existing [ ]* new
[ ] Money Purchase Plan
[ ] Profit Sharing
* Application Attached
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Name Account Number
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund Name Account Number
If assets are to be invested in multiple participant accounts you must submit a
separate statement identifying each participant and the percentage to be
invested in each fund(s).
If transferred assets are to be invested in "pooled" accounts you must indicate
the percentage (%) to be invested in each funds.
================================================================================
4. PLEASE AUTHORIZE YOUR CURRENT OR CUSTODIAN TO TRANSFER ACCOUNT TO THE AIM
FUNDS
To Resign Trustee or Custodian:
Please transfer [ ] all or [ ] part ($_________________) of our assets listed in
Section 2 to The AIM Funds.
[ ] immediately [ ] at maturity
[ ] Please transfer [ ] all or part (__________________) of the assets to AIM
Fund Acct# ___________________________.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature/Trustee Date
An Important note: Your current investment manager or custodian may require your
signature to be guaranteed.
Call that institution for requirement.
Signature guaranteed by:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Bank or Firm
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature of Officer and Title
================================================================================
5. CUSTODIAN ACCEPTANCE OF PLAN
This to advise you that _______________________, trustee custodian, will accept
the account identified above for: Plan Name ________________________________
Account Number _____________________________
This transfer of assets is to be executed from fiduciary to fiduciary and will
not place the participant in actual receipt of all or any of the plan assets.
NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX IS TO BE WITHHELD FROM THIS TRANSFER OF ASSETS.
If you have any further questions regarding the transfer, please feel free to
contact us at the above toll-free number.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorized Signature/Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date
================================================================================
6. RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
Please Indicate Account Number on all documents sent to AIM.
Please attach a copy of this form to the check.
Check Payable to: AIM Funds, FBO: (Plan Name)
c/o AIM Fund Services, Inc,
P.O. Box 4739
Houston, TX 77210-4739
108
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 14(d)
403(b) PLAN [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
ACCOUNT APPLICATION
To open your AIM 403(b) Plan account.
Employer mail to: A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 4399, Houston, TX
77210-4399. Phone: 800-959-4246
ALL sections must be fully completed.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. EMPLOYEE INFORMATION (please print)
Participant
--------------------------------- Birth Date / /
First Name Middle Last Name ---- ---- ---
Address
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State Zip Code
Social Security # Daytime Telephone
-------------------- -------------------
Employer
-------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. INVESTMENT INFORMATION (Minimum investment in any AIM Fund is $25 per pay
period per Fund.)
CONTRIBUTIONS:
[ ] I will be making salary-deferral contributions in the amount of
$_______________ or______% of compensation.
[ ] This is a transfer of 403(b) assets only; no salary-deferral
contribution will be made at this time.
Each contribution to the Custodial Account shall be invested in the
following AIM Funds in the amounts specified.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EQUITY FUNDS $ OR % OF ASSETS CLASS OF SHARES FIXED INCOME FUNDS $ OR % OF ASSETS CLASS OF SHARES
(CHECK ONE) (CHECK ONE)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
AIM Blue Chip Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B AIM Balanced Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
------------ ------------
AIM Capital AIM Global Income Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
Development Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B ------------
------------ AIM Intermediate
AIM Charter Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B Government Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
------------ ------------
AIM High Yield Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
AIM Global Aggressive ------------
Growth Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B AIM Income Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
------------ ------------
AIM Global Growth Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
------------ AIM Limited Maturity
AIM Constellation Fund $ Class [ ] A Treasury Shares $ Class [ ] A
------------ ------------
AIM Growth Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B MONEY MARKET FUNDS $
------------ ------------
AIM Money Market Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B [ ] C
AIM International ------------
Equity Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B Total $
------------ ------------
AIM Global Utilities
Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
------------
AIM Value Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
------------
AIM Weingarten Fund $ Class [ ] A [ ] B
------------
</TABLE>
If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be purchased, except
in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, where Class C Shares will be
purchased.
BILLING: PLEASE CONFIRM WITH YOUR EMPLOYER THAT THIS IS REQUIRED BEFORE
COMPLETING THIS SECTION. MY EMPLOYER HAS REQUESTED THAT AIM FORWARD A
BILLING EACH MONTH FOR SUBMISSION OF MY ON-GOING SALARY-DEFERRAL
CONTRIBUTION. (NOTE: BILLING IS ONLY AVAILABLE WHEN AN ORGANIZATION HAS 10
OR MORE 403(B) PARTICIPANTS WITH AIM.)
PLEASE REMIT THE BILLING TO:
Employer's Name Attention
-------------------------- -------------------
Address Telephone
---------------------------------- -------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. ACCOUNT OPTIONS
Please indicate options you desire, if any.
TELEPHONE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. Unless indicated below, I authorize the
Transfer Agent to accept from any person instructions to exchange shares in
my account(s) by telephone for shares of other AIM Funds within the same
Class of Shares, in accordance with the procedures and conditions set forth
in the Fund's current prospectus.
[ ] I DO NOT want the telephone exchange privilege.
11
<PAGE>
REDUCED SALES CHARGE (optional/available for Class A shares only)
Right of Accumulation
I apply for Right of Accumulation reduced sales charges based on the
following accounts in The AIM Family of Funds(--Registered Trademark--):
Fund(s) Account No(s).
--------------------------- -------------------------
LETTER OF INTENT
I agree to the Letter of Intent provisions in the prospectus. I plan to
invest during a 13-month period a dollar amount of at least:
[ ]$25,000 [ ]$50,000 [ ]$100,000 [ ]$250,000 [ ]$500,000 [ ]$1,000,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
Primary Beneficiary:
I hereby designate the following individual(s) to receive the full value of
the assets of my 403(b) plan with A I M Distributors, Inc. upon my death.
This revokes any and all prior Beneficiary Designations made by me and
filed with the Custodian. (If you designate a beneficiary other than your
spouse, your spouse must acknowledge the designation by signing this form.)
Full Name
------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Security #
----------------------------------------------------------
Relationship
---------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of Assets
-------------------------------------------------------
Please complete and sign the beneficiary designation. We cannot accept this
application without proper designation of beneficiary. If you wish to
identify additional or contingent beneficiaries, please attach a separate
letter identifying the same information requested above.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I hereby adopt the A I M Distributors, Inc. 403(b)(7) Custodial Agreement
appointing Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company as Custodian. I have
received and read the current prospectus of the investment company(ies)
selected in this agreement and have read and understand the 403(b)(7)
custodial agreement and consent to the custodial account fee as specified.
I understand that an annual AIM 403(b)(7) Maintenance Fee (currently $10)
will be deducted in early December from my 403(b)(7) Fund account.
Under the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983, the Fund is
required to have the following certification. Please refer to the Fund
prospectus for complete instructions regarding backup withholding. Under
the penalties of perjury, I certify that (i) the number shown in Section 1
is my correct Social Security/Taxpayer Identification Number and (ii) I am
not subject to backup withholding because the Internal Revenue Service (a)
has not notified me that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of
failure to report all interest or dividends, or (b) has notified me that I
am no longer subject to backup withholding (does not apply to real estate
transactions, mortgage interest paid, the acquisition or abandonment of
secured property, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement
[403(b)(7)], and payments other than interest and dividends).
Certification Instructions-You must cross out item (b) above if you have
been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup
withholding because of underreporting of interest or dividends on your tax
return.
[ ] Exempt from Backup Withholding (i.e. exempt entity as described in the
prospectus)
[ ] Nonresident alien [Form(s) W-8 attached]
Your Signature Date / /
------------------------------------------- --- --- ---
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. BROKER/DEALER INFORMATION:
Name of Broker/Dealer Firm
-------------------------------------------------
Branch Address
-------------------------------------------------------------
Rep. Name and Number
-------------------------------------------------------
Rep. Signature
-------------------------------------------------------------
Rep. Telephone
----------------------
12 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc.
<PAGE>
403(b) PLAN [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
ASSET-TRANSFER FORM
To move assets from another 403(b) custodian to AIM.
Use this form only when transferring assets from an existing 403(b)
(account # __________) to an AIM 403(b) (account # __________).
If you do not already have an AIM 403(b), you must also submit a 403(b)
Application. AIM will arrange the transfer for you.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. INVESTOR INFORMATION (please print)
Name
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip
----------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Social Security Number Daytime Telephone
----------------- ----------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CURRENT CUSTODIAN
Name of Resigning Trustee Account Number
--------------- -------------------
Address of Resigning Trustee
-----------------------------------------------
City State Zip
----------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Attention Telephone
------------------------------ -------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. 403(b) ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Please deposit proceeds in my
[ ] existing [ ] new*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EQUITY FUNDS $ OR % OF ASSETS CLASS OF SHARES (CHECK ONE)
<S> <C> <C>
AIM Blue Chip Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Capital Development Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Charter Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Global Aggressive Growth Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Global Growth Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Constellation Fund $ [ ] Class A
-------------------------------
AIM Growth Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM International Equity Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Global Utilities Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Value Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Weingarten Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
FIXED INCOME FUNDS CLASS OF SHARES (CHECK ONE)
AIM Balanced Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Global Income Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Intermediate Government Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM High Yield Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Income Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B
-------------------------------
AIM Limited Maturity Treasury Shares $ [ ] Class A
-------------------------------
MONEY MARKET FUNDS CLASS OF SHARES (CHECK ONE)
AIM Money Market Fund $ [ ] Class A [ ] Class B [ ] Class C
-------------------------------
Total $
-------------------------------
</TABLE>
If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be purchased, except
in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, where Class C Shares will be
purchased.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS
To Resigning Trustee or Custodian:
Please liquidate [ ] all or [ ] part of the account(s) listed in Section 2
and transfer the proceeds to my 403(b) account with Boston Safe Deposit and
Trust Company.
13
<PAGE>
[ ] Partial amount to transfer $
-------------------
[ ] immediately [ ] at maturity ( / / )
---- ---- ----
[ ] Please transfer "In Kind" [ ] all [ ] part of the shares of the AIM
Fund held in my account to Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company.
Percent of shares to transfer %
-----
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I have established a 403(b) account with the AIM Funds and have appointed
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company as the successor Custodian. Please
accept this as your authorization and instruction to liquidate or transfer
in kind the assets noted above, which your company holds for me.
Your Signature Date / /
------------------------------------ ---- ---- ----
Note: Your resigning trustee or custodian may require your signature to be
guaranteed. Call that institution for requirements.
Name of Bank or Firm
-------------------------------------------------------
Signature Guaranteed by
----------------------------------------------------
(Name & Title)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CUSTODIAN ACCEPTANCE
This is to advise you that Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company, as
custodian, will accept the account identified above for:
Depositor's Name Account Number
------------------------------- ------------
This transfer of assets is to be executed from fiduciary to fiduciary and
will not place the participant in actual receipt of all or any of the plan
assets. No federal income tax is to be withheld from this transfer of
assets.
Authorized Signature
---------------------------------------------------
(Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company)
Mailing Date / /
---- ---- ----
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
Please attach a copy of this form to the check. Indicate account number on
all documents. Return this completed form and completed 403(b) Application
to Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company, c/o A I M Fund Services, Inc.,
P.O. Box 4399, Houston, TX 77210-4399. Phone: 800-959-4246.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. DISTRIBUTION ELECTION INFORMATION
If this participant is age 70-1/2 or older this year, the resigning
Trustee/Custodian must complete this section. Election made by the
participant as of the required beginning date:
1. Method of calculation (check one): [ ] declining years
[ ] recalculation
2. Life expectancy (check one): [ ] single life payout
[ ] joint life payout*
3. The amount withheld from this transfer to satisfy this year's required
distribution: $
-------------------
Were any previous distributions made to the participant this year?
[ ] No [ ] Yes $
------------------------------
The factor used to calculate this required payment was
---------------------
Name of Designated Beneficiary
--------------------------------------------
Relationship Date of Birth / /
------------------------------------ --- --- ---
Signature of Current Custodian/Trustee
-------------------------------------
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc.
14
<PAGE>
403(b) PLAN
EXCHANGE AND CONTRIBUTION CHANGE FORM [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. PARTICIPANT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT)
Employee Name
--------------------------------------------------------------
Social Security Number Account Number
---------------------- ---------------
Employer Name
--------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. FUND EXCHANGE
An AIM Fund exchange is the transfer of existing fund assets from one AIM
Fund to another AIM Fund. Please consult your investment adviser first.
Fund exchanges will not effect how your future 403(b) contributions are
invested. You must indicate under the 403(b) Contribution Section any
changes with respect to your future contribution.
From AIM Fund to AIM Fund Shares, or $ or %
---------- --------- ----- ---- ----
From AIM Fund to AIM Fund Shares, or $ or %
---------- --------- ----- ---- ----
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. 403(b) CONTRIBUTIONS
MARK BELOW THE STATEMENT THAT APPLIES
[ ] All future contributions are to be invested as previously indicated.
[ ] All future contributions (indicate % or dollar amount) are to be
invested as indicated below.
INVESTMENT SELECTION
I wish to change the investment of my future 403(b) contributions to the
AIM Funds listed below. This change is to be effective with the first
payroll contribution received following receipt of this form.
A. Fund %
--------------------------------- -----------------------
B. Fund %
--------------------------------- -----------------------
C. Fund %
--------------------------------- -----------------------
D. Fund %
--------------------------------- -----------------------
Total: 100%
Signature Date
--------------------------------------- ------------------
Please return the completed form to A I M Fund Services, Inc.,
Attn: Qualified Plan Services Department, P.O. Box 4399, Houston, TX
77210-4399. Phone: 800-959-4246.
If you have any questions, please call one of our Client Services
Representatives. Please retain a photocopy of this form for your records.
15 A I M Distributors, Inc.
<PAGE>
403(b) PLAN
AGREEMENT FOR SALARY DEFERRAL [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
Use this form only if your employer does not supply you with its own form.
Submit this form to your employer.
[ ] Original Authorization
[ ] Amended Authorization
BY THIS AGREEMENT MADE BETWEEN
(the "Employee")
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Please Print)
and
(the "Employer")
-----------------------------------------------------------
the parties hereto agree as follows:
Effective with the paycheck dated ______________________________ , 19_____
(which date is subsequent to the date of execution of this Agreement), the
Employee's basic salary will be deferred by the amount indicated in item
(1) or (2) below, as designated by the Employee.
This Agreement shall be legally binding and irrevocable as to each of the
parties hereto while employment continues; provided, however, that either
party may terminate this Agreement by giving at least 30 days written
notice of the date of termination.
The amount of the Employee's salary deferral cannot exceed the Exclusion
Allowance under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or the
limitations under Section 402(g) and 415 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The amount of the Employee's salary deferral will be: (select one)
1. $ per pay period beginning .
------------------- --------------------------
2. % of basic salary beginning .
------------------ -------------------------
It is understood that the amount of such salary deferral will be sent by
the Employer directly to A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 4399, Houston,
Texas 77210-4399. Checks should be made payable to Boston Safe Deposit and
Trust Company. If your employer is requesting a billing from AIM, please
indicate this on the application.
Signed this day of , 19 .
---------------------- --------------------------- ----
Employee Signature
---------------------------------------------------------
Signed this day of , 19 .
---------------------- --------------------------- ----
Name of Employer
-----------------------------------------------------------
By
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Accepted)
Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------
17 A I M Distributors, Inc.
<PAGE>
403(b) PLAN
SALARY-DEFERRAL WORKSHEET [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. INSTRUCTIONS
Under current IRS rules, the maximum amount you may defer from your salary
is based upon a formula using a number of factors, including current
salary, years of service, type of employer, and plan contributions made on
your behalf in past years.
Simplified, the contribution to your 403(b) plan is the lesser of:
o Basic Exclusion Allowance
o 20% of your gross salary
o $9,500
It is important not to exceed the maximum permitted contribution in any tax
year. Excess contributions may be subject to federal taxes unless corrected
by April 15 of the tax year following the tax year for which the
contribution is made. Excess contributions, not corrected, are also subject
to a 6% non-deductible annual excise tax.
Please note that some employees of certain church organizations and
employees of more than one qualified organization are subject to somewhat
different limitations. Also, special "catch-up" provisions may permit you
to exceed the basic limits. If you think you may qualify for such special
treatment, consult your tax adviser for details.
The worksheet below will help you determine the amount you may defer.
However, you may be required to further reduce this amount if your employer
is making plan contributions in addition to your deferrals or you are
currently making salary-deferral contributions to other retirement plans.
You should keep this worksheet for your own records. Do not return it to
AIM.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. WORKSHEET DEFINITIONS
Current Salary $ = Current annual salary (before
--------------- salary-deferral contributions)
Service Years = Years of service with current
--------------- employer (enter whole and fractional
years; however, if less than 1 year,
use "1" year).
Prior Contributions $ = All contributions (excluding this
--------------- year's salary deferrals) made by
your present employer to a pension
or profit sharing plan, state
teachers retirement plan,403(b)
plan, 457 deferred compensation
plan or SEP-IRA.
Prior Deferrals $ = All salary deferrals made to 403(b)
--------------- plans, including tax-sheltered
annuities, 457 plans (relating to
state deferred compensation plans),
SAR-SEP, and 401(k) plans on your
behalf by your present employer in
past years.
Current Deferrals $ = Your salary-deferral contributions
--------------- made in the current tax year. This
amount may be zero or the amount
deferred year to date.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. BASIC EXCLUSION ALLOWANCE FOR SALARY DEFERRALS:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
a. $ x x .1667 = $
------------------------------------- --------------- ------------------------------
Current Salary Service Years
b. $ + $ = $
------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------------
Prior Contributions Prior Deferrals
c. $ - $ = $
------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------------
Total Line a Total Line b Basic Exclusion Allowance
d. $ x .20 = $
------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Current Salary Employer's Contribution Limit
e. $9,500 - = $
----------------------------- ------------------------------
Current Year's Salary Deferral Salary Deferral Limit
f. Your Basic Salary Deferral Limit is the lesser of c, d, or e = $
------------------------------
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE>
4. SPECIAL INCREASE IN DOLLAR LIMITATION:
This option is only available if you have at least 15 years of service with
the same qualified employer. This Special Increase in the Dollar Limitation
may permit you to exceed the $9,500 salary-deferral limit.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
g. ($5,000 x ) - $ = $
-------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------------
Service Years Prior Deferrals
h. Total of Special Increase Dollars(1) used in prior years
under this option = $
-----------------------------
i. $15,000 - $ = $
------------------------ -----------------------------
Amount on Line h
j. Lesser of lines g or i or $3,000 = $
-----------------------------
k. $9,500 + = $
--------------------------- -----------------------------
Amount on Line j Special Deferral Limit
l. The maximum amount you can defer is the lesser of lines
c, d, or k = $
-----------------------------
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. "CATCH-UP" OPTIONS
Employees of a qualified organization(2) may elect to use one of three
special "catch-up" options to increase your 403(b) contribution. Each
option is irrevocable and once chosen, no other "catch-up" option may be
used in future years. However, an individual may choose to use the Basic
Exclusion Allowance in any year instead of the "catch-up" option. NOTE: The
"catch-up" options calculate the total amount your employer plus you may
contribute. Your salary deferral may not exceed $9,500 even if the total
"catch-up" amount is greater than $9,500.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION A-May be elected only in the year in which the participant separates
from service.
<S> <C>
m. Amount on line c, recalculated using steps a, b, c based on
only the last 10 years of service = $
------------------------------
n. The option's limit is the lesser of line m or $30,000
(Your salary-deferral contribution is limited to $9,500.) = $
------------------------------
OPTION B-May be elected in any year of service.
o. Amount on line c = $
------------------------------
p. $3,200 + $ = $
---------------------- ------------------------------
Total Line d
q. Option b overall limit = $ $15,000
------------------------------
r. The maximum contribution under this option is the lesser
of line o, p or q
(Your salary-deferral contribution is limited to $9,500.) = $
------------------------------
OPTION C-May be elected in any year of service.
s. x .20 = $
--------------------------- ------------------------------
Current Salary
t. The maximum contribution under this option is the lesser
of line s, or $30,000
(Your salary-deferral contribution is limited to $9,500.) = $
------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Special Increase in Dollar Limitation permits you an additional
lifetime contribution up to $15,000, not to exceed $3,000 extra in any one
year. Step h accounts for previous contributions made under this option.
(2) A "qualified organization" is an educational organization [described
in IRC Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)], hospital, home health service agency
[described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and which has been determined by the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to be a home health agency, as
defined in Section 1861(o) of the Social Security Act], health and welfare
service agency, church or convention or association of churches [described
in IRC Section 414(e)] or an organization which is exempt from tax under
IRC Section 501 and which is controlled by or associated with a church or a
convention or association of churches.
You should review these calculations with your tax adviser. You may also
want to consult the Internal Revenue Service Publication 571 as an
additional source of information. The Custodian, its agent or the sponsor
of the AIM 403(b) Plan will not provide legal or tax advice, nor calculate
your 403(b) plan contributions.
20 [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc.
<PAGE>
403(b)(7) PLAN
CUSTODIAL AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I. EFFECTIVE DATE
This AIM 403(b)(7) Custodial Agreement shall become effective on the date on
which the Custodian or its agent, A I M Distributors, Inc., receives
incorporated AIM 403(b)(7) Application executed by the Employee.
ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS
2.01. ACCOUNT OR FUND(S) means the separate account or accounts established
and maintained by the Custodian for an Employee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.02. AGREEMENT OR AIM 403(b)(7) AGREEMENT means this document and the
Application.
2.03. AIM FUND(S) means any of the mutual funds which are distributed by
A I M Distributors, Inc. and are part of The AIM Family of Funds--Registered
Trademark--.
2.04. APPLICATION OR AIM 403(b)(7) APPLICATION means the document(s) which
established the Agreement and is (are) executed by the Employer, Employee and
Custodian.
2.05. BENEFICIARY means the person or persons (including entities) designated
by the Employee as entitled to receive the Account balance, if any, at the
Employee's death. If at the time of the Employee's death, no designated
Beneficiary is alive, Beneficiary shall mean the Employee's surviving spouse or,
if the Employee does not have a surviving spouse, the Employee's estate.
2.06. CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.07. CONTRIBUTIONS shall mean Salary Reduction Contributions and/or Employer
Contributions.
2.08. CUSTODIAN means the party who executed the Application as Custodian,
and any successor thereto, provide that such successor is either a bank or
another person who satisfies the requirements of Code Section 401(f)(2).
2.09. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY means a form executed and submitted to the
Custodian in accordance with the terms of Article IX.
2.10. DISABILITY means the inability of the Employee to engage in any
substantial gainful activity because of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or to be of
long-continued and indefinite duration. The Employee shall not be considered to
be suffering from Disability until the Custodian has received certification from
the Employer to such effect.
2.11. DISTRIBUTOR means A I M Distributors, Inc. and any successor thereto.
2.12. EMPLOYEE means an individual who is employed by the Employer and who
has properly executed the Application.
2.13. EMPLOYER means the employer who is listed on the Application.
2.14. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS mean the amount, if any, transmitted by the
Employer to the Custodian for addition to the Employee's Account other than
Salary Reduction Contributions.
2.15. SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTION means the amount not included in the
Employee's compensation pursuant to a written salary reduction agreement and
transmitted by the Employer to the Custodian for addition to the Employee's
Account.
ARTICLE III. MAINTENANCE OF A CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT
3.01. SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ACCOUNT. The Employee may make
Salary Reduction Contributions to the Account. Any salary reduction agreement
between the Employer and the Employee shall be effective only as to amounts
earned by the Employee after such agreement becomes effective. Each such
agreement shall be legally binding and irrevocable with respect to compensation
subsequently earned. A salary reduction agreement may be terminated by written
notice received at least 30 days prior to the date of termination. The Employer
and Employee shall not enter into more than one salary reduction agreement in
any one taxable year of the Employee.
3.02. TRANSFERS TO AND FROM THE ACCOUNT. All direct or indirect asset
transfers to an Account from an existing custodial account described in Code
Section 403(b)(7) or an annuity contract qualified under Code Section 403(b)(1)
shall be in cash unless the Custodian otherwise consents. Direct transfers into
an account may be accepted to the extent permitted by the Code. The Employee has
the right by proper written instruction to cause a transfer of cash or, if
agreed to by the Custodian, shares of AIM Fund(s) to another custodial account
described in Code Section 403(b)(7), an annuity contract qualified under Code
Section 403(b)(1), an individual retirement account described in Code Section
408(a) or an individual retirement annuity described in Code Section 408(b).
3.03. ROLLOVERS TO THE ACCOUNT. The Employee shall be permitted to make
rollover contributions to the Account of an amount received by the Employee that
is attributable to participation in another annuity or custodial account which
meets the requirements of Section 403(b) of the Code. Neither the Custodian nor
the Distributor shall have responsibility to ensure that contributions under
3.02 or 3.03 satisfy the applicable provisions of the Code.
3.04. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS. In addition to Salary Reduction Contributions,
the Employer may make a contribution to the Account on behalf of the Employee in
accordance with any retirement plan, fund or program for which the Employee is
eligible, subject to the limitations under 3.05.
3.05. CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.
(a) Unless the Employee has made a special election as described under
Section 415(c)(4) of the Code, the total amount of annual additions that may be
made to the Account on behalf of the Employee for any limitation year shall not
exceed the lesser of:
(i) $30,000 (or, if greater, one-fourth the defined benefit plan
dollar limitation in effect under Section 415(b)(1) of the Code for the
limitation year); or
(ii) 25 percent of the Employee's compensation (within the meaning of
Section 415(c)(3) of the Code) for the limitation year.
(b) For purposes of this subsection (a) above, the term "annual additions"
shall include contributions to the Account under 3.01 (pertaining to Salary
Reduction Contributions) for the limitation year.
(c) The term "limitation year" shall mean the calendar year, unless the
Employee elects to change the limitation year to another twelve-month period by
attaching a statement to his or her federal income tax return in accordance with
the regulations under Section 415 of the Code. If the Employee is in control of
the Employer (within the meaning of Code Section 414(b) or (c), as modified by
Code Section 415(h)), the limitation year shall be the same as the limitation
year of the Employer under Section 415 of the Code.
(d) If the Employer or any affiliated employer as described in Section
415(h) of the Code makes contributions on behalf of the Employee to any other
annuity contract described in Section 403(b) of the Code, then the contributions
to such annuity contract shall be combined with the contributions to the Account
for purposes of the limitations of subsection (a) above.
3.06. LIMITATIONS ON SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTIONS. For any taxable year
beginning after December 31, 1986, Salary Reduction Contributions shall not
exceed the amount of $9,500, as adjusted in accordance with Code Section
402(g)(4), or such greater amount as may be permitted with respect to the
Employee for the taxable year under Code Section 402(g)(8).
ARTICLE IV. INVESTMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS
4.01. PURCHASE OF SHARES. As soon as is practical after the Custodian
receives a Contribution, it shall invest such Contribution in shares of the
designated AIM Fund(s).
4.02. REPORTS AND VOTING OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall deliver to
the Employee or, if applicable, his other Beneficiary, any notices,
prospectuses, financial statements, proxies and proxy solicitation materials
received by it with respect to investments made for the Employee's Account.
4.03. DIVIDEND. All capital gain distributions and dividends received on the
shares of the selected AIM Fund(s) shall be automatically reinvested in shares
of the Fund consistent with the Employee's investment instruction in effect on
the date such dividend or distribution is paid.
ARTICLE V. DISTRIBUTIONS AND WITHDRAWALS
5.01. INSTRUCTIONS TO CUSTODIAN. The Custodian shall not be responsible for
making any distributions until such time as it has been notified in writing by
the Employee to begin making distributions. No distribution will be made upon
the death of the Employee unless the Custodian has been notified in writing of
the Employee's death. The Custodian may require adequate verification of such
death. Distributions to the Employee (or, if applicable, his or her Beneficiary)
of amounts in the Account shall be made in cash and/or, if the Distributor
consents, in kind.
5.02. EMPLOYEE WITHDRAWALS.
(a) After Attainment of Age 59-1/2. At any time after the Employee attains
age 59-1/2, he or she may withdraw amounts from his or her Account by making
written instructions to the Custodian as to the amounts to be so withdrawn.
(b) Hardship Withdrawals. An Employee who has a financial hardship,
as determined by the Employer, and who has made all available withdrawals
pursuant to the paragraph above and pursuant to the provisions of any other
plans of the Employer and any related entities of which he is a member and who
has obtained all available loans pursuant to the provisions of any other plans
of the Employer and any related entities of which he or she is a member may
withdraw from his Account an amount not to exceed the lesser of the balance of
21
<PAGE>
his Account or the amount determined by the Employer as being available for
withdrawal pursuant to this paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, financial
hardship means the immediate and heavy financial needs of the Employee. A
withdrawal based upon financial hardship pursuant to this paragraph shall not
exceed the amount required to meet the immediate financial need created by the
hardship and not reasonably available from other resources of the Employee. The
determination of the existence of an Employee's financial hardship and the
amount required to be distributed to meet the need created by the hardship shall
be made by the Employer. A withdrawal shall be deemed to be made on account of
an immediate and heavy financial need of an Employee if the withdrawal is on
account of:
(i) medical expenses described in Section 213(d) of the Code incurred by
the Employee, the Employee's spouse or any dependents of the Employee (as
defined in Section 152 of the Code);
(ii) purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of a principal residence of
the Employee;
(iii) payment of tuition for the next semester or quarter of
post-secondary education of the Employee, or the Employee's spouse, children or
dependents (as defined in Section 152 of the Code);
(iv) the need to prevent the eviction of the Employee from his principal
residence or foreclosure on the mortgage of the Employee's principal residence;
(v) such other financial needs which the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
may deem to be immediate and heavy financial needs through the publication of
revenue rulings, notices and other documents of general applicability; or
(vi) such other circumstances as the Employer determines, and certifies,
as an immediate and heavy financial need of the Employee in accordance with
applicable governmental regulations and procedures adopted by the Employer.
The decision of the Employer shall be final and binding, provided that all
Employees similarly situated shall be treated in a uniform and nondiscriminatory
manner. The above notwithstanding, (a) withdrawals under this paragraph from an
Employee's Account shall be limited to the sum of the Employee's Salary
Reduction Contributions to his Account, plus income allocable thereto and
credited to the Employee's Account as of December 31,1988, less any previous
withdrawals of such amounts. An Employee who makes a withdrawal under this
paragraph may not again make Salary Reduction Contributions or employee
contributions to the Account or to any other qualified or nonqualified plan of
the Employer or any related entity for a period of twelve months following such
withdrawal. Further, such Employee may not make Salary Reduction Contributions
to the Account or to any other plan maintained by the Employer or any related
entity for such Employee's taxable year immediately following the taxable year
of the withdrawal in excess of the applicable limit set forth in Section 402(g)
of the Code for such next taxable year less the amount of such Employee's Salary
Reduction Contributions for the taxable year of the withdrawal.All hardship
withdrawals shall be made by executing the Financial Hardship Form prescribed by
AIM Distributors and completed and signed by the Employer and filing such form
with AIM Distributors prior to the proposed date of withdrawal.
5.03. DISTRIBUTIONS AT SEPARATION FROM SERVICE. Unless the Employee otherwise
irrevocably elects in writing within 60 days after the Employee's separation
from service with the Employer, and the Custodian consents to such election,
distribution of the Account shall be made in a lump sum 90 days after the
Employee's separation from service. If the Employee makes such an election,
distribution of the Account shall not commence until the date specified in such
election unless the Employee earlier dies or becomes disabled as defined in this
Agreement.
If the Employee wishes to make such an irrevocable election, he or she may do
so by filing a written notice with the Custodian in a form acceptable to
the Custodian. The written notice to the Custodian shall list the date on which
distribution shall commence, the period over which distribution shall be made,
and amount(s) of each distribution. The Employee may not elect either (a) a date
for commencement of distribution which delays the commencement of distribution
from the Account beyond April 1 following the calendar year during which the
Employee attains age 70-1/2 or (b) a form of distribution which results in the
present value (determined at the time distribution commences) of payments to be
made to the Employee over the Employee's life expectancy (as determined under
Section 1.72-9 of the Treasury Regulations) equaling less than 50% of the
present value of the total payments to be made.
5.04. DISTRIBUTIONS AT THE EMPLOYEE'S DEATH. At the Employee's death, if such
Employee has not already specified the form of distribution, the Beneficiary (or
each beneficiary if there is more than one) may elect the form of distribution.
Such election, which will be irrevocable, must be in writing and provided to the
Custodian within 60 calendar days after the Custodian has received notification
of the Employee's death. If such an election is not made in the time provided,
distribution of the Account shall be made in a lump sum 90 days after the
Custodian receives notification of the Employee's death. Any form of
distribution must comply with the following requirements:
(a) Death While Receiving Distributions. If the Employee had already
begun to receive distributions from the Account and the Employee's spouse is not
the Beneficiary, the Account balance which remains at the time of the Employee's
death shall be distributed to the Beneficiary at least as rapidly as under the
distribution method being used at the time of the Employee's death.
(b) Death Prior to Receiving Distributions. If the Employee had not begun
to receive distributions at his or her death and the Employee's spouse is not
the Beneficiary, the entire Account balance which remains at the time of the
Employee's death shall be distributed to the Beneficiary either (i) within five
(5) years, or (ii) in installments over a period not exceeding the life
expectancy of the Beneficiary (as determined as of the date of the Employee's
death by using the return multiples contained in Section 1.72-9 of the Treasury
Regulations), provided that such distributions commence within one year after
the date of the Employee's death.
(c) Spousal Beneficiary. If the Employee's spouse is the Beneficiary,
regardless of whether distributions to the Employee have already commenced, this
Section 5.04 shall be applied to the spouse as though the spouse were the
Employee and, as though the spouse, as Employee, separated from service with the
Employer on the date of the Employee's death.
5.05. DISTRIBUTION UPON DISABILITY. If the Employee becomes disabled
as defined in this Agreement after his or her separation from service with the
Employer, he or she shall receive a lump sum distribution of the Account 90 days
after the date of such Disability unless, within 60 days after the date of such
Disability, the Employee elects another time for commencement and/or form of
distribution and the Custodian consents to such election. The Employee may not
elect either (a) a date for commencement of distribution which delays the
commencement of distribution from the Account beyond the first April 1 following
the calendar year during which the Employee attains age 70-1/2 or (b) a form of
distribution which results in the present value (determined at the time
distribution commences) of payments to be made to the Employee over the
Employee's life expectancy (as determined under Section 1.72-9 of the Treasury
Regulations) equaling less than 50% of the present value of the total payments
to be made.
5.06. DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS DEFERRAL. Upon written notice to the Custodian
from the Employee, by the first March 1 following the close of the taxable year
of the Employee, that "excess deferrals" (as that term is defined in Code
Section 402(g)(2)(A)) have been made with respect to the Account for such
taxable year, the Custodian shall distribute to the Employee such "excess
deferrals" not later than the first April 15 following the close of such taxable
year. The Employer shall have sole responsibilities for determining such an
excess deferrals and timely notification to the Custodian.
5.07. DISTRIBUTION TO INCOMPETENTS. If a distribution is payable to a person
known by the Custodian to be a minor or a person under a legal disability, the
Custodian may, in its absolute discretion, make all or any part of the
distribution to (a) a parent of such person, (b) the guardian, committee or
other legal representative, wherever appointed, of such person, including a
custodian for such person under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or similar act,
(c) any person having the control and custody of such person, or (d) to such
person directly.
ARTICLE VI. CUSTODIAN
6.01. DUTIES. The Custodian shall:
(a) Receive transmitted Contributions;
(b) Provide safekeeping for the assets in the Account;
(c) Collect income;
(d) Execute orders for purchase, sale or exchange of shares of the AIM
Fund(s) and make settlements in accordance with general practice;
(e) Maintain records of all transactions in the Account;
(f) Transmit to each Employee, not less frequently than annually,
appropriate statements of the amount of the Custodian's compensation, if any,
charged to the Account;
(g) File with the Internal Revenue Service and/or any other government
agency such returns, reports, forms and other information as may be prescribed
as the responsibility of the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian by the
applicable statue and regulations thereunder; and
(h) Perform all other duties and services consistent with the purposes and
intentions of this Agreement.
The Custodian may perform any of its administrative duties through other persons
designated by the Custodian from time to time, including persons otherwise
unaffiliated with the Custodian.
6.02. SHARE REDEMPTIONS. If cash funds are required to pay taxes, fees, or
other expenses pursuant to Article VI or to make payments to the Employee or his
or her Beneficiary pursuant to Article V, the Employee (or Beneficiary, if
applicable) shall redeem shares of the AIM Fund(s) held in the Employee's
Account.
6.03. LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITIES AND DUTIES.
(a) The Custodian shall be fully protected in acting or omitting to take
any action in reliance upon any document, order or other direction believed by
the Custodian to be genuine and properly given. Conversely, the Custodian shall
22
<PAGE>
be fully protected in acting or omitting to take any action in reliance on its
belief that any document, order or other direction either is not genuine or was
not properly given.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, 30 days after providing to the Employee
the statements required under Section 6.01(f), the Custodian shall be released
and discharged from all liability to the Employee or any third party as to the
matters contained in such statement unless the Employee files written objections
with the Custodian within such 30-day period.
(c) In no event shall the Custodian or Distributor be under a fiduciary
duty to the Employee in regard to the selection of investments or be liable for
any loss incurred on account of a selected investment.
(d) The Custodian and Distributor shall have no responsibility with regard
to the initial or continued qualification of the Account under Code Section
403(b)(7) or with regard to whether the Account or any Contributions
to the Account satisfy any applicable minimum participation, coverage or
nondiscrimination requirements under the Code.
(e) Neither the Custodian nor the Distributor shall be obligated to
determine the amount of any Contribution due or to collect any Contribution from
the Employee or Employer.
(f) Neither the Custodian nor the Distributor shall be held responsible for
determining the amount, character, or timing of any distribution to the
Employee.
(g) Neither the Custodian nor the Distributor shall have responsibility,
and the Employee shall have sole responsibility, with respect to the computation
of the Employee's "exclusion allowance" as defined in Code Section 403(b)(2),
any applicable limitation(s) on contributions under Code Section 402(g) and Code
Section 415(c), any election available to the Employee under Code Section 415,
or any matters relating to any tax consequences with respect to Contributions,
Account earnings, Account distributions, transfers or rollovers.
(h) The Custodian shall not be required to carry out any instructions not
given in accordance with this Agreement and neither the Custodian nor the
Distributor shall be liable for loss of income, or for appreciation or
depreciation in share value that shall result from the Custodian's failure to
follow instructions not given in accordance with this Agreement.
(i) If instructions are received that, in the opinion of the Custodian, are
unclear, neither the Custodian nor the Distributor shall be liable for loss of
income, or for appreciation or depreciation in share value during the period
preceding the Custodian's receipt of written clarification of the instructions.
(j) The Custodian shall have no responsibility to make any distribution or
process any withdrawal by order of the Employee or Beneficiary unless and until
the requisite written instructions specify the occasion for such action and the
Custodian is furnished with any and all applications, certificates, tax waivers,
signature guarantees and other documents (including proof of any legal
representative's authority) deemed necessary or advisable by the Custodian.
(k) The Custodian shall neither assume nor have any duty of inquiry about
any matter arising under the Plan.
(l) Neither the Custodian nor the Distributor shall have any liability to
the Employee or Beneficiary for any tax penalty or other damages resulting from
any inadvertent failure by the Custodian to make a distribution under this
Agreement.
(m) Neither the Custodian nor the Distributor shall be liable for interest
on temporary cash balances, if any, maintained in the Account.
(n) To the extent permitted by law, the Employee shall always fully
indemnify the Custodian and hold it harmless from any and all liability
whatsoever which may arise either (i) in connection with this Agreement and
matter which it contemplates (except that which arises due to the Custodian's
gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) with respect to making or
failing to make distribution, other than for failure to make distribution in
accordance with instructions therefore which are in full compliance with both
Article IX and this Section 6.03.
(o) Except as required by law, the Custodian shall not be obligated or
expected to commence or to defend a legal action or proceeding in connection
with this Agreement, unless the Custodian and the Employer agree that the
Custodian will defend a given legal action and the Custodian is fully
indemnified for so doing to its satisfaction.
(p) In no event shall the Employee, Employer, or Distributor have any
responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of the Custodian (or its
agents or designees) hereunder.
6.04. COMPENSATION. In consideration for its services hereunder, the
Custodian shall be entitled to receive the applicable fees specified in its then
current fee schedule, if any. The Custodian may substitute a revised fee
schedule from time to time upon 30 days' written notice to the Employer or
Employee. The Custodian shall be entitled to such reasonable additional fees as
it may from time to time determine for services required of it and not clearly
identified on the fee schedule.
6.05. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL. The Custodian may resign at any time
by giving at least 30 days' written notice to the Employer or Employee. The
Distributor may remove the Custodian hereunder by giving at least 30 days'
written notice to the Custodian. In each case, the Distributor shall designate a
successor custodian qualified pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, which successor
custodian shall accept such appointment by a writing to be submitted to the
Employer or Employee and the Custodian.
On the effective date of its resignation or removal, the Custodian shall
transfer to the designated successor custodian the assets and records (or copies
thereof) of the Account provided, however, that the Custodian may retain
whatever assets it deems necessary for payment of its fees, costs, expenses,
compensation and any other liabilities which constitute a charge on or against
the assets of the Account or on or against the Custodian.
ARTICLE VII. FEES, TAXES AND OTHER EXPENSES
Any income taxes or other taxes of any kind whatsoever that may be levied
or assessed upon or in respect of the Account (including any transfer taxes
incurred in connection with the investment and reinvestment of Account assets),
expenses, fees and administrative costs incurred by the Custodian in the
performance of its duties (including fees for legal services rendered to the
Custodian), and the Custodian's compensation as determined under Section 6.04,
if any, shall constitute a charge upon the assets of the Account. At the
Custodian's option, such fee, tax or expense shall be paid from the Account or
directly by the Employee.
ARTICLE VIII. PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
At no time shall any part of the Account be used for purposes other than for
the exclusive benefit of the Employee. The Employee's rights to Contributions
shall be nonforfeitable at all times after such Contributions are transferred to
the Custodian.
ARTICLE IX. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
Each Employee may submit to the Custodian a properly executed written
Designation of Beneficiary acceptable to the Custodian who will receive any
undistributed assets held in the Account at the time of the Employee's death.
Any such Designation of Beneficiary shall not be effective unless it is filed
during the Employee's lifetime with the Custodian at the Custodian's home
office. Whether or not fully dispositive of the Account, the most recently filed
Designation of Beneficiary accepted by the Custodian shall be controlling and
all previously filed designations shall be considered superseded and shall have
no effect. To the extent that the Account is not fully disposed of at the time
of the Employee's death, it shall go to the Employee's surviving spouse, if any;
otherwise, to the Employee's estate. If a Beneficiary dies while receiving
distributions, the portion of the Account to which the Beneficiary would have
been entitled (had he or she survived) shall be paid to the Beneficiary's
beneficiary or beneficiaries (or if impossible, to the Beneficiary's estate) in
a lump sum within 90 days after the Custodian receives notification of the
Beneficiary's death.
ARTICLE X. AMENDMENT
10.01. BY THE DISTRIBUTOR. The Distributor may amend this Agreement in
its entirety or any portion thereof. The Distributor shall provide copies of
such amendment to the Employer and/or Employee. Neither this Section nor any
other portion of this agreement shall impose on the Distributor an affirmative
obligation to amend the Agreement.
10.02. LIMITATIONS. No amendment shall be made:
(a) Which would cause or permit any part of the Account to be diverted to
purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the Employee and/or his or her
Beneficiary, or cause or permit any portion of such assets to revert to or
become the property of the Employer;
(b) Without the written consent of the Custodian; or
(c) Which would retroactively deprive any Employee of any benefit to which
he or she was entitled under the Agreement, unless such amendment is necessary,
in the opinion of counsel, to conform the Agreement to, or satisfy the
conditions of, Code Section 403(b), any other law, or any Governmental
regulation or ruling, provided that this prohibition shall not be construed to
prohibit prospective amendment of the Agreement (including prospective amendment
to eliminate a benefit) where such prospective amendment is permitted by law.
ARTICLE XI. TERMINATION
11.01. AUTOMATIC TERMINATION ON DISTRIBUTION. This Agreement shall terminate
when all the assets held in the Account established hereunder have been
distributed or otherwise transferred out of the Account.
11.02. TERMINATION ON DISQUALIFICATION. This Agreement shall terminate if,
after notification by the Internal Revenue Service that the Employee's Account
does not qualify under Code Section 403(b)(7), the Employer and/or Distributor
do not make the amendments necessary to so qualify the Account. On such
23
<PAGE>
termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall distribute in cash or in
kind, to the Employee or, in the event of the Employee's death, to the
Beneficiary, subject to the Custodian's right to reserve funds as provided in
Section 6.05.
ARTICLE XII. LOANS
12.01. LOAN APPLICATION AND CONDITIONS. The Custodian may make a loan to an
Employee from the Employee's Account upon the Custodian's receipt of the
Employee's written application in a form acceptable to the Custodian, provided
the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) each loan shall satisfy rules adopted by the Custodian regarding the
minimum and maximum loan amounts permitted, which rules may be changed at any
time, provided, however, that in no event shall the total of all outstanding
loans to any Employee exceed the lesser of $50,000 (reduced by the highest
outstanding balance of loans from Account during the one year period ending the
day before the day on which such loan is made), or 50% of the balance in the
Employee's Account;
(ii) each loan shall be evidenced by the Employee's execution of a personal
demand note on a form supplied or approved by the Custodian, and each note shall
specify a reasonable rate of interest as determined by the Custodian and shall
require that the loan be repaid by the Employee in approximately equal
installments (not less frequently than quarterly) over a specified period of
time not exceeding five years;
(iii) each loan shall be secured by the Employee's Account balance.
12.02. DEFAULT. If the Employee dies or fails to pay any installment of the
loan when due, the unpaid balance of the loan shall become immediately due and
payable. The Employee may satisfy the loan by paying the outstanding balance of
the loan within such time as may be specified in the note and according to rules
adopted by the Custodian. If the loan and interest are not repaid within the
time specified, the Custodian shall treat the unpaid balance as a deemed
distribution from the Employee's Account, and shall offset the unpaid balance
before making any distribution payment otherwise due under this Agreement to the
Employee or his Beneficiary.
If an Employee does not repay any portion of the principal amount of a loan
within the required term, the Employee shall continue to be liable for the
unpaid balance of the loan including interest owed on principal payments not
made.
12.03. RULES OF ADMINISTRATION. The Custodian shall adopt such rules as from
time to time it deems proper under this Article XII (including, but not limited
to rules regarding maximum and minimum amounts of loans, and permitted number of
loans outstanding) which rules shall be applied on a uniform and
non-discriminatory basis. The Custodian reserves the right to charge an
administrative fee for processing and maintaining loans.
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
13.01. APPLICABLE LAW. To the extent not preempted by Federal law, this
Agreement shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the
state in which the home office of the Custodian is located. No provision of this
Agreement shall be construed to conflict with any provision of an Internal
Revenue Service regulation, ruling or order affecting the status of this
Agreement under Code Section 403(b)(7).
13.02. EMPLOYER'S SIGNATURE. If the Employer does not sign the Application
and is not required to do so under the Code and the regulations thereunder, the
Employee, to the extent allowed by law, assumes all obligations and
responsibilities of the Employer under this Agreement.
13.03. CHANGE OF ADDRESS. The Employer or if permitted by the Custodian, the
Employee, shall notify the Custodian in writing of any change of address within
30 days of such change.
13.04. NOTICE. Any notice from the Custodian to the Employee pursuant to this
Agreement shall be effective when sent by U.S. Mail to the address of record of
the Employer or Employee. Any notice to the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement
shall be by first class mail addressed to its home of office.
13.05. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of the successors in interest of the parties hereto.
13.06. CONSTRUCTION. It is intended that this Agreement, together with the
other documents that compose the 403(b)(7) arrangement pursuant to which the
Employee's funds are invested under this Agreement, qualify as a custodial
account under Code Section 403(b)(7). This Agreement shall be construed and
limited by applicable laws, and the powers and discretions conferred hereunder
shall be exercised in a manner consistent with that purpose. Subject to the
foregoing provisions of this Section 12.06, in the event of any conflict between
these Articles I through XII and the documents incorporated in this Agreement by
reference, the provisions of these Articles I through Xll shall prevail.
13.07. SEPARABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid
or illegal for any reason, such determination shall not affect any remaining
provisions of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed and enforced
as if such invalid or illegal provision had never been included in this
Agreement.
13.08. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. In the event any applicable state or local
law, regulating or rule conflicts with and/or supplements the terms of this
Agreement, such law, regulation or rule shall be deemed to supersede and/or
supplement the terms of this Agreement, provided that the Distributor and the
Custodian receive written notice of such law, regulation or rule.
13.09. RETIREMENT PLAN PROVISIONS SHALL CONTROL. In the event Contributions
are being made to the Account pursuant to any retirement plan or program
sponsored by the Employer, to the extent any provisions of this Agreement are
inconsistent with such retirement plan or program, the provisions of the
Employer's retirement plan or program shall control, provided:
(a) such provisions are not contrary to the rules and regulations under
Section 403(b)(7) of the Code; and
(b) such provisions do not impose any additional responsibilities or
duties on the Custodian without its prior written consent. The Employer shall be
responsible for delivering the most recent copy of any such retirement plan or
program to the Custodian.
13.10. ERISA REQUIREMENTS. If the Agreement is determined to constitute part
of an "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Employer within
the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, then the Employer shall have sole responsibility and be solely
responsible for ensuring that such employee benefit plan complies at all times
within such law, including, but not limited to, any reporting and disclosure
requirement thereunder.
13.11. PLAN ADMINISTRATION. Absent a separate written agreement to the
contrary, neither the Custodian nor the Distributor shall be considered the plan
administrator for any purpose under the Code or the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended.
24
<PAGE>
AIM 403(b) PLAN
LOAN PROVISION TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please retain for your records
AMOUNT
o The maximum loan amount is the lesser of:
50% of your AIM 403 (b) Plan Employee account balance or $50,000 (reduced
by the highest outstanding loan balance in past 12 months).
o The minimum loan amount is $1,000.
o Each account may have no more than one outstanding loan at any time.
o Contact our Customer Service department at 1 (800) 949-4246 ext. 5222
for details.
o Loans are not available for AIM B Shares
LOAN DURATION
The maximum loan duration is five years. The AIM 403(b) Plan does not provide
an extended loan term for the purchase of a principal residence.(1)
RATE OF INTEREST
The interest rate shall be based on the prime rate plus one point as quoted in
The Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the month in which the loan
is granted.
AUTOMATIC REPAYMENT METHOD
If you choose this method, loan payments will be deducted directly from your
checking account on or about the twenty-fifth (25th) of each month, starting on
the second month following the issuance of the loan check. Repayments (principal
and interest) are applied to the particular fund from which the loan was
granted or the fund currently selected to receive repayments. IF A LOAN IS FROM
MORE THAN ONE FUND, THE LOAN REPAYMENTS MUST BE MADE TO ONE PREDESIGNATED AIM
FUND ONLY. (Repayments will not be accepted through payroll deductions.)
COUPON REPAYMENT METHOD
If this method is chosen, A I M Fund Services, Inc. (with its affiliates,
referred to in this agreement as "AIM") will provide you with a repayment
coupon booklet that specifies your monthly payment schedule for the duration of
the loan. You will be responsible for mailing your loan repayments and the
coupon stub directly to AIM. Payments must be received by the 25th of each
month, starting on the second month following the issuance of the loan check.
(continued)
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
AIM 403(b) PLAN
LOAN PROVISION TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please retain for your records
LOAN APPLICATION FEE
If you choose the Automatic Repayment Method, there is a $50 application fee.
If you choose the Coupon Repayment Method, the application fee is $100. The
application fees are non-refundable and must be paid by check (made payable to
A I M Fund Services, Inc.). The application fee must accompany the loan
application to initiate the loan process.
ANNUAL FEES
For the Automatic Repayment Method the annual fee is $25. The annual fee for
Coupon Repayment Method is $50. The annual fee is deducted directly from your
AIM 403(b) Plan account in early December and cannot be paid with a separate
check.
LOAN PROCESS
Participants wishing to exercise the AIM 403(b) Plan loan provision are required
to complete and sign the Loan Application, Promissory Note and Security
Agreement, Automatic Repayment Method Authorization Form (if applicable), and
Truth in Lending Disclosure Statement. When all documents are received in good
order, a check for the requested loan amount will be mailed to your address of
record within 10 business days.
REPAYMENT PROCEDURE
All loans must be repaid in monthly installments and within the lesser of five
years or by the time required distributions must begin at age 70 1/2 or before
all of the assets are transferred out of the account.
DEFAULT PROCEDURES
A default shall occur upon AIM's failure to receive two consecutive monthly
installments when due. In the event of default, AIM shall serve the Participant
with a written notice of default. Within fifteen (15) days of the date of such
notice, the Participant shall tender to AIM all outstanding principal and
interest payments due as of the date of the notice of default. If the
Participant fails to remit such amount, AIM may deem the outstanding principal
balance to be a distribution of the Participant's account and will generate a
Form 1099R in the amount of the deemed distribution at the end of the year.
PREPAYMENT
Loans may be prepaid at any time. There is no prepayment penalty. Please
contact a Qualified Plans Representative at 1-800-949-4246 ext. 5222 for your
pay-off amount.
SECURITY
As security for the payment of this note, the Participant hereby grants to AIM
a security interest in the Participant's account balance in the account.
IMPORTANT
AIM assumes no responsibility for current or future tax consequences resulting
from this transaction. Participants should consult their tax advisers for
information concerning their particular situations. Participants assume
responsibility for all tax consequences if monthly payments are not made on a
timely basis.
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
AIM 403(b) PLAN
LOAN APPLICATION
Please complete this loan application and send it with your application fee to
the address below. Once received, AIM will return the necessary documentation
to begin the loan process. Please allow 3-4 weeks for AIM to secure the
necessary documentation and to complete the loan process.
I hereby submit to AIM this application to borrow funds from my AIM 403(b)
Plan account.
Date of Application AIM Account No.
------------------------ -------------------
Social Security Number Date of Birth
--------------------- ---------------------
Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip
--------------------------------------- ------------- -----------
Phone: Home ( ) Work ( )
-------------------------- ------------------------
Please write in the name of each AIM fund from which the loan will be
withdrawn:
AIM Fund $
------------------------------------------- ---------------------
AIM Fund $
------------------------------------------- ---------------------
AIM Fund $
------------------------------------------- ---------------------
AIM Fund $
------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Total MUST equal amount of loan $
---------------------
REPAYMENTS: My loan repayments are to be made to the AIM _______________ Fund.
(ONE fund only)
All provisions of the AIM 403(b) Plan Custodial Agreement, as amended from time
to time, are incorporated herein by reference. Applicant assumes responsibility
for all tax consequences. AIM assumes no responsibility for current or future
tax consequences resulting from this transaction. We suggest that you consult
your tax adviser for information concerning your particular situation.
X
-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Applicant's Signature Date
IMPORTANT: A check made payable to A I M FUND SERVICES, INC. for your
non-refundable application fee must accompany this application to initiate the
loan process.
My loan repayment method is: [ ] Automatic Repayment ($50 application fee) or
[ ] Coupon Repayment ($100 application fee)
A I M Fund Services, Inc., Attn: 403(b) Loan Applications, P.O. Box 4399,
Houston, TX 77210-4399
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
AIM 403(b) PLAN
AUTOMATIC REPAYMENT METHOD AUTHORIZATION
The Automatic Repayment Method enables you to make monthly loan repayments via
bank drafts from your checking account. The bank drafts are an electronic
transfer of funds from your bank to AIM's bank through the National Automated
Clearing House Association (NACHA). Please verify whether your bank participates
in the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) before submitting
this authorization. (If it does not, you must repay your loan by monthly check
and the loan application fee is $100.) As soon as your bank has accepted your
authorization, and only if your bank is a member of the National Automated
Clearing House Association (NACHA), the amount of each payment will be
electronically deducted from your checking account on, or about, the
twenty-fifth (25th) of each month, starting the second month following the
issuance of the loan check. The bank will process the Electronic Fund Transfer
and a debit entry will appear on your checking account statement.
Please complete this form to authorize AIM to have your loan repayments
deducted from your personal checking account. Attach a voided personal check
in the space provided below.
Make each of my pre-authorized loan payments for $___________ (amount of
monthly loan repayment), and invest into the:
AIM ____________________ Fund.
ATTACH YOUR VOIDED CHECK HERE.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Doe 000
123 Main St.
Anywhere, USA 12345
______________________________________ $_____________________
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________ ___________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Bank
----------------------------------------------------------------
Address of Bank Bank Phone #
------------------------------- --------------------
Bank Account # ABA Routing #
------------------------------- -------------------
Please honor drafts on my account by A I M Fund Services, Inc. ("AIM"). Your
authority to so do shall continue until you receive further notice from me
revoking this authority. You may terminate your participation in this
arrangement by written notice either to AIM or me. I agree that your rights
with respect to each draft shall be the same as if it were drawn by me. I
further agree that should any draft be dishonored, with or without cause,
intentionally or inadvertently, you shall be under no liability whatsoever.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
Depositor's Name (please print) Signature (exactly as it appears on bank records)
-------------------------------------------------
Date
</TABLE>
Please complete and return to:
A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 4399, Houston, TX 77210-4399
Phone 800-949-4246 ext. 5242
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 14(e)
SIMPLE IRA APPLICATION [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
Complete Sections 1 - 10
Employee: Return completed application to your employer.
Employer: Return completed applications and check to: A I M Fund Services, Inc.,
P. O. Box 4739, Houston, TX 77210-4739.
Phone: 800-959-4246. Minors cannot open an AIM SIMPLE IRA Account. Make check
payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 PARTICIPANT INFORMATION (Please print or type)
Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Middle Last Name
Address
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State ZIP Code
Social Security Number Birth Date / /
-------------------- ------ ------ ------
Month Day Year
Home Telephone ( ) Work Telephone ( )
---- ------------------ ---- -------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 EMPLOYER INFORMATION (Please print or type)
Name Contact Person
--------------------------------------- ---------------
Address
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State ZIP Code
Phone ( )
---- ------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 DEALER INFORMATION (To be completed by registered securities dealer)
Name of Broker/Dealer Firm
------------------------------------------------
Home Office Address
-------------------------------------------------------
Representative Name and Number
---------------------------------------------
Authorized Signature of Dealer
---------------------------------------------
Branch Address
------------------------------------------------------------
Branch Phone Number ( )
--------- ------------------------
/ / Authorized for NAV purchase (If authorized for NAV purchase, other
than the Broker, please attach NAV Certification Form)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Date of Initial Deposit / /
------ ------ ------
Month Day Year
Contribution Type:
/ / Elective Deferral
/ / Employer Contribution
/ / Rollover from SIMPLE IRA
/ / Transfer from SIMPLE IRA
11
<PAGE>
5 FUND INVESTMENT
Indicate Fund(s) and contribution amount(s). MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO INVESCO
TRUST COMPANY (ITC)
<TABLE>
Fund Amount of Investment Class of Shares (check one)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
/ / AIM Advisor Flex Fund $_________________ / / A Shares (522) / / C Shares (322)
/ / AIM Advisor Income Fund _________________ / / A Shares (521) / / C Shares (321)
/ / AIM Advisor International Value Fund _________________ / / A Shares (526) / / C Shares (326)
/ / AIM Advisor Large Cap Value Fund _________________ / / A Shares (520) / / C Shares (320)
/ / AIM Advisor MultiFlex Fund _________________ / / A Shares (524) / / C Shares (324)
/ / AIM Advisor Real Estate Fund _________________ / / A Shares (525) / / C Shares (325)
/ / AIM Aggressive Growth Fund _________________ Fund Currently Closed To New Investors (407)
/ / AIM Blue Chip Fund _________________ / / A Shares (515) / / B Shares (615) / / C Shares (315)
/ / AIM Capital Development Fund _________________ / / A Shares (514) / / B Shares (614) / / C Shares (314)
/ / AIM Constellation Fund _________________ / / A Shares (002) / / B Shares (602) / / C Shares (302)
/ / AIM Limited Maturity Treasury Fund _________________ Only "A Shares" Available (007)
/ / AIM Balanced Fund _________________ / / A Shares (006) / / B Shares (685) / / C Shares (306)
/ / AIM Charter Fund _________________ / / A Shares (010) / / B Shares (645) / / C Shares (310)
/ / AIM Global Aggressive Growth Fund _________________ / / A Shares (081) / / B Shares (691) / / C Shares (381)
/ / AIM Global Growth Fund _________________ / / A Shares (082) / / B Shares (692) / / C Shares (382)
/ / AIM Global Income Fund _________________ / / A Shares (083) / / B Shares (693) / / C Shares (383)
/ / AIM Global Utilities Fund _________________ / / A Shares (408) / / B Shares (655) / / C Shares (308)
/ / AIM Growth Fund _________________ / / A Shares (406) / / B Shares (650) / / C Shares (350)
/ / AIM High Yield Fund _________________ / / A Shares (425) / / B Shares (675) / / C Shares (375)
/ / AIM Income Fund _________________ / / A Shares (402) / / B Shares (665) / / C Shares (365)
/ / AIM Intermediate Government Fund _________________ / / A Shares (404) / / B Shares (660) / / C Shares (360)
/ / AIM International Equity Fund _________________ / / A Shares (016) / / B Shares (694) / / C Shares (316)
/ / AIM Money Market Fund _________________ / / A Shares (401) / / B Shares (680) / / C Shares (380)
/ / AIM Cash Reserve Shares (421)
/ / AIM Value Fund _________________ / / A Shares (405) / / B Shares (690) / / C Shares (305)
/ / AIM Weingarten Fund _________________ / / A Shares (001) / / B Shares (640) / / C Shares (301)
Total $_________________
</TABLE>
(Please note that if no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be
purchased with the exception of the AIM Money Market Fund where AIM Cash
Reserve Shares will be purchased.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 TELEPHONE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Unless indicated below, I authorize A I M Fund Services, Inc., to accept
instructions from any person to exchange shares in my account(s) by
telephone in accordance with the procedures and conditions set forth in the
AIM Fund's current prospectus.
/ / I DO NOT want the Telephone Exchange Privilege.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 REDUCED SALES CHARGE (Optional)
Right of Accumulation (This option is for Class A shares only.) I apply for
Right of Accumulation reduced sales charges based on the following accounts
in The AIM Family of Funds-Registered Trademark-:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Fund(s)/Account No(s). Social Security No(s).
-------------- --------------
-------------- --------------
-------------- --------------
</TABLE>
LETTER OF INTENT
I agree to the Letter of Intent provisions in the prospectus. I plan to
invest during a 13-month period a dollar amount of at least:
/ / $25,000 / / $50,000 / / $100,000 / / $250,000
/ / $500,000 / / $1,000,000
12
<PAGE>
8 BENEFICIARY INFORMATION
I hereby designate the following beneficiary to receive the balance in my
SIMPLE IRA custodial account upon my death. To be effective, the
designation of beneficiary and any subsequent change in designation of
beneficiary must be filed with the Custodian prior to my death. The balance
of my account shall be distributed in equal amounts to the beneficiary(ies)
who survives me. If no beneficiary is designated or no designated
beneficiary or contingent beneficiary survives me, the balance in my IRA
will be distributed to the legal representatives of my estate. This
designation revokes any prior designations. I retain the right to revoke
this designation at any time. I hereby certify that there is no legal
impediment to the designation of this beneficiary.
PRIMARY BENEFICIARY(IES)
Name % Relationship
------------------------------ ----- -----------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State ZIP Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
--------------- ----- --- ----
Month Day Year
Name % Relationship
------------------------------ ----- -----------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State ZIP Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
--------------- ----- --- ----
Month Day Year
CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY
In the event that I die and no primary beneficiary listed above is alive,
distribute all Fund accounts in my SIMPLE IRA to the following contingent
beneficiary(ies) who survives me, in equal amounts. If more than on, please
attach a list.
Name % Relationship
------------------------------ ----- -----------------
Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Street City State ZIP Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number Birth Date / /
--------------- ----- --- ----
Month Day Year
13
<PAGE>
9 AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I hereby establish the A I M Distributors, Inc. SIMPLE Individual
Retirement Account appointing INVESCO Trust Company as Custodian. I have
received and read the current prospectus of the investment company(ies)
selected in this agreement and have read and understand the SIMPLE IRA
custodial agreement and disclosure statement and consent to the custodial
account fees as specified. I understand that a $10 annual AIM Fund SIMPLE
IRA Maintenance Fee will be deducted early in each December from my AIM
SIMPLE IRA.
WITHHOLDING INFORMATION (SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9)
Under the penalties of perjury I certify by signing this Application as
provided below that:
(1) The number shown in Section 1 of this Application is my correct Social
Security (or Tax Identification) Number, and
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from
backup withholding, (b) I have not been notified by the Internal
Revenue Service (the "IRS") that I am subject to backup withholding as
a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, (c) the IRS
has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding.
(This paragraph (2) does not apply to real estate transactions,
mortgage interest paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured
property, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement and
payments other than interest and dividends.)
YOU MUST CROSS OUT PARAGRAPH (2) ABOVE IF YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE IRS
THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING BECAUSE OF
UNDERREPORTING INTEREST OR DIVIDENDS ON YOUR TAX RETURN.
In addition, the Fund hereby incorporates by reference into this section of
the Application either the IRS instructions for Form W-9 or the substance
of those instructions whichever is included in the prospectus.
SIGNATURE PROVISIONS
I, THE UNDERSIGNED DEPOSITOR, HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE FOREGOING
APPLICATION AND THE ATTACHED MATERIAL INCLUDED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. IN
ADDITION, I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION WHICH I HAVE PROVIDED AND THE
INFORMATION WHICH IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE APPLICATION AND THE ATTACHED
MATERIAL INCLUDED HEREIN BY REFERENCE IS ACCURATE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO THE REPRESENTATIONS CONTAINED IN THE WITHHOLDING INFORMATION SECTION OF
THIS APPLICATION. [THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DOES NOT REQUIRE YOUR
CONSENT TO ANY PROVISION OF THIS DOCUMENT OTHER THAN THE CERTIFICATIONS
REQUIRED TO AVOID BACKUP WITHHOLDING.]
Dated / /
----- ----- -----
Month Day Year
Signature of SIMPLE IRA Shareholder
----------------------------------------
10 SERVICE ASSISTANCE
Our knowledgeable Client Service Representatives are available to assist
you between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Central time at 800-959-4246.
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
A I M Distributors, Inc. 12/97
14
<PAGE>
AIM SIMPLE IRA ASSET-TRANSFER FORM [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
USE THIS FORM ONLY WHEN TRANSFERRING ASSETS FROM AN EXISTING SIMPLE IRA TO AN
AIM SIMPLE IRA.
Note: Use this form ONLY if you want AIM to request the money directly from
another custodian.
Complete Sections 1 - 5.
If you do not already have an AIM SIMPLE IRA, you must also submit an AIM SIMPLE
IRA Application. AIM will arrange the transfer for you.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 INVESTOR INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Name Middle Last Name
Address
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Street
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State ZIP Code
Social Security Number Birth Date / /
-------------------- ------ ------ ------
Month Day Year
Home Telephone ( ) Work Telephone ( )
---- ------------------ ---- -------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CURRENT TRUSTEE/CUSTODIAN
Name of Resigning Trustee
--------------------------------------------------
Account Number of Resigning Trustee
----------------------------------------
Address of Resigning Trustee
-----------------------------------------------
Street
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State ZIP Code
Attention Telephone
------------------------ ------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 IRA ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Please deposit proceeds in my
/ / New*
/ / Existing AIM SIMPLE IRA Account Number
---------------------------
INVESTMENT ALLOCATION:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Fund Name Class %
----------------------------- ------------------- --------
Fund Name Class %
----------------------------- ------------------- --------
Fund Name Class %
----------------------------- ------------------- --------
</TABLE>
*If this is a new AIM SIMPLE IRA account, you must attach a completed AIM
SIMPLE IRA Application. If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares
will be purchased, except in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, where AIM
Cash Reserve Shares will be purchased.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
OPTION 1: Please liquidate from the account(s) listed in Section 2 and
issue a check in cash to my SIMPLE IRA with INVESCO Trust Company.
Amount to liquidate: / / All / / Partial amount of $
----------------
When to liquidate: / / Immediately / / At maturity / /
--- --- ---
OPTION 2: (If the account listed in Section 2 contains shares of an AIM
Fund, you may choose to transfer them "in kind.") Please deposit "in kind"
the shares of the AIM Fund held in my account to INVESCO Trust Company.
NOTE: ONLY AIM FUND SHARES MAY BE TRANSFERRED IN KIND. TO TRANSFER ALL
OTHER ASSETS, THEY MUST BE LIQUIDATED.
Amount to transfer "in kind": / / All / / Partial amount of shares
---------
15
<PAGE>
5 AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I have established a SIMPLE IRA with the AIM Funds and have appointed
INVESCO Trust Company as the successor Custodian. Please accept this as
your authorization and instruction to liquidate or transfer in kind the
assets noted above, which your company holds for me.
Your Signature Date / /
---------------------------------- ---- ---- ----
Note: Your resigning trustee or custodian may require your signature to be
guaranteed. Call that institution for requirements.
Name of Bank or Brokerage Firm
---------------------------------------------
Signature Guaranteed by
---------------------------------------------------
(Name and title)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 DISTRIBUTION ELECTION INFORMATION
SECTION 6 OF FORM TO BE COMPLETED BY PRIOR CUSTODIAN
If this participant is age 70 1/2 or older this year, the resigning
Trustee/Custodian must complete this section.
Election made by the participant as of the required beginning date:
1. Method of calculation / / declining years / / recalculation
/ / annuitization / / amortization
2. Life expectancy
/ / single life payout / / joint life expectancy factor-Joint birth
date and relationship
--------
3. The amount withheld from this rollover to satisfy this year's required
distribution $
------------------------------------------------------
The life-expectancy ages used to calculate this required payment was
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature of Current Custodian/Trustee
------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMAINDER OF FORM TO BE COMPLETED BY AIM
7 CUSTODIAN ACCEPTANCE
This is to advise you that INVESCO Trust Company, as custodian, will accept
the account identified above for:
Depositor's Name Account Number
--------------------------- ---------------
This transfer of assets is to be executed from fiduciary to fiduciary and
will not place the participant in actual receipt of all or any of the plan
assets. No federal income tax is to be withheld from this transfer of
assets.
Authorized Signature /s/ Illegible Mailing Date / /
---------------------------- ---- ---- ----
(INVESCO Trust Company)
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8 INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
Please attach a copy of this form to the check and return to:
INVESCO Trust Company, c/o A I M Fund Services, Inc., P. O. Box 4739,
Houston, TX 77210-4739.
Make check payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
Indicate the AIM account number and the social security number of the
SIMPLE IRA holder on all documents.
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
A I M Distributors, Inc. 12/97
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SIMPLE INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
FORM 5305-SA (December 1996)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service (under Sections 408(a) and 408(p) of the Internal
Revenue Code)
ARTICLE I
1.01 THE CUSTODIAN WILL ACCEPT CASH CONTRIBUTIONS made on behalf of the
participant by the participant's employer under the terms of a SIMPLE plan
described in section 408(p). In addition, the Custodian will accept transfers or
rollovers from other SIMPLE IRAs of the participant. No other contributions will
be accepted by the Custodian.
ARTICLE II
2.01 THE PARTICIPANT'S INTEREST in the balance in the custodial account is
nonforfeitable.
ARTICLE III
3.01 NO PART OF THE CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT MAY BE INVESTED IN LIFE INSURANCE
contracts, nor may the assets of the custodial account be commingled with other
property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund (within the
meaning of section 408(a)(5)).
3.02 NO PART OF THE CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT MAY BE INVESTED IN COLLECTIBLES
(within the meaning of section 408(m)) except as otherwise permitted by section
408(m)(3), which provides an exception for certain gold and silver coins and
coins issued under the laws of any state.
ARTICLE IV
4.01 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT to the contrary, the
distribution of the participant's interest in the custodial account shall be
made in accordance with the following requirements and shall otherwise comply
with section 408(a)(6) and Proposed Regulations section 1.408-8, including the
incidental death benefit provisions of Proposed Regulations section
1.401(a)(9)-2, the provisions of which are herein incorporated by reference.
4.02 UNLESS OTHERWISE ELECTED by the time distributions are required to
begin to the participant under paragraph 3, or to the surviving spouse under
paragraph 4, other than in the case of a life annuity, life expectancies shall
be recalculated annually. Such election shall be irrevocable as to the
participant and the surviving spouse and shall apply to all subsequent years.
The life expectancy of a nonspouse beneficiary may not be recalculated.
4.03 THE PARTICIPANT'S ENTIRE INTEREST IN THE CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT must be, or
begin to be, distributed by the participant's required beginning date (April 1
following the calendar year-end in which the participant reaches age 70 1/2). By
that date, the participant may elect, in a manner acceptable to the Custodian,
to have the balance in the custodial account distributed in:
(a) A single-sum payment.
(b) An annuity contract that provides equal or substantially equal
monthly, quarterly, or annual payments over the life of the participant.
(c) An annuity contract that provides equal or substantially equal
monthly, quarterly, or annual payments over the joint and last survivor lives of
the participant and his or her designated beneficiary.
(d) Equal or substantially equal annual payments over a specified
period that may not be longer than the participant's life expectancy.
(e) Equal or substantially equal annual payments over a specified
period that may not be longer than the joint life and last survivor expectancy
of the participant and his or her designated beneficiary.
4.04 IF THE PARTICIPANT DIES before his or her entire interest is
distributed to him or her, the entire remaining interest will be distributed as
follows:
(a) If the participant dies on or after distribution of his or her
interest has begun, distribution must continue to be made in accordance with
paragraph 3.
(b) If the participant dies before distribution of his or her interest
has begun, the entire remaining interest will, at the election of the
participant or, if the participant has not so elected, at the election of the
beneficiary or beneficiaries, either
(i) Be distributed by the December 31 of the year containing the
fifth anniversary of the participant's death, or
(ii) Be distributed in equal or substantially equal payments over
the life or life expectancy of the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries
starting by December 31 of the year following the year of the participant's
death. If, however, the beneficiary is the participant's surviving spouse, then
this distribution is not required to begin before December 31 of the year in
which the participant would have reached age 70 1/2.
(c) Except where distribution in the form of an annuity meeting the
requirements of section 408(b)(3) and its related regulations has irrevocably
commenced, distributions are treated as having begun on the participant's
required beginning date, even though payments may actually have been made before
that date.
(d) If the participant dies before his or her entire interest has been
distributed and if the beneficiary is other than the surviving spouse, no
additional cash contributions or rollover contributions may be accepted in the
account.
4.05 IN THE CASE OF A DISTRIBUTION OVER LIFE EXPECTANCY in equal or
substantially equal annual payments, to determine the minimum annual payment for
each year, divide the participant's entire interest in the custodial account as
of the close of business on December 31 of the preceding year by the life
expectancy of the participant (or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of
the participant and the participant's designated beneficiary, or the life
expectancy of the designated beneficiary, whichever applies). In the case of
distributions under paragraph 3, determine the initial life expectancy (or joint
life and last survivor expectancy) using the attained ages of the participant
and designated beneficiary as of their birthdays in the year the participant
reaches age 70 1/2. In the case of a distribution in accordance with section
404(b)(ii), determine life expectancy using the attained age of the designated
beneficiary as of the beneficiary's birthday in the year distributions are
required to commence.
4.06 THE OWNER OF TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS may use the
"alternative method" described in Notice 88-38, 1988-1 C.B. 524, to satisfy the
minimum distribution requirements described above. This method permits an
individual to satisfy these requirements by taking from one individual
retirement account the amount required to satisfy the requirement for another.
ARTICLE V
5.01 THE PARTICIPANT AGREES TO PROVIDE THE CUSTODIAN with information
necessary for the Custodian to prepare any reports required under sections
408(i) and 408(l)(2) and Regulations section 1.408-5 and 1.408-6.
5.02 THE CUSTODIAN AGREES TO SUBMIT REPORTS to the Internal Revenue Service
and the participant as prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service.
5.03 THE CUSTODIAN ALSO AGREES TO PROVIDE THE PARTICIPANT'S EMPLOYER the
summary description described in section 408(l)(2) unless this SIMPLE IRA is a
transfer SIMPLE lRA.
ARTICLE VI
6.01 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER ARTICLES which may be added or incorporated,
the provisions of Articles I through III and this sentence will be controlling.
Any additional articles that are not consistent with sections 408(a) and 408(p)
and related regulations will be invalid.
ARTICLE VII
7.01 THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE AMENDED from time to time to comply with the
provisions of the Code and related regulations. Other amendments may be made
with the consent of the persons whose signatures appear below.
ARTICLE VIII
8.01 APPLICABLE LAW: This Custodial Agreement shall be governed by the laws
of the state where the Trust resides.
8.02 ANNUAL ACCOUNTING: The Custodian shall, at least annually, provide the
Participant or Beneficiary (in the case of death) with an accounting of such
Participant's account. Such accounting shall be deemed to be accepted by the
Participant, if the Participant or Beneficiary does not object in writing within
60 days after the mailing of such accounting statement.
8.03 AMENDMENT: The Participant irrevocably delegates to the Custodian the
right and power to amend this Custodial Agreement. Except as hereafter provided,
the Custodian will give the Participant 30 days prior written notice of any
amendment. In case of a retroactive amendment required by law, the Custodian
will provide written notice to the Participant of the amendment within 30 days
after the amendment is made or, if later, by the time that notice of the
amendment is required to be given under regulations or other guidance provided
by the IRS. The Participant shall be deemed to have consented to any such
amendment unless the Participant notifies the Custodian to the contrary within
30 days after notice to the Participant and requests a distribution or transfer
of the balance in the account.
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8.04 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF CUSTODIAN:
(a) The Custodian may resign at any time by giving at least 30 days
notice to the Participant. The Custodian may resign and appoint a successor
trustee or custodian to serve under this agreement or under another governing
instrument selected by the successor trustee or custodian by giving the
Participant written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such
resignation and appointment, which notice shall also include a copy of such
other governing instrument, if applicable, and the related disclosure statement.
The Participant shall then have 30 days from the date of such notice to either
request a complete distribution of the account balance or designate a different
successor trustee or custodian. If the Participant does not request distribution
of the account or designate a different successor within such 30 days, the
Participant shall be deemed to have consented to the appointment of the
successor trustee or custodian and the terms of any new governing instrument,
and neither the Participant nor the successor shall be required to execute any
written document to complete the transfer of the account to the successor
trustee or custodian. The successor trustee or custodian may rely on any
information, including beneficiary designations, previously provided by the
Participant.
(b) The Participant may at any time remove the Custodian and replace
the Custodian with a successor trustee or custodian of the Participant's choice
by giving 30 days written notice to the Custodian. In such event, the Custodian
shall then deliver the assets of the account as directed by the Participant.
However, the Custodian may retain a portion of the assets of the SIMPLE IRA as a
reserve for payment of any anticipated remaining fees and expenses, and shall
pay over any remainder of this reserve to the successor trustee or custodian
upon satisfaction of such fees and expenses.
8.05 CUSTODIAN'S FEES AND EXPENSES:
(a) This Section 8.05 of the Custodial Agreement shall be governed by
the requirements of Section 408(p)(7) and IRS Notice 97-6, Section J, and is
further explained in the accompanying SIMPLE IRA Disclosure Statement.
(b) The Participant agrees to pay the Custodian any and all fees
specified in the Custodian's current published fee schedule for establishing and
maintaining this SIMPLE IRA, including any fees for distributions from,
transfers from, and terminations of this SIMPLE IRA. The Custodian may change
its fee schedule at any time by giving the Participant 30 days prior written
notice.
(c) The Participant agrees to pay any expenses incurred by the
Custodian in the performance of its duties in connection with the account. Such
expenses include, but are not limited to, administrative expenses, such as legal
and accounting fees, and any taxes of any kind whatsoever that may be levied or
assessed with respect to such account.
(d) All such fees, taxes, and other administrative expenses charged to
the account shall be collected either from the assets in the account or from any
contributions to or distributions from such account if not paid by the
Participant, but the Participant shall be responsible for any deficiency.
(e) In the event that for any reason the Custodian is not certain as
to who is entitled to receive all or part of the custodial account, the
Custodian reserves the right to withhold any payment from the custodial account,
to request a court ruling to determine the disposition of the custodial assets,
and to charge the custodial account for any expenses incurred in obtaining such
legal determination.
8.06 WITHDRAWAL REQUESTS: All requests for withdrawal shall be in writing
on the form provided by the Custodian. Such written notice must also contain the
reason for the withdrawal and the method of distribution being requested.
8.07 AGE 70 1/2 DEFAULT PROVISIONS:
(a) Unless the Custodian (or the Participant, if the Custodian
permits) elects otherwise, life expectancies for purposes of calculating the
required minimum distribution shall not be recalculated.
(b) If the Participant does not choose any of the distribution methods
under Section 4.03 of this Custodial Agreement by April 1st following the
calendar year in which he/she reaches age 70 1/2, distribution shall be made to
the Participant based on such Participant's single life expectancy.
8.08 DEATH BENEFIT DEFAULT PROVISIONS: Unless the Custodian (or the
Beneficiary, if the Custodian permits) elects otherwise, life expectancies for
purposes of calculating the required minimum death distribution shall not be
recalculated. If the Participant dies before his or her required beginning date
and the beneficiary does not select a method of distribution described in
section 4.04(b)(i) or (ii) by December 31st following the year of death, then
distributions will be made pursuant to proposed regulation 1.401(a)(9)-1.
8.09 INVESTMENT PROVISIONS: Pursuant to IRS Notice 97-6, Q&A J-4, if the
Custodian is the Designated Financial Institution (DFI) and the Participant
timely elects that his or her balance be transferred without cost or penalty to
another SIMPLE IRA in accordance with the provisions described in the
accompanying SIMPLE IRA Disclosure Statement, the Custodian reserves the right
to restrict the participant's choice of investment alternatives as determined by
the Custodian.
8.10 RESPONSIBILITIES: Participant agrees that all information and
instructions given to the Custodian by the Participant is complete and accurate
and that the Custodian shall not be responsible for any incomplete or inaccurate
information provided by the Participant or Participant's beneficiary(ies).
Participant agrees to be responsible for all tax consequences arising from
contributions to and distributions from this Custodial Account and acknowledges
that no tax advice has been provided by the Custodian.
8.11 DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY: Except as may be otherwise required by
State law, in the event of the Participant's death, the balance in the account
shall be paid to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Participant
on a beneficiary designation acceptable to and filed with the Custodian. The
Participant may change the Participant's beneficiary or beneficiaries at any
time by filing a new beneficiary designation with the Custodian. If no
beneficiary designation is in effect, if none of the named beneficiaries survive
the Participant, or if the Custodian cannot locate any of the named
beneficiaries after reasonable search, any balance in the account will be
payable to the Participant's estate.
ARTICLE IX
SELF-DIRECTED SIMPLE IRA PROVISIONS
9.01 INVESTMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS: At the direction of the Participant, the
Custodian shall invest all contributions to the account and earnings thereon in
investments acceptable to the Custodian, which may include marketable securities
traded on a recognized exchange or "over the counter" (excluding any securities
issued by the Custodian), covered call options, certificates of deposit, and
other investments to which the Custodian consents, in such amounts as are
specifically selected and specified by Participant in orders to the Custodian in
such form as may be acceptable to the Custodian, without any duty to diversify
and without regard to whether such property is authorized by the laws of any
jurisdiction as a trust investment. The Custodian shall be responsible for the
execution of such orders and for maintaining adequate records thereof. However,
if any such orders are not received as required, or, if received, are unclear in
the opinion of the Custodian, all or a portion of the contribution may be held
uninvested without liability for loss of income or appreciation, and without
liability for interest pending receipt of such orders or clarification, or the
contribution may be returned. The Custodian may, but need not, establish
programs under which cash deposits in excess of a minimum set by it will be
periodically and automatically invested in interest-bearing investment funds.
The Custodian shall have no duty other than to follow the written investment
directions of the Participant, and shall be under no duty to question said
instructions and shall not be liable for any investment losses sustained by the
Participant.
9.02 REGISTRATION: All assets of the account shall be registered in the
name of the Custodian or of a suitable nominee. The same nominee may be used
with respect to assets of other investors whether or not held under agreements
similar to this one or in any capacity whatsoever. However, each Participant's
account shall be separate and distinct; a separate account therefor shall be
maintained by the Custodian, and the assets thereof shall be held by the
Custodian in individual or bulk segregation either in the Custodian's vaults or
in depositories approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
9.03 INVESTMENT ADVISOR: The Participant may appoint an Investment Advisor,
qualified under Section 3(38) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, to direct the investment of his SIMPLE IRA. The Participant shall notify
the Custodian in writing of any such appointment by providing the Custodian a
copy of the instruments appointing the Investment Advisor and evidencing the
Investment Advisor's acceptance of such appointment, an acknowledgement by the
Investment Advisor that it is a fiduciary of the account, and a certificate
evidencing the Investment Advisor's current registration under the Investment
Advisor's Act of 1940. The Custodian shall comply with any investment directions
furnished to it by the Investment Advisor, unless and until it receives written
notification from the Participant that the Investment Advisor's appointment has
been terminated. The Custodian shall have no duty other than to follow the
written investment directions of such Investment Advisor and shall be under no
duty to question said instructions, and the Custodian shall not be liable for
any investment losses sustained by the Participant.
9.04 NO INVESTMENT ADVICE: The Custodian does not assume any responsibility
for rendering advice with respect to the investment and reinvestment of
Participant's account and shall not be liable for any loss which results from
Participant's exercise of control over his account. The Custodian and
Participant may specifically agree in writing that the Custodian shall render
such advice, but the Participant shall still have and exercise exclusive
responsibility for control over the investment of the assets of his account, and
the Custodian shall not have any duty to question his investment directives.
9.05 PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS: Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, the Custodian shall not lend any part of the corpus or income of
the account to; pay any compensation for personal services rendered to the
account to; make any part of its services available on a preferential basis to;
acquire for the account any property, other than cash, from; or sell any
property to, any Participant, any member of a Participant's family, or a
corporation con-
18
<PAGE>
trolled by any Participant through the ownership, directly or indirectly, of 50%
or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to
vote, or of 50% or more of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of
such corporation.
9.06 UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX: If the Participant directs investment
of the account in any investment which results in unrelated business taxable
income, it shall be the responsibility of the Participant to so advise the
Custodian and to provide the Custodian with all information necessary to prepare
and file any required returns or reports for the account. As the Custodian may
deem necessary, and at the Participant's expense, the Custodian may request a
taxpayer identification number for the account, file any returns, reports, and
applications for extension, and pay any taxes or estimated taxes owed with
respect to the account. The Custodian may retain suitable accountants,
attorneys, or other agents to assist it in performing such responsibilities.
9.07 DISCLOSURES AND VOTING: The Custodian shall deliver, or cause to be
executed and delivered, to Participant all notices, prospectuses, financial
statements, proxies and proxy soliciting materials relating to assets credited
to the account. The Custodian shall not vote any shares of stock or take any
other action, pursuant to such documents, with respect to such assets except
upon receipt by the Custodian of adequate written instructions from Participant.
9.08 MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES: In addition to those expenses set out in
section 8.05 of this plan, the Participant agrees to pay any and all expenses
incurred by the Custodian in connection with the investment of the account,
including expenses of preparation and filing any returns and reports with regard
to unrelated business income, including taxes and estimated taxes, as well as
any transfer taxes incurred in connection with the investment or reinvestment of
the assets of the account.
9.09 NONBANK TRUSTEE PROVISION: If the Custodian is a nonbank trustee, the
Participant shall substitute another trustee or custodian in place of the
Custodian upon receipt of notice from the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue
Service or his delegate that such substitution is required because the Custodian
has failed to comply with the requirements of Income Tax Regulations Section
1.408-2(e), or is not keeping such records, making such returns, or rendering
such statements as are required by applicable law, regulations, or other
rulings. The successor trustee or custodian shall be a bank, insured credit
union, or other person satisfactory to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to
Section 408(a)(2) of the Code. Upon receipt by the Custodian of written
acceptance by its successor of such successor's appointment, Custodian shall
transfer and pay over to such successor the assets of the account (less amounts
retained pursuant to section 8.04 of the Custodial Agreement) and all records
(or copies thereof) of the Custodian pertaining thereto, provided that the
successor trustee or custodian agrees not to dispose of any such records without
the Custodian's consent.
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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
PURPOSE OF FORM
Form 5305-SA is a model custodial account agreement that meets the requirements
of sections 408(a) and 408(p) and has been automatically approved by the IRS. A
SIMPLE individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA) is established after the form
is fully executed by both the individual (participant) and the Custodian. This
account must be created in the United States for the exclusive benefit of the
participant or his or her beneficiaries. Individuals may rely on regulations for
the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to the extent specified in those regulations. Do not
file Form 5305-SA with the IRS. Instead, keep it for your records.
For more information on SIMPLE IRAs, including the required disclosures the
Custodian must give the participant, get Pub. 590, Individual Retirement
Arrangements (IRAs).
DEFINITIONS
Participant - The participant is the person who establishes the custodial
account. Custodian - The Custodian must be a bank or savings and loan
association, as defined in section 408(n), or any person who has the approval of
the IRS to act as Custodian.
TRANSFER SIMPLE IRA
This SIMPLE IRA is a "transfer SIMPLE IRA" if it is not the original recipient
of contributions under any SIMPLE plan. The summary description requirements of
section 408(l)(2) do not apply to transfer SIMPLE IRAs.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
Article IV - Distributions made under this article may be made in a single sum,
periodic payment, or a combination of both. The distribution option should be
reviewed in the year the participant reaches age 70 1/2 to ensure that the
requirements of section 408(a)(6) have been met.
Article VIII - Article VIII and any that follow it may incorporate additional
provisions that are agreed to by the participant and Custodian to complete the
agreement. They may include, for example, definitions, investment powers, voting
rights, exculpatory provisions, amendment and termination, removal of the
Custodian, Custodian's fees, state law requirements, beginning date of
distributions, accepting only cash, treatment of excess contributions,
prohibited transactions with the participant, etc. Use additional pages if
necessary and attach them to this form.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
IN GENERAL: IRS regulations require the Custodian to provide you with a
financial projected growth of your SIMPLE IRA account based upon certain
assumptions.
GROWTH IN THE VALUE OF YOUR SIMPLE IRA: Growth in the value of your SIMPLE IRA
is neither guaranteed nor projected. The value of your SIMPLE IRA will be
computed by totaling the fair market value of the assets credited to your
account. At least once a year the Custodian will send you a written report
stating the current value of your SIMPLE IRA assets. The Custodian shall
disclose separately a description of:
(a) The type and amount of each charge;
(b) the method of computing and allocating earnings, and
(c) any portion of the contribution, if any, which may be used for the purchase
of life insurance.
CUSTODIAN FEES: The Custodian may charge reasonable fees or compensation for its
services and it may deduct all reasonable expenses incurred by it in the
administration of your SIMPLE IRA, including any legal, accounting,
distribution, transfer, termination or other designated fees. Any charges made
by the Custodian will be separately disclosed on an attachment hereto. Such fees
may be charged to you or directly to your custodial account. In addition,
depending on your choice of investment vehicles, you may incur brokerage
commissions attributable to the purchase or sale of assets.
19
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SIMPLE IRA DISCLOSURE STATEMENT [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
RIGHT TO REVOKE YOUR SIMPLE IRA ACCOUNT: You may revoke your SIMPLE IRA within
seven days after you sign the SIMPLE IRA Plan Application by hand delivering or
mailing a written notice to the name and address indicated on the SIMPLE IRA
Plan Application. If you revoke your account by mailing a written notice, such
notice must be postmarked by the seventh day after you sign the Plan
Application. If you revoke your SIMPLE IRA within the seven-day period you will
receive a refund of the entire amount of your contributions to the SIMPLE IRA
without any adjustment for earnings or any administrative expenses. If you
exercise this revocation, we are still required to report certain information to
the IRS.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF A SIMPLE IRA:
1. All SIMPLE contributions must be made in cash, unless you are making a
rollover contribution or transfer, and the Custodian accepts such noncash
assets.
2. The only types of contributions permitted to be made to this SIMPLE IRA are
salary reduction contributions and employer contributions under the
employer's SIMPLE Retirement Plan.
3. The Custodian of your SIMPLE IRA must be a bank, savings and loan
association, credit union or a person who is approved to act in such a
capacity by the Secretary of the Treasury.
4. No portion of your SIMPLE IRA funds may be invested in life insurance
contracts.
5. Your interest in your SIMPLE IRA must be fully vested and is nonforfeitable
at all times.
6. The assets in your SIMPLE IRA may not be commingled with other property
except in a common trust fund or common investment fund.
7. You may not invest the assets of your SIMPLE IRA in collectibles (as
described in Section 408(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.) A collectible is
defined as any work of art, rug or antique, metal or gem, stamp or coin,
alcoholic beverage, or any other tangible personal property specified by
the IRS. However, if the Custodian permits, specially minted U.S. Gold and
Silver bullion coins and certain state-issued coins are permissible SIMPLE
IRA investments.
8. Your interest in your SIMPLE IRA must begin to be distributed to you by the
April 1st following the calendar year you attain the age of 70 1/2. The
methods of distribution, election deadlines and other limitations are
described in detail below.
9. For purposes of the SIMPLE Plan rules, in the case of an individual who is
not a self-employed individual, compensation means the amount described in
section 6051(a)(3) which includes wages, tips and other compensation from
the employer subject to income tax withholding under section 3401(a), and
amounts described in section 6051(a)(8), including elective contributions
made under a SIMPLE plan, and compensation deferred under a section 457
plan. In the case of a self-employed individual, compensation means net
earnings from self-employment determined under section 1402(a), prior to
subtracting any contributions made under the SIMPLE plan on behalf of the
individual.
10. Contributions to a SIMPLE IRA are excludible from federal income tax and
not subject to federal income tax withholding when made to the SIMPLE IRA.
Salary reduction contributions are subject to FICA, FUTA or RRTA tax when
made and must be reported on the employee's Form W-2 wage statement.
Matching and nonelective employer contributions made to a SIMPLE IRA are
not subject to FICA, FUTA or RRTA and are not required to be reported on
Form W-2.
11. A SIMPLE IRA must be established by or on behalf of an employee prior to
the first date by which a contribution is required to be deposited into the
SIMPLE IRA.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES: Under a SIMPLE Retirement Plan established by an Eligible
Employer, all employees of the employer who received at least $5,000 in
compensation from the employer during any two preceding calendar years, whether
or not consecutive, and who are reasonably expected to receive at least $5,000
in compensation during the calendar year, must be eligible to participate in the
SIMPLE Plan for the calendar year. An employer may impose less restrictive
eligibility requirements, such as eliminating or reducing the prior year
compensation requirements, the current year compensation requirement, or both,
under its SIMPLE Plan.
An employer, at its option, may exclude from eligibility employees who are
included in a unit of employees covered by an agreement that the Secretary of
Labor finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between employee
representatives and one or more employers, if there is evidence that retirement
benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining between such employee
representatives and such employer or employers; in the case of a trust
established or maintained pursuant to an agreement that the Secretary of Labor
finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between air pilots represented in
accordance with Title II of the Railway Labor Act and one or more employees, all
employees not covered by that agreement; and employees who are nonresident
aliens and who received no earned income from the employer that constitutes
income from sources within the United States.
PARTICIPATION IN ANOTHER PLAN: An eligible employee may participate in an
employer's SIMPLE Plan, even if he or she also participates in a plan of a
different employer for the same year. However, the employee's salary reduction
contributions are subject to the limitation of section 402(g), which provides an
aggregate limit on the exclusion for elective deferrals for any individual.
Also, an eligible employee who participates in an employer's SIMPLE plan and an
eligible deferred compensation plan described in section 457(b) is subject to
the limitation described in section 457(c). The employee is responsible for
monitoring compliance with these limitations.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYERS: SIMPLE plans may be established by employers (including
tax-exempt employers and governmental entities) that had no more than 100
employees who earned $5,000 or more in compensation during the preceding
calendar year. For purposes of the 100-employee limitation, all employees
employed at any time during the calendar year are taken into account, regardless
of whether they are eligible to participate in the SIMPLE plan. This means that
otherwise excludible employees (i.e., certain union employees, nonresident
aliens with no U.S.-source income, and those employees who have not met the
plan's minimum eligibility requirements) must be taken into account.
SIMPLE PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS:
ELECTIVE DEFERRALS (SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTIONS) - A salary reduction
contribution is a contribution made pursuant to an employee's election to have
an amount contributed to his or her SIMPLE IRA, rather than have the amount paid
directly to the employee in cash. An eligible employee must be permitted to
elect to have salary reduction contributions made at the level specified by the
employee, expressed as a percentage of compensation for the year or as a
specific dollar amount. The maximum salary reduction contribution per calendar
year may not exceed $6,000, subject to cost of living adjustments. Salary
reduction contributions may not begin until the eligible employee completes a
form provided by the employer designed to permit the employee to elect the
salary reduction percentage or specific dollar amount. An employer may not place
any restrictions on the amount of an employee's salary reduction contributions
(e.g., by limiting the contribution percentage), except to the extent needed to
comply with the annual limit.
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS - TWO OPTIONS
1. MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS: Under a SIMPLE plan, an employer is generally
required to make a contribution on behalf of each eligible employee in an amount
equal to the employee's salary reduction contributions, up to a limit of 3% of
the employee's compensation for the entire calendar year.
The 3% limit on matching contributions is permitted to be reduced for a
calendar year at the election of the employer, but only if: the limit is not
reduced below 1%; the limit is not reduced for more than two years out of the
five-year period that ends with and includes the year for which the election is
effective; and employees are notified of the reduced limit within a reasonable
period of time before the 60-day election period during which employees can
enter into salary reduction agreements as described below.
In determining whether the limit was reduced below 3% for a year, any year
before the first year in which an employer (or a predecessor employer) maintains
a SIMPLE plan will be treated as a year for which the limit was 3%. If an
employer chooses to make nonelective contributions for a year in lieu of
matching contributions, that year also will be treated as a year for which the
limit was 3%.
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2. NONELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS: Under a SIMPLE plan, an employer may make
nonelective contributions in lieu of matching contributions. These nonelective
contributions must be equal to 2% of each eligible employee's compensation for
the entire calendar year, regardless of whether the employee elects to make
salary reduction contributions for the calendar year. The employer may, but is
not required to, limit nonelective contributions to eligible employees who have
at least $5,000 (or some lower amount selected by the employer) of compensation
for the year. For purposes of this 2% nonelective contribution only, the
compensation taken into account must be limited to the amount of compensation
under section 401(a)(17) for the year. For 1997, this limit is $160,000 and will
be adjusted in accordance with the cost of living.
An employer may substitute the 2% nonelective contribution for the matching
contribution for a year only if eligible employees are notified within a
reasonable period of time before the 60-day election period during which
employees can enter into salary reduction agreements that a 2% nonelective
contribution will be made instead of a matching contribution.
EMPLOYEE ELECTIONS: During the 60-day period immediately preceding January 1st
of a calendar year (i.e., November 2 to December 31 of the preceding calendar
year), an eligible employee must be given the right to enter into a salary
reduction agreement for the calendar year, or to modify a prior agreement
(including reducing the amount subject to this agreement to $0). However, for
the year in which the employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction
contributions, the period during which the employee may enter into a salary
reduction agreement or modify a prior agreement is a 60-day period that includes
either the date the employee becomes eligible or the day before that date. For
example, if an employer establishes a SIMPLE plan effective as of July 1, 1997,
each eligible employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction contributions
on that date and the 60-day period must begin no later than July 1 and cannot
end before June 30, 1997.
During these 60-day periods, employees have the right to modify their salary
reduction agreements without restrictions. In addition, for the year in which an
employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction contributions, the employee
must be able to commence these contributions as soon as the employee becomes
eligible, regardless of whether the 60-day period has ended. An employer may,
but is not required to, provide additional opportunities or longer periods for
permitting eligible employees to enter into salary reduction agreements or to
modify prior agreements.
An employee must be given the right to terminate a salary reduction agreement
for a calendar year at any time during the year even if this is outside a SIMPLE
plan's normal election period. The employer's SIMPLE plan may, however, provide
that an employee who terminates a salary reduction agreement at any time other
than the normal election period is not eligible to resume participation until
the beginning of the next calendar year.
EMPLOYER ADMINISTRATIVE AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: An employer must notify
each employee, immediately before the employee's 60-day election period, of the
employee's opportunity to enter into a salary reduction agreement or to modify a
prior agreement. If applicable, this notification must disclose an employee's
ability to select the financial institution that will serve as the trustee or
custodian of the employee's SIMPLE IRA. Such notification must also include the
Summary Description required under section 408(l)(2)(B). Such notification must
also include whether the employer will be making either matching contributions
(including the employer's election to reduce the matching contribution below 3%)
or nonelective contributions as previously described.
If an eligible employee who is entitled to a contribution under the
employer's SIMPLE plan is unwilling or unable to establish a SIMPLE IRA with any
financial institution prior to the date on which the contribution is required to
be made to the SIMPLE IRA of the employee, the employer may execute the
necessary SIMPLE IRA documents on the employee's behalf with a financial
institution selected by the employer.
The employer must deliver the salary reduction contributions to the financial
institution maintaining the SIMPLE IRA as of the earliest date on which the
contributions can reasonably be segregated from the employer's general assets,
but no later than the close of the 30-day period following the last day of the
month in which amounts would otherwise have been payable to the employee in
cash.
Matching and nonelective employer contributions must be made to the financial
institution maintaining the SIMPLE IRA no later than the due date for filing the
employer's income tax return, including extensions, for the taxable year that
includes the last day of the calendar year for which the contributions are made.
ROLLOVERS:
ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANOTHER SIMPLE IRA - A rollover contribution to this
SIMPLE IRA is only permitted from another SIMPLE IRA. A rollover contribution
from another SIMPLE IRA is any amount the participant receives from one SIMPLE
IRA and redeposits some or all of it into this SIMPLE IRA. The participant is
not required to roll over the entire amount received from the first SIMPLE IRA.
However, any amount you do not roll over will be taxed at ordinary income tax
rates for federal income tax purposes and may also be subject to an additional
tax if the distribution is a premature distribution described below.
ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTIONS FROM A SIMPLE IRA - A distribution from any SIMPLE IRA
may be rolled over only to another SIMPLE IRA during the two-year period the
participant first participated in the employer's SIMPLE plan. Thus, a
distribution from a SIMPLE IRA during that two-year period qualifies as a
rollover contribution (and is not includible in gross income of the participant)
only if the distribution is paid into another SIMPLE IRA and satisfies the other
requirements that apply to all IRA rollovers under section 408(d)(3). SIMPLE
IRAs may never be rolled into an employer's plan, such as a qualified plan or
section 403(b) plan. After this two-year period, a distribution from a SIMPLE
IRA may be rolled over to any IRA maintained by the individual. This two-year
period begins on the first day on which contributions made by the individual's
employer are deposited in the individual's SIMPLE IRA.
SPECIAL RULES THAT APPLY TO ROLLOVERS -
o The rollover must be completed no later than the 60th day after the day the
distribution was received by you.
o You may have only one IRA-to-IRA rollover during a 12-consecutive-month
period measured from the date you received a distribution of an IRA which
was rolled over to another IRA. (See IRS Publication 590 for more
information.)
o The same property you receive in a distribution must be the same property
you roll over into the second IRA. For example, if you receive a
distribution from an IRA of property, such as stocks, that same stock must
be rolled over into the second IRA.
o You are required to make an irrevocable election indicating that this
transaction will be treated as a rollover contribution.
o You are not required to receive a complete distribution from your IRA in
order to make a rollover contribution into another IRA, nor are you
required to roll over the entire amount you received from the first IRA.
o If you inherit an IRA due to the death of the participant, you may not roll
this IRA into your own IRA unless you are the spouse of the decedent.
o If you are age 70 1/2 or older and wish to roll over to another IRA, you
must first satisfy the minimum distribution requirement for that year and
then the rollover of the remaining amount may be made.
o Rollover contributions to a SIMPLE IRA may not be made from a qualified
plan, 403(b) plan, or any other IRA that is not a SIMPLE IRA.
EXCESS DEFERRALS: Excess elective deferrals (amounts in excess of the $6,000
SIMPLE elective deferral limit) are includible in your gross income in the
calendar year of deferral. Income on the excess elective deferrals is includible
in your income in the year of withdrawal from the SIMPLE IRA. You should
withdraw excess elective deferrals and any allocable income, from your SIMPLE
IRA by April 15 following the year to which the deferrals relate. These amounts
may not be transferred or rolled over tax-free to another SIMPLE IRA. If you
fail to withdraw excess elective deferrals, and any allocable income, by the
following April 15th, the excess elective deferrals will be subject to the IRA
contribution limitations of sections 219 and 408 of the Code and thus may be
considered an excess contribution to your IRA. Such excess deferrals may be
subject to a 6% excise tax for each year they remain in your SIMPLE IRA. Income
on excess elective deferrals is includible in your gross income in the year you
withdraw it from your IRA and must be withdrawn by April 15 following the
calendar year to which the deferrals relate. Income withdrawn from the IRA after
that date may be subject to a 10% tax (or 25% if withdrawn within the first two
years of participation) on early distributions. The rules for determining and
allocating income attributable to excess elective deferrals and other excess
SIMPLE contributions are the same as those governing regular IRA excess
contributions. The trustee or custodian of your SIMPLE IRA will inform you of
the income allocable to such excess amounts.
DISTRIBUTIONS: In general, all distributions from a SIMPLE IRA are subject to
federal income tax by the payee or distributee, whichever the case may be. When
you start withdrawing from your SIMPLE IRA, you may take the distributions in
regular payments, random withdrawals or in a single-sum payment. Generally, all
amounts distributed to you from your SIMPLE IRA are included in your gross
income in the taxable year in which they are received. However, if you have made
nondeductible contributions to any regular IRA as permitted under section
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408(o) of the Code, the nontaxable portion of the distribution, if any, will be
a percentage based upon the ratio of your unrecovered nondeductible
contributions to the aggregate of all IRA balances, including SEP, SIMPLE and
rollover contributions, as of the end of the year in which you take the
distribution, plus distributions from the account during the year. All taxable
distributions from your SIMPLE IRA are taxed at ordinary income tax rates for
federal income tax purposes and are not eligible for either capital gains
treatment or 5/10 year averaging. An employer may not require an employee to
retain any portion of the contribution in the SIMPLE IRA or otherwise impose any
withdrawal restrictions.
PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS - In general, if you are under age 59 1/2 and receive
a distribution from your SIMPLE IRA account, a 10% additional income tax will
apply to the taxable portion of the distribution, unless the distribution is
received due to death; disability; a series of substantially equal periodic
payments at least annually over your life expectancy or the joint life
expectancy of you and your designated beneficiary; medical expenses that exceed
7.5% of your adjusted gross income; health insurance premiums paid by certain
unemployed individuals; a qualifying rollover distribution; or the timely
withdrawal of an excess deferral plus income attributable. If you request a
distribution in the form of a series of substantially equal payments, and you
modify the payments before five years have elapsed and before attaining age 59
1/2, the 10% additional income tax will apply retroactively to the year payments
began through the year of such modification. In addition, if you request a
distribution from your SIMPLE IRA within your first two years of participation
in the SIMPLE plan and none of the exceptions listed above applies to the
distribution, the normal 10% additional income tax referred to earlier is
increased to 25%.
AGE 70 1/2 REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS - You are required to begin
receiving minimum distributions from your SIMPLE IRA by your required beginning
date (the April 1 of the year following the year you attain age 70 1/2). The
year you attain age 70 1/2 is referred to as your "first distribution calendar
year." Your minimum distribution is based upon the value of your account at the
end of the prior year (less any required distributions you received between
January 1 and April 1 of the year following your first distribution calendar
year) by the joint life expectancy of you and your designated beneficiary. If
you do not have a designated beneficiary then the minimum distribution will be
based upon your single life expectancy.
As you can see, who you designate as beneficiary under your SIMPLE IRA will
affect the period over which distributions may be made. If you have more than
one primary beneficiary, generally the beneficiary with the shortest life
expectancy will be the measuring life expectancy used for determining the period
over which distributions will be made. If no beneficiary is named or you name a
beneficiary which is not an individual (i.e., your estate), distributions will
be based upon your single life expectancy.
By the April 1 following your first distribution calendar year, you must make
certain elections on a form provided by the Custodian. If no election is made,
you will be deemed to have elected to take your distributions over a period not
to exceed your single life expectancy. The required distributions for the second
distribution calendar year and for each subsequent distribution calendar year
must be made by December 31 of such year.
Unless otherwise elected by the Custodian (or by you, if the Custodian
permits) in determining the amount to be distributed for the second distribution
calendar year and subsequent distribution calendar years, your life expectancy
(and your designated beneficiary's life expectancy) shall not be recalculated.
If the Custodian elects (or you elect, if the Custodian permits) to recalculate
your life expectancy or your spouse's life expectancy, you will generally have a
longer period of time over which payments will be made and therefore the minimum
distribution will be less.
CAUTION: If you or your spouse should die, the decedent's life expectancy
that is being recalculated is reduced to zero which will reduce the period of
distribution to the survivor's single life expectancy. If recalculation is not
elected, the death of either person will not have an effect on the payment
period.
In any distribution calendar year you may take more than the required
minimum. However, if you take less than the required minimum with respect to any
distribution calendar year, you are subject to a federal excise tax penalty of
50% of the difference between the amount required to be distributed and the
amount actually distributed.
MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION INCIDENTAL BENEFIT (MDIB) RULE - Basically, this rule
specifies that benefits provided under a retirement plan must be for the primary
benefit of a participant rather than for his/her beneficiaries. If your spouse
is your sole beneficiary, these special MDIB rules do not apply. The amount
required to be distributed under the MDIB rule may in some cases be more than
the amount required under the normal age 70 1/2 required minimum distribution
rules. If someone other than or in addition to your spouse is a named primary
beneficiary, the minimum distribution required is the greater of the amount
determined under the regular 70 1/2 rules and the amount determined under the
MDIB rules. The minimum amount to be distributed under the MDIB rules is the
amount determined by taking the balance in your SIMPLE IRA account and dividing
it by a factor taken from an IRS table specified in IRS regulations. The table
provides life expectancies for you and a beneficiary who is assumed to be 10
years younger.
DEATH DISTRIBUTIONS - If you die after your required beginning date, the
balance in your SIMPLE IRA will be distributed in a manner which is at least as
rapid as the method of distribution being used on the date of your death. If you
die before your required beginning date, the balance in your SIMPLE IRA must
generally be distributed within five years from the date of your death. However
your beneficiary(ies) may elect to receive the balance in your account over the
single life expectancy of your designated beneficiary if distributions begin no
later than the end of the year containing the one year anniversary of your
death. In addition, if your only beneficiary is your surviving spouse,
distributions need not commence until December 31st of the year you would have
attained age 70 1/2.
PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS - If you or your beneficiary engage in a prohibited
transaction (as defined under Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code) with
your SIMPLE IRA, it will lose its tax exemption and you must include the value
of your account in your gross income for that taxable year. If you pledge any
portion of your SIMPLE IRA as collateral for a loan, the amount so pledged will
be treated as a distribution and will be included in your gross income for that
year.
INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING - All withdrawals from your SIMPLE IRA (except a
direct transfer) are subject to federal income tax withholding. You may,
however, elect not to have withholding apply to your SIMPLE IRA distribution in
most cases. If withholding does apply to your distribution, it is at the rate of
10% of the amount of the distribution.
DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION "DFI":
In general, under section 408(p), an employer must permit an employee to select
the financial institution for the SIMPLE IRA to which the employer will make all
contributions on behalf of the employee. In this case, the financial institution
is referred to as a "Non-DFI." Alternatively, under section 408(p)(7), an
employer may require that all SIMPLE contributions initially be made to a single
designated financial institution selected by the employer. In this case, the
financial institution is referred to as a "DFI." Refer to your employer's SIMPLE
Retirement Plan document to determine if the financial institution is a DFI or a
Non-DFI.
USE OF A DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION "DFI" - If an employer requires
that all SIMPLE contributions initially be made to a DFI, the following
requirements must be met:
1. The employer and the financial institution must agree that the
financial institution will be a DFI for the employer's SIMPLE plan;
2. The DFI must agree that, if a participant elects before the expiration
of the employee's 60-day election period, the participant's balance
will be transferred without cost or penalty to another SIMPLE IRA (or
after the two year period no longer applies, to any IRA) to a
financial institution selected by the participant; and
3. Each participant is given written notification describing the
procedures under which, if a participant so elects, the participant's
balance will be transferred without cost or penalty to another SIMPLE
IRA (or after the two year period no longer applies, to any IRA) to a
financial institution selected by the participant.
If the participant elects before the expiration of the 60-day election period
to have the balance transferred without cost or penalty as described above, such
election is valid only with respect to the balance attributable to SIMPLE
contributions for the calendar year following that 60-day election period (or,
for the year in which an employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction
contributions for the remainder of that year) and subsequent calendar years if
such election so provides.
If the participant timely elects the transfer of the balance without cost or
penalty as described above, the participant's balance must be transferred on a
reasonably frequent basis, such as on a monthly basis. If a participant timely
elects this transfer without cost or penalty, the Custodian reserves the right
to restrict the investment to a specified investment option until transferred,
even though a variety of investment options are available with respect to
contributions that the participant has not elected to transfer.
A transfer is deemed to be made without cost or penalty if no liquidation,
transaction, redemption or termination fee, or any commission, load (whether
front-end or back-end) or surrender charge or similar fee or charge is imposed
with respect to the balance being transferred that the participant has filed a
timely election with the DFI. However, the DFI can charge a reasonable annual
administrative fee to a SIMPLE IRA from which balances must be transferred in
accordance with the participant's timely transfer election.
In order to timely elect a transfer without cost or penalty, the participant
must indicate such election on the SIMPLE IRA Plan Application attached hereto
and must be received by the DFI no later than the expiration of the 60-day
election period applicable to the employee. If the participant fails to timely
elect such transfers without cost or penalty, the DFI reserves the right to
charge any or all fees and expenses described in Section 8.05 of this SIMPLE IRA
plan agreement.
USE OF A NONDESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION "NON-DFI" - If the employer's
SIMPLE plan permits the participants to select their own financial institution
to serve as trustee or custodian of the SIMPLE IRA, the rules explained above do
not apply and the Custodian may charge any and all fees described in Section
8.05 of the SIMPLE IRA plan agreement.
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TRANSFERS DEFINED - A direct transfer is a payment from this SIMPLE IRA
directly to another trustee or custodian of a SIMPLE IRA (or, after the two-year
period no longer applies, to the trustee or custodian of any IRA). Transfers do
not constitute a distribution since you are never in receipt of the funds. The
monies are transferred directly to the new trustee or custodian. If you should
transfer all or a portion of your SIMPLE IRA to your former spouse's IRA under a
divorce decree (or under a written instrument incident to divorce) or separation
instrument, you will not be deemed to have made a taxable distribution, but
merely a transfer. The portion so transferred will be treated at the time of the
transfer as the IRA of your spouse or former spouse. If your spouse is the
beneficiary of your SIMPLE IRA, in the event of your death, your spouse may
"assume" your SIMPLE IRA. The assumed IRA is then treated as your surviving
spouse's IRA.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION REQUIREMENTS: In general, the Custodian of any SIMPLE IRA
must annually provide to the employer maintaining the SIMPLE plan a Summary
Description early enough to allow the employer to meet its notification
obligations. If the Custodian of this SIMPLE IRA is a DFI, the Summary
Description will be provided directly to the employer by the Custodian in the
underlying SIMPLE plan agreement. If the Custodian of this SIMPLE IRA is a
Non-DFI, the Summary Description will be provided directly to the employee by
the Custodian. The employee agrees to have the employer complete certain
information contained on the Summary Description with respect to the employer's
SIMPLE plan provisions. A sample Summary Description for a Non-DFI is located on
the following page. The Custodian of a "transfer SIMPLE IRA" is not required to
provide this Summary Description. A SIMPLE IRA is a "transfer SIMPLE IRA" if it
is not a SIMPLE IRA to which the employer has made contributions under the
SIMPLE plan.
PROCEDURES FOR WITHDRAWALS: All distributions from this SIMPLE IRA must be
requested in writing on a form provided to the participant by the Custodian.
After the withdrawal form has been completed and executed by the recipient, the
form must be either hand delivered to the Custodian during normal business hours
or mailed to the Custodian by first class mail, certified or registered mail
prepaid through the U.S. Postal Service, or through any means of an expedited
delivery service. After receipt of a properly executed withdrawal form, the
Custodian will process the distribution as soon as administratively feasible.
FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES: Generally, there is no specific exclusion for
SIMPLE IRAs under the estate tax rules. Therefore, in the event of your death,
your SIMPLE IRA balance will be includible in your gross estate for federal
estate tax purposes. However, if your surviving spouse is the beneficiary of
your SIMPLE IRA, the amount in your SIMPLE IRA may qualify for the marital
deduction available under Section 2056 of the Internal Revenue Code. A transfer
of property for federal gift tax purposes does not include an amount which a
beneficiary receives from a SIMPLE IRA plan.
PENALTIES: If you are under age 59 1/2 and receive a premature distribution from
your SIMPLE IRA, an additional 10% (or 25% for certain SIMPLE IRA distributions)
income tax will apply on the taxable amount of the distribution. If you make an
excess deferral to your SIMPLE IRA and it is not corrected on a timely basis, an
excise tax of 6% is imposed on the excess amount. This tax will apply each year
to any part or all of the excess which remains in your account. If you are age
70 1/2 or over or if you should die, and the appropriate required minimum
distributions are not made from your SIMPLE IRA, an additional tax of 50% is
imposed upon the difference between what should have been distributed and what
was actually distributed.
For tax years ending before 1/1/97, you will be taxed an additional 15% on
any amount you receive and include in income during a calendar year from
qualified plans, TSAs and all IRAs which exceeds the greater of $150,000
(unindexed) or $112,500 (indexed for cost of living). Before you receive an
excess distribution, you should seek advice from your tax advisor with respect
to the application of these rules. For tax years 1997, 1998 and 1999, the 15%
excess distribution tax will not apply. In the event of your death, your estate
may be subject to a 15% tax on the "excess accumulation" in all of your
qualified plans, TSAs and IRAs. You should seek the advice of your own tax
advisor with respect to the application of this excess accumulation excise tax.
You must file IRS Form 5329 with the Internal Revenue Service for any year an
additional tax is due.
IRS APPROVAL AS TO FORM: This SIMPLE IRA Custodial Agreement has been approved
by the Internal Revenue Service as to form. This is not an endorsement of the
plan in operation or of the investments offered.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: You may obtain further information on IRAs and SIMPLE
IRAs from your District Office of the Internal Revenue Service. In particular
you may wish to obtain IRS Publication 590 (Individual Retirement Arrangements).
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SIMPLE TRANSMITTAL FORM [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. EMPLOYER INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name of Employer_____________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________
City_________________________________State_____________________Zip Code______
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. EMPLOYER'S AUTHORIZATION (Signature(s) of authorized employer representative)
We hereby authorize INVESCO Trust Company to invest contributions in
accordance with the instructions below.
_________________________________________________ Date _________ /___ /____
Month Day Year
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3) (4)
NAME OF SOCIAL SECURITY SELECTED CONTRIBUTION PER FUND**
PARTICIPANT NUMBER AIM FUNDS* (MINIMUM $25 PER FUND)
Salary Employer Nonelective
Deferral Match 2% Contribution
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 ___________________________________ _______________ __________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
2 ___________________________________ _______________ __________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
3 ___________________________________ _______________ __________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
4 ___________________________________ _______________ __________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
5 ___________________________________ _______________ __________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
6 ___________________________________ _______________ __________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
7 ___________________________________ _______________ __________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
__________________ $_____________ $_____________ $_____________
</TABLE>
* Indicate funds used by each participant. ** Indicate dollar($) amount
contributed per fund.
15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3) (4)
NAME OF SOCIAL SECURITY SELECTED CONTRIBUTION PER FUND**
PARTICIPANT NUMBER AIM FUNDS* (MINIMUM $25 PER FUND)
Salary Employer Nonelective
Deferral Match 2% Contribution
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
8 __________________ __________________ ________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
9 __________________ __________________ ________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
10 __________________ __________________ ________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
11 __________________ __________________ ________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
12 __________________ __________________ ________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
________________ $______________ $______________ $______________
Total Employer Contributions $______________
Total Employee Salary
Deferred Contributions $______________
Total Employer and
Employee Contributions $______________
</TABLE>
If a contribution for a participant is to be invested in more than one fund, $25
or more must be invested in each fund selected. Attach form, check (payable to
INVESCO Trust Company) and SIMPLE applications and mail to:
REGULAR MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERIES ONLY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM FUND SERVICES, INC. AIM FUND SERVICES, INC.
ATTN: RETIREMENT PLANS ATTN: RETIREMENT PLANS
OPERATIONS OPERATIONS
P.O. BOX 4739 P.O. BOX 4739
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77210-4739 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77210-4739
* Indicate funds used by each participant. ** Indicate dollar($) amount
contributed per fund.
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE] A I M Distributors, Inc.
12/97
16
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[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
SAVINGS INCENTIVE MATCH PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES OF SMALL EMPLOYERS (SIMPLE)
FORM 5304-SIMPLE (DECEMBER 1996)
(NOT SUBJECT TO THE DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION RULES)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Employer_____________________________________establishes the following
SIMPLE plan under section 408(p) of the Internal Revenue Code and pursuant to
the instructions contained in this form.
ARTICLE I - EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS (Complete appropriate box(es) and
blanks--see instructions.)
1. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. The Employer agrees to permit salary
reduction contributions to be made in each calendar year to the SIMPLE IRA
established by each employee who meets the following requirements (select either
1a or 1b):
a / / FULL ELIGIBILITY. All employees are eligible.
b / / LIMITED ELIGIBILITY. Eligibility is limited to employees who are
described in both (i) and (ii) below:
(i) CURRENT COMPENSATION. Employees who are reasonably expected
to receive at least $____________ in compensation (not to exceed
$5,000) for the calendar year.
(ii) PRIOR COMPENSATION. Employees who have received at least
$_____________ in compensation (not to exceed $5,000) during any
___________ calendar year(s) (insert 0, 1, or 2) preceding the
calendar year.
2. EXCLUDABLE EMPLOYEES. (OPTIONAL)
/ / The Employer elects to exclude employees covered under a
collective bargaining agreement for which retirement benefits were the
subject of good faith bargaining.
ARTICLE II - SALARY REDUCTION AGREEMENTS (Complete the box and blank, if
appropriate--see instructions.)
1. SALARY REDUCTION ELECTION. An eligible employee may make a salary
reduction election to have his or her compensation for each pay period
reduced by a percentage. The total amount of the reduction in the
employee's compensation cannot exceed $6,000* for any calendar year.
2. TIMING OF SALARY REDUCTION ELECTIONS.
a. For a calendar year, an eligible employee may make or modify a
salary reduction election during the 60-day period immediately
preceding January 1 of that year. However, for the year in which the
employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction contributions, the
period during which the employee may make or modify the election is a
60-day period that includes either the date the employee becomes
eligible or the day before.
b. In addition to the election periods in 2a, eligible employees may
make salary reduction elections or modify prior elections
___________________. If the Employer chooses this option, insert a
period or periods (e.g., semiannually, quarterly, monthly or daily)
that will apply uniformly to all eligible employees.)
c. No salary reduction election may apply to compensation that an
employee received, or had a right to immediately receive, before
execution of the salary reduction election.
d. An employee may terminate a salary reduction election at any time
during the calendar year. / / If this box is checked, an employee who
terminates a salary reduction election not in accordance with 2b may
not resume salary reduction contributions during the calendar year.
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ARTICLE III - CONTRIBUTIONS (Complete the blank, if appropriate-see
instructions.)
1. SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTIONS. The amount by which the employee
agrees to reduce his or her compensation will be contributed by the
Employer to the employee's SIMPLE IRA.
2. OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS.
a. Matching Contributions
(i) For each calendar year, the Employer will contribute a
matching contribution to each eligible employee's SIMPLE IRA
equal to the employee's salary reduction contributions up to a
limit of 3% of the employee's compensation for the calendar year.
(ii) The Employer may reduce the 3% limit for the calendar year
in (i) only if:
(1) The limit is not reduced below 1%; (2) The limit is not
reduced for more than two calendar years during the
five-year period ending with the calendar year the reduction
is effective; and (3) Each employee is notified of the
reduced limit within a reasonable period of time before the
employees' 60-day election period for the calendar year
(described in Article II, item 2a).
b. Nonelective Contributions
(i) For any calendar year, instead of making matching
contributions, the Employer may make nonelective contributions
equal to 2% of compensation for the calendar year to the SIMPLE
IRA of each eligible employee who has at least $___________ (not
more than $5,000) in compensation for the calendar year. No more
than $160,000* in compensation can be taken into account in
determining the nonelective contribution for each eligible
employee.
(ii) For any calendar year, the Employer may make 2% nonelective
contributions instead of matching contributions only if:
(1) Each eligible employee is notified that a 2% nonelective
contribution will be made instead of a matching
contribution; and
(2) This notification is provided within a reasonable period
of time before the employees' 60-day election period for the
calendar year (described in Article II, item 2a).
3. TIME AND MANNER OF CONTRIBUTIONS.
a. The Employer will make the salary reduction contributions
(described in 1 above) for each eligible employee to the SIMPLE IRA
established at the financial institution selected by that employee no
later than 30 days after the end of the month in which the money is
withheld from the employee's pay. See instructions.
b. The Employer will make the matching or nonelective contributions
(described in 2a and 2b above) for each eligible employee to the
SIMPLE IRA established at the financial institution selected by that
employee no later than the due date for filing the Employer's tax
return, including extensions, for the taxable year that includes the
last day of the calendar year for which the contributions are made.
ARTICLE IV - OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND PROVISIONS
1. CONTRIBUTIONS IN GENERAL. The Employer will make no contributions to
the SIMPLE IRAs other than salary reduction contributions (described
in Article III, item 1) and matching or nonelective contributions
(described in Article III, items 2a and 2b).
2. VESTING REQUIREMENTS. All contributions made under this SIMPLE plan
are fully vested and nonforfeitable.
3. NO WITHDRAWAL RESTRICTIONS. The Employer may not require the employee
to retain any portion of the contributions in his or her SIMPLE IRA or
otherwise impose any withdrawal restrictions.
4. SELECTION OF IRA TRUSTEE. The Employer must permit each eligible
employee to select the financial institution that will serve as the
trustee, custodian, or issuer of the SIMPLE IRA to which the employer
will make all contributions on behalf of that employee.
5. AMENDMENTS TO THIS SIMPLE PLAN. This SIMPLE plan may not be amended
except to modify the entries inserted in the blanks or boxes provided
in Articles I, II, III, VI, and VII.
6. EFFECTS OF WITHDRAWALS AND ROLLOVERS.
a. An amount withdrawn from the SIMPLE IRA is generally includible in
gross income. However, a SIMPLE IRA balance may be rolled over or
transferred on a tax-free basis to another IRA designed solely to hold
funds under a SIMPLE plan. In addition, an individual may roll over or
transfer his or her SIMPLE IRA balance to any IRA on a tax-free basis
after a two-year period has expired since the individual first
participated in a SIMPLE plan. Any rollover or transfer must comply
with the requirements under section 408.
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<PAGE>
b. If an individual withdraws an amount from a SIMPLE IRA during the
two-year period beginning when the individual first participated in a
SIMPLE plan and the amount is subject to the additional tax on early
distributions under section 72(t), this additional tax is increased
from 10% to 25%.
ARTICLE V - DEFINITIONS
1. COMPENSATION.
a. GENERAL DEFINITION OF COMPENSATION. Compensation means the sum of
the wages, tips, and other compensation from the Employer subject to
federal income tax withholding [as described in section 6051(a)(3)]
and the employee's salary reduction contributions made under this
plan, and, if applicable, elective deferrals under a section 401(k)
plan, a SARSEP, or a section 403(b) annuity contract and compensation
deferred under a section 457 plan required to be reported by the
Employer on Form W-2 [as described in section 6051(a)(8)].
b. COMPENSATION FOR SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS. For self-employed
individuals, compensation means the net earnings from self-employment
determined under section 1402(a) prior to subtracting any
contributions made pursuant to this plan on behalf of the individual.
2. EMPLOYEE. Employee means a common-law employee of the Employer. The
term employee also includes a self-employed individual and a leased
employee described in section 414(n) but does not include a
nonresident alien who received no earned income from the Employer that
constitutes income from sources within the United States.
3. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE. An eligible employee means an employee who
satisfies the conditions in Article 1, item 1 and is not excluded
under Article 1, item 2.
4. SIMPLE IRA. A SIMPLE IRA is an individual retirement account described
in section 408(a), or an individual retirement annuity described in
section 408(b), to which the only contributions that can be made are
contributions under a SIMPLE plan and rollovers or transfers from
another SIMPLE IRA.
ARTICLE VI - PROCEDURES FOR WITHDRAWAL (The Employer will provide each employee
with the procedures for withdrawals of contributions received by the financial
institution selected by that employee, and that financial institution's name and
address (by attaching that information or inserting it in the space below)
unless: (1) that financial institution's procedures are unavailable, or (2) that
financial institution provides the procedures directly to the employee.
See Employee Notification section in the instructions.)
ARTICLE VII - EFFECTIVE DATE
This SIMPLE plan is effective __________________________. (See instructions.)
Name of Employer
-------------------------------------------------------------
By:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature Date
Address of Employer
-----------------------------------------------------------
Name and Title
---------------------------------------------------------------
*This amount will be adjusted to reflect any annual cost-of-living increases
announced by the IRS.
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<PAGE>
MODEL NOTIFICATION TO ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES
I. OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SIMPLE PLAN
You are eligible to make salary reduction contributions to
the_________________SIMPLE plan. This notice and the attached summary
description provide you with information that you should consider before
you decide whether to start, continue, or change your salary reduction
agreement.
II. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION ELECTION
For the ____________ calendar year, the Employer elects to contribute to
your SIMPLE IRA [employer must select either (1), (2), or (3)]:
/ / (1) A matching contribution equal to your salary reduction
contributions up to a limit of 3% of your compensation for the year;
/ / (2) A matching contribution equal to your salary reduction
contributions up to a limit of ___________% (employer must insert a
number from 1 to 3 and is subject to certain restrictions) of your
compensation for the year; or
/ / (3) A nonelective contribution equal to 2% of your compensation
for the year (limited to $160,000, adjusted periodically by the IRS)
if you are an employee who makes at least $____________ (Employer must
insert an amount that is $5,000 or less) in compensation for the year.
III. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
If you decide to start or change your salary reduction agreement, you must
complete the salary reduction agreement and return it to
__________________________ (Employer should designate a place or
individual) by _________________(Employer should insert a date that is not
less than 60 days after notice is given).
IV. EMPLOYEE SELECTION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
You must select the financial institution that will serve as the trustee,
custodian, or issuer of your SIMPLE IRA and notify your Employer of your
selection.
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<PAGE>
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTICE
You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB
control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be
retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of
any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are
confidential, as required by section 6103.
The time needed to complete this form will vary depending on individual
circumstances. The estimated average time is:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Recordkeeping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 hr., 38 min.
Learning about the law or the form . . . 2 hr., 26 min.
Preparing the form . . . . . . . . . . . 47 min.
</TABLE>
If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or
suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you.
You can write to the Tax Forms Committee, Western Area Distribution Center,
Rancho Cordova, CA 95743-0001. DO NOT send this form to this address. Instead,
keep it for your records.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
NOTE: THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS FORM ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN THE ESTABLISHMENT
AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE SIMPLE PLAN; THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUPERSEDE ANY
PROVISIONS IN THE SIMPLE PLAN.
PURPOSE OF FORM
Form 5304-SIMPLE is a model Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small
Employers (SIMPLE) plan document that an employer may use to establish a SIMPLE
plan described in section 408(p), under which each eligible employee is
permitted to select the financial institution for his or her SIMPLE IRA. It is
important that you keep this form for your records. DO NOT file this form with
the IRS. For more information, see Pub. 560, Retirement Plans for the Self-
Employed, and Pub. 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EMPLOYER
WHICH EMPLOYERS MAY ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A SIMPLE PLAN?
You are eligible to establish and maintain a SIMPLE plan only if you meet both
of the following requirements:
1. Last calendar year, you had no more than 100 employees (including
self-employed individuals) who earned $5,000 or more in compensation from you
during the year. If you have a SIMPLE plan but later exceed this 100-employee
limit, you will be treated as meeting the limit for the two years following the
calendar year in which you last satisfied the limit. If the failure to continue
to satisfy the 100-employee limit is due to an acquisition or similar
transaction involving your business, special rules apply. Consult your tax
advisor to find out if you can still maintain the plan after the transaction.
2. You do not maintain during any part of the calendar year another
qualified plan with respect to which contributions are made, or benefits are
accrued, for service in the calendar year. For this purpose, a qualified plan
[defined in section 219(g)(5)] includes a qualified pension plan, a
profit-sharing plan, a stock bonus plan, a qualified annuity plan, a
tax-sheltered annuity plan, and a simplified employee pension (SEP) plan.
Certain related employers (trades or businesses under common control) must
be treated as a single employer for purposes of the SIMPLE requirements. These
are: (1) a controlled group of corporations under section 414(b); (2) a
partnership or sole proprietorship under common control under section 414(c); or
(3) an affiliated service group under section 414(m). In addition, if you have
leased employees required to be treated as your own employees under the rules of
section 414(n), then you must count all such leased employees for the
requirements listed above.
21
<PAGE>
WHAT IS A SIMPLE PLAN?
A SIMPLE plan is a written arrangement that provides you and your employees with
a simplified way to make contributions to provide retirement income for your
employees. Under a SIMPLE plan, employees may choose whether to make salary
reduction contributions to the SIMPLE plan rather than receiving these amounts
as part of their regular compensation. In addition, you will contribute matching
or nonelective contributions on behalf of eligible employees (see Employee
Eligibility Requirements below and Contributions on page 23). All contributions
under this plan will be deposited into a SIMPLE individual retirement account or
annuity established for each eligible employee with the financial institution
selected by each eligible employee (SIMPLE IRA).
The information provided below is intended to help you understand and
administer the rules of your SIMPLE plan.
WHEN TO USE FORM 5304-SIMPLE
A SIMPLE plan may be established by using this Model Form or any other document
that satisfies the statutory requirements. Thus, you are not required to use
Form 5304-SIMPLE to establish and maintain a SIMPLE plan. Further, do not use
Form 5304-SIMPLE if:
1. You want to require that all SIMPLE plan contributions initially go to a
financial institution designated by you (i.e., you do not want to permit each of
your eligible employees to choose a financial institution that will initially
receive contributions). However, Form 5305-SIMPLE, Savings Incentive Match Plan
for Employees of Small Employers (SIMPLE) (for Use With a Designated Financial
Institution), may be used in such a case;
2. You want employees who are nonresident aliens receiving no earned income
from you that constitutes income from sources within the United States to be
eligible under this plan; or
3. You want to establish a SIMPLE 401(k) plan.
COMPLETING FORM 5304-SIMPLE
Pages 1 and 2 of Form 5304-SIMPLE contain the operative provisions of your
SIMPLE plan. This SIMPLE plan is considered adopted when you have completed all
appropriate boxes and blanks and it has been executed by you.
The SIMPLE plan is a legal document with important tax consequences for you
and your employees. You may want to consult with your attorney or tax advisor
before adopting this plan.
EMPLOYEE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS (ARTICLE I)
Each year for which this SIMPLE plan is effective, you must permit salary
reduction contributions to be made by all of your employees who are reasonably
expected to receive at least $5,000 in compensation from you during the year,
and who received at least $5,000 in compensation from you in any two preceding
years. However, you can expand the group of employees who are eligible to
participate in the SIMPLE plan by completing the options provided in Article I,
items 1a and 1b. To choose full eligibility, check the box in Article I, item
1a. Alternatively, to choose limited eligibility, check the box in Article I,
item 1b, and then insert $5,000 or a lower compensation amount (including zero)
and two or a lower number of years of service in the blanks in (i) and (ii) of
Article I, item 1b.
In addition, you can exclude from participation those employees covered
under a collective bargaining agreement for which retirement benefits were the
subject of good faith bargaining. You may do this by checking the box in Article
I, item 2.
SALARY REDUCTION AGREEMENTS (ARTICLE II)
As indicated in Article II, item 1, a salary reduction agreement permits an
eligible employee to make a salary reduction election to have his or her
compensation for each pay period reduced by a percentage (expressed as a
percentage or dollar amount). The total amount of the reduction in the
employee's compensation cannot exceed $6,000* for any calendar year.
TIMING OF SALARY REDUCTION ELECTIONS
For a calendar year, an eligible employee may make or modify a salary reduction
election during the 60-day period immediately preceding January 1 of that year.
However, for the year in which the employee becomes eligible to make salary
reduction contributions, the period during which the employee may make or modify
the election is a 60-day period that includes either the date the employee
becomes eligible or the day before.
* This amount will be adjusted to reflect any annual cost-of-living increases
announced by the IRS.
22
<PAGE>
You can extend the 60-day election periods to provide additional
opportunities for eligible employees to make or modify salary reduction
elections using the blank in Article II, item 2b. For example, you can provide
that eligible employees may make new salary reduction elections or modify prior
elections for any calendar quarter during the 30 days before that quarter.
You may use (but are not required to) the Model Salary Reduction Agreement
to enable eligible employees to make or modify salary reduction elections.
Employees must be permitted to terminate their salary reduction elections
at any time. They may resume salary reduction contributions if permitted under
Article II, item 2b. However, by checking the box in Article II, item 2d, you
may prohibit an employee who terminates a salary reduction election outside the
normal election cycle from resuming salary reduction contributions during the
remainder of the calendar year.
CONTRIBUTIONS (ARTICLE III)
Only contributions described below may be made to this SIMPLE plan. No
additional contributions may be made.
SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTIONS
As indicated in Article III, item 1, salary reduction contributions consist of
the amount by which the employee agrees to reduce his or her compensation. You
must contribute the salary reduction contributions to the financial institution
selected by each eligible employee.
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.
In general, you must contribute a matching contribution to each eligible
employee's SIMPLE IRA equal to the employee's salary reduction contributions.
This matching contribution cannot exceed 3% of the employee's compensation. See
Definition of Compensation, below.
You may reduce this 3% limit to a lower percentage, but not lower than 1%.
You cannot lower the 3% limit for more than two calendar years out of the
five-year period ending with the calendar year the reduction is effective. NOTE:
If any year in the five-year period described above is a year before you first
established any SIMPLE plan, you will be treated as making a 3% matching
contribution for that year for purposes of determining when you may reduce the
employer matching contribution.
In order to elect this option, you must notify the employees of the reduced
limit within a reasonable period of time before the applicable 60-day election
periods for the year. See Timing of Salary Reduction Elections above.
NONELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS.
Instead of making a matching contribution, you may, for any year, make a
nonelective contribution equal to 2% of compensation for each eligible employee
who has at least $5,000 in compensation for the year. Nonelective contributions
may not be based on more than $160,000* of compensation.
In order to elect to make nonelective contributions, you must notify
employees within a reasonable period of time before the applicable 60-day
election periods for such year. See Timing of Salary Reduction Elections above.
NOTE: Insert $5,000 in Article III, item 2b(i) to impose the $5,000 compensation
requirement. You may expand the group of employees who are eligible for
nonelective contributions by inserting a compensation amount lower than $5,000.
EFFECTIVE DATE (ARTICLE VII)
Insert in Article VII, the date you want the provisions of the SIMPLE plan to
become effective. You must insert January 1 of the applicable year unless this
is the first year for which you are adopting any SIMPLE plan. If this is the
first year for which you are adopting a SIMPLE plan, you may insert any date
between January 1 and October 1, inclusive of the applicable year. Do not insert
any date before January 1, 1997.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SIMPLE PLAN
TIMING OF SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTIONS
Under the Internal Revenue Code, for all SIMPLE plans, the employer must make
the salary reduction contributions to the financial institution selected by each
eligible employee for his or her SIMPLE IRA no later than the 30th day of the
month following the month in which the
*This amount will be adjusted to reflect any annual cost-of-living increases
announced by the IRS.
23
<PAGE>
amounts would otherwise have been payable to the employee in cash. The
Department of Labor has indicated that most SIMPLE plans are also subject to
Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The
Department of Labor has informed the IRS that, as a matter of enforcement
policy, for these plans, salary reduction contributions must be made to each
participant's SIMPLE IRA as of the earliest date on which those contributions
can reasonably be segregated from the employer's general assets, but in no event
later than the 30-day deadline described above.
DEFINITION OF COMPENSATION
"Compensation" means the amount described in section 6051(a)(3) [wages, tips,
and other compensation from the employer subject to federal income tax
withholding under section 3401(a)]. Usually, this is the amount shown in box 1
of Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. For further information, see Pub. 15
(Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide. Compensation also includes the salary
reduction contributions made under this plan, and, if applicable, compensation
deferred under a section 457 plan. In determining an employee's compensation for
prior years, the employee's elective deferrals under a section 401(k) plan, a
SARSEP, or a section 403(b) annuity contract are also included in the employee's
compensation.
For self-employed individuals, compensation means the net earnings from
self-employment determined under section 1402(a) prior to subtracting any
contributions made pursuant to this SIMPLE plan on behalf of the individual.
EMPLOYEE NOTIFICATION
You must notify each eligible employee prior to the employee's 60-day election
period described above that he or she can make or change salary reduction
elections and select the financial institution that will serve as the trustee,
custodian, or issuer of the employee's SIMPLE IRA. In this notification, you
must indicate whether you will provide:
1. A matching contribution equal to your employees' salary reduction
contributions up to a limit of 3% of their compensation;
2. A matching contribution equal to your employees' salary reduction
contributions subject to a percentage limit that is between 1 and 3% of their
compensation; or
3. A nonelective contribution equal to 2% of your employees' compensation.
You can use the Model Notification to Eligible Employees on page 20 to
satisfy these employee notification requirements for this SIMPLE plan. A Summary
Description must also be provided to eligible employees at this time. This
summary description requirement may be satisfied by providing a completed copy
of pages 1 and 2 of Form 5304-SIMPLE (including the information described in
Article VI - Procedures for Withdrawal).
If you fail to provide the employee notification (including the summary
description) described above, you will be liable for a penalty of $50 per day
until the notification is provided. If you can show that the failure was due to
reasonable cause, the penalty will not be imposed.
If the summary description information with respect to the financial
institution (i.e., the name and address of the financial institution and its
withdrawal procedures) is not available at the time the employee must be given
the summary description, you must provide the summary description without this
information. In such a case, you will have reasonable cause for not including
this information with respect to the financial institution in the summary
description, but only if you see to it that this information is provided to the
employee as soon as administratively feasible once the financial institution has
been selected.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
You are not required to file any annual information returns for your SIMPLE
plan, such as Forms 5500, 5500-C/R or 5500-EZ. However, you must report to the
IRS which eligible employees are active participants in the SIMPLE plan and the
amount of your employees' salary reduction contributions to the SIMPLE plan on
Form W-2. These contributions are subject to social security, medicare, railroad
retirement and federal unemployment tax.
24
<PAGE>
DEDUCTING CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to this SIMPLE plan are deductible in your tax year containing the
end of the calendar year for which the contributions are made.
Contributions will be treated as made for a particular tax year if they are
made for that year and are made by the due date (including extensions) of your
income tax return for that year.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Each year the SIMPLE plan is in effect, the financial institution for the SIMPLE
IRA of each eligible employee must provide the employer the information
described in section 408(I)(2)(B). This requirement may be satisfied by
providing the employer a current copy of Form 5304-SIMPLE (including
instructions) together with the financial institution's procedures for
withdrawals from SIMPLE IRAs established at that financial institution,
including financial institution's name and address. The summary description must
be received by the employer in sufficient time to comply with the Employee
Notification requirements above.
There is a penalty of $50 per day imposed on the financial institution for
each failure by the financial institution to provide the summary description
described above. However, if the failure was due to reasonable cause, the
penalty will not be imposed.
25
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26
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[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION FOR NONDESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
Employer must complete the following:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All Employees of the Employer shall be eligible to participate under the Plan
except:
a. Employees included in a unit of employees covered under a collective
bargaining agreement described in Section 2.02(a) of the Plan.
b. Nonresident alien employees who did not receive U.S. source income
described in Section 2.02(b) of the Plan.
c. Employees who are not reasonably expected to earn $_____________(not to
exceed $5,000) during the Plan Year for which the contribution is being
made.
d. There are no eligibility requirements. All Employees are eligible to
participate upon the later of the plan's effective date or the employee's
date of hire.
Each Eligible Employee will be eligible to become a Participant after having
worked for the Employer during any prior years (not to exceed 2) and received at
least $____________ in compensation (not to exceed $5,000), during each of such
prior years.
WRITTEN ALLOCATION FORMULA
The Employer has agreed to provide contributions for the _______________ Plan
Year as follows (complete only one choice):
a. Matching Contribution
The amount of the Participant's Elective Deferral not in excess of 3% of
such Participant's Compensation (not to exceed $6,000).
b. Matching Contribution
The amount of the Participant's Elective Deferral not in excess of _______%
(not less than 1% nor more than 3%) of each Participant's Compensation (not
to exceed $6,000).
c. Nonelective Employer Contribution 2% of each Participant's Compensation.
The Employer has designated _________________________________________________
(insert Name & Title) to provide additional information to participants about
the Employer's SIMPLE Plan.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The following information explains what a Savings Incentive Match Plan for
Employees ("SIMPLE") is, how contributions are made and how to treat these
contributions for tax purposes. For more specific information, refer to the
employer's SIMPLE Retirement Plan document itself. For a calendar year, you may
make or modify a salary reduction election during the 60-day period immediately
preceding January 1 of that year. However, for the year in which you first
become eligible to make salary reduction contributions, the period during which
you may make or modify the election is a 60-day period that includes either the
date you become eligible or the day before. If indicated in your Employer's
SIMPLE plan, you may have additional opportunities during a calendar year to
make or modify your salary reduction election.
I. SIMPLE RETIREMENT PLAN AND SIMPLE IRA DEFINED
A SIMPLE Retirement Plan is a retirement income arrangement established by your
Employer. Under this SIMPLE Plan, you may choose to defer compensation to your
own Individual Retirement Account or Annuity ("IRA"). You may base these
"elective deferrals" on a salary reduction basis that, at your election, may be
contributed to an IRA or received in cash. This type of plan is available only
to an employer with 100 or fewer employees who earned at least $5,000 during the
prior calendar year. A SIMPLE IRA is a separate IRA plan that you establish with
an eligible financial institution for the purpose of receiving contributions
under this SIMPLE Retirement Plan. Your Employer must provide you with a copy of
the SIMPLE agreement containing eligibility requirements and a description of
the basis upon which contributions may be made. All amounts contributed to your
IRA belong to you, even after you quit working for your Employer.
II. ELECTIVE DEFERRALS - NOT REQUIRED
You are not required to make elective deferrals under this SIMPLE Retirement
Plan. However, if the Employer is matching your elective deferrals, no Employer
contribution will be made on your behalf unless you elect to defer under the
plan.
III. ELECTIVE DEFERRALS - ANNUAL LIMITATION
The maximum amount that you may defer under this SIMPLE Plan for any calendar
year is limited to the lesser of the percentage of your compensation that you
select or $6,000, subject to cost-of-living increases. If you work for other
employers (unrelated to this Employer) who also maintain a salary deferral plan,
there is an overall limit on the maximum amount that you may defer in each
calendar year to all elective SEPs, cash or deferred arrangements under section
401(k) of the Code, other SIMPLE plans and 403(b) plans regardless of how many
employers you may have worked for during the year. This limitation is referred
to as the section 402(g) limit. The section 402(g) limit on elective deferrals
is currently $9,500 and is indexed according to the cost of living.
IV. ELECTIVE DEFERRALS - TAX TREATMENT
The amount that you may elect to contribute to your SIMPLE IRA is excludible
from gross income, subject to the limitations discussed above, and is not
includible as taxable wages on Form W-2. However, these amounts are subject to
FICA taxes.
V. ELECTIVE DEFERRALS - EXCESS AMOUNTS CONTRIBUTED
When "excess elective deferrals" (i.e., amounts in excess of the $6,000 SIMPLE
elective deferral limit or the section 402(g) limit) are made, you are
responsible for calculating whether you have exceeded these limits in the
calendar year. For 1997, the section 402(g) limit for contributions made to all
elective deferral plans is $9,500. Excess elective deferrals are calculated on
the basis of the calendar year.
VI. EXCESS ELECTIVE DEFERRALS - HOW TO AVOID ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES
Excess elective deferrals are includible in your gross income in the calendar
year of deferral. Income on the excess elective deferrals is includible in your
income in the year of withdrawal from the IRA. You should withdraw excess
elective deferrals and any allocable income, from your SIMPLE IRA by April 15
following the year to which the deferrals relate. These amounts may not be
transferred or rolled over tax-free to another SIMPLE IRA. If you fail to
withdraw excess elective deferrals, and any allocable income, by the following
April 15th, the excess elective deferrals will be subject to the IRA
contribution limitations of sections 219 and 408 of the Code and thus may be
considered an excess contribution to your IRA. Such excess deferrals may be
subject to a 6% excise tax for each year they remain in your SIMPLE IRA. Income
on excess elective deferrals is includible in your gross income in the year you
withdraw it from your IRA and must be withdrawn by April 15 following the
calendar year to which the deferrals relate.
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Income withdrawn from the IRA after that date may be subject to a 10% tax (or
25% if withdrawn within the first two years of participation) on early
distributions.
VII. INCOME ALLOCABLE TO EXCESS AMOUNTS
The rules for determining and allocating income attributable to excess elective
deferrals and other excess SIMPLE contributions are the same as those governing
regular IRA excess contributions. The trustee or custodian of your SIMPLE IRA
will inform you of the income allocable to such excess amounts.
VIII. AVAILABILITY OF REGULAR IRA CONTRIBUTION DEDUCTION
In addition to any SIMPLE contribution, you may contribute to a separate IRA the
lesser of $2,000 or 100% of compensation to an IRA as a regular IRA
contribution. However, the amount that you may deduct is subject to various
limitations since you will be considered an "active participant" in an
employer-sponsored plan. See Pub. 590, "Individual Retirement Arrangement," for
more specific information.
IX. SIMPLE IRA AMOUNTS - ROLLOVER OR TRANSFER TO ANOTHER IRA
You may not roll over or transfer from your SIMPLE IRA any SIMPLE contributions
(or income on these contributions) made during the plan year to another IRA
(other than a SIMPLE IRA) until the two years following the date you first
participated in the SIMPLE plan. Also, any distribution made before this time
will be includible in your gross income and may also be subject to a 25% percent
additional income tax for early withdrawal. You may, however, remove excess
elective deferrals and income allocable to such excess amounts from your SIMPLE
IRA before this time, but you may not roll over or transfer these amounts to
another IRA.
After the two-year restriction no longer applies, you may withdraw, or
receive, funds from your SIMPLE IRA, and no more than 60 days later, place such
funds in another IRA or SIMPLE IRA. This is called a "rollover" and may not be
done without penalty more frequently than at one-year intervals. However, there
are no restrictions on the number of times that you may make "transfers" if you
arrange to have such funds transferred between the trustees so that you never
have possession of the funds. You may not, however, roll over or transfer excess
elective deferrals, and income allocable to such excess amounts from your SIMPLE
IRA to another IRA. These excess amounts may be reduced only by a distribution
to you.
X. FILING REQUIREMENTS
You do not need to file any additional forms with the IRS because of your
participation in your employer's SIMPLE Plan.
XI. EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
Your employer must provide you with a copy of the executed SIMPLE agreement, a
Summary Description, the form you should use to elect to defer amounts to your
SIMPLE IRA, and a statement for each taxable year showing any contribution to
your SIMPLE IRA.
XII. FINANCIAL INSTITUTION WHERE IRA IS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION
The financial institution must provide you with a disclosure statement that
contains information described in section 1.408-6 of the regulations. The
Disclosure Statement that is a part of this Custodian's SIMPLE IRA account
documentation must be read in conjunction with this Summary Description for
Nondesignated Financial Institutions. The Disclosure Statement contains
important information about the SIMPLE plan rules and the contents of such
Disclosure Statement are incorporated herein by reference.
See Publication 590, "Individual Retirement Arrangements," which is available at
most IRS offices, for a more complete explanation of the disclosure
requirements. In addition to the disclosure statement, the financial institution
is required to provide you with a financial statement each year. It may be
necessary to retain and refer to statements for more than one year in order to
evaluate the investment performance of your IRA and in order that you will know
how to report IRA distributions for tax purposes.
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SIMPLE IRA DISCLOSURE STATEMENT [AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
RIGHT TO REVOKE YOUR SIMPLE IRA ACCOUNT: You may revoke your SIMPLE IRA within
seven days after you sign the SIMPLE IRA Plan Application by hand delivering or
mailing a written notice to the name and address indicated on the SIMPLE IRA
Plan Application. If you revoke your account by mailing a written notice, such
notice must be postmarked by the seventh day after you sign the Plan
Application. If you revoke your SIMPLE IRA within the seven-day period you will
receive a refund of the entire amount of your contributions to the SIMPLE IRA
without any adjustment for earnings or any administrative expenses. If you
exercise this revocation, we are still required to report certain information to
the IRS.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF A SIMPLE IRA:
1. All SIMPLE contributions must be made in cash, unless you are making a
rollover contribution or transfer, and the Custodian accepts such noncash
assets.
2. The only types of contributions permitted to be made to this SIMPLE IRA are
salary reduction contributions and employer contributions under the
employer's SIMPLE Retirement Plan.
3. The custodian of your SIMPLE IRA must be a bank, savings and loan
association, credit union or person who is approved to act in such a
capacity by the Secretary of the Treasury.
4. No portion of your SIMPLE IRA funds may be invested in life insurance
contracts.
5. Your interest in your SIMPLE IRA must be fully vested and is nonforfeitable
at all times.
6. The assets in your SIMPLE IRA may not be commingled with other property
except in a common trust fund or common investment fund.
7. You may not invest the assets of your SIMPLE IRA in collectibles (as
described in Section 408(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.) A collectible is
defined as any work of art, rug or antique, metal or gem, stamp or coin,
alcoholic beverage, or any other tangible personal property specified by the
IRS. However, if the Custodian permits, specially minted U.S. Gold and
Silver bullion coins and certain state-issued coins are permissible SIMPLE
IRA investments.
8. Your interest in your SIMPLE IRA must begin to be distributed to you by the
April 1st following the calendar year you attain the age of 70-1/2. The
methods of distribution, election deadlines and other limitations are
described in detail below.
9. For purposes of the SIMPLE IRA Plan rules, in the case of an individual who
is not a self-employed individual, compensation means the amount described
in section 6051(a)(3) which includes wages, tips and other compensation from
the employer subject to income tax withholding under section 3401(a), and
amounts described in section 6051(a)(8), including elective contributions
made under a SIMPLE plan, and compensation deferred under a section 457
plan. In the case of a self-employed individual, compensation means net
earnings from self-employment determined under section 1402(a), prior to
subtracting any contributions made under the SIMPLE plan on behalf of the
individual.
10. Contributions to a SIMPLE IRA are excludible from federal income tax and not
subject to federal income tax withholding when made to the SIMPLE IRA.
Salary reduction contributions are subject to FICA, FUTA or RRTA tax when
made and must be reported on the employee's Form W-2 wage statement.
Matching and nonelective employer contributions made to a SIMPLE IRA are not
subject to FICA, FUTA or RRTA and are not required to be reported on Form
W-2.
11. A SIMPLE IRA must be established by or on behalf of an employee prior to the
first date by which a contribution is required to be deposited into the
SIMPLE IRA.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES: Under a SIMPLE Retirement Plan established by an Eligible
Employer, all employees of the employer who received at least $5,000 in
compensation from the employer during any two preceding calendar years, whether
or not consecutive, and who are reasonably expected to receive at least $5,000
in compensation during the calendar year, must be eligible to participate in
the SIMPLE Plan for the calendar year. An employer may impose less restrictive
eligibility requirements, such as eliminating or reducing the prior year
compensation requirements, the current year compensation requirement, or both,
under its SIMPLE Plan.
An employer, at its option, may exclude from eligibility employees who are
included in a unit of employees covered by an agreement that the Secretary of
Labor finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between employee
representatives and one or more employers, if there is evidence that retirement
benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining between such employee
representatives and such employer or employers; in the case of a trust
established or maintained pursuant to an agreement that the Secretary of Labor
finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between air pilots represented in
accordance with Title II of the Railway Labor Act and one or more employees, all
employees not covered by that agreement; and employees who are nonresident
aliens and who received no earned income from the employer that constitutes
income from sources within the United States.
PARTICIPATION IN ANOTHER PLAN: An eligible employee may participate in an
employer's SIMPLE Plan, even if he or she also participates in a plan of a
different employer for the same year. However, the employee's salary reduction
contributions are subject to the limitation of section 402(g), which provides an
aggregate limit on the exclusion for elective deferrals for any individual.
Also, an eligible employee who participates in an employer's SIMPLE plan and an
eligible deferred compensation plan described in section 457(b) is subject to
the limitation described in section 457(c). The employee is responsible for
monitoring compliance with these limitations.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYERS: SIMPLE plans may be established by employers (including
tax-exempt employers and governmental entities) that had no more than 100
employees who earned $5,000 or more in compensation during the preceding
calendar year. For purposes of the 100-employee limitation, all employees
employed at any time during the calendar year are taken into account,
regardless of whether they are eligible to participate in the SIMPLE plan. This
means that otherwise excludible employees (i.e., certain union employees,
nonresident aliens with no U.S.-source income, and those employees who have not
met the plan's minimum eligibility requirements) must be taken into account.
SIMPLE PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS:
ELECTIVE DEFERRALS (SALARY REDUCTION CONTRIBUTIONS) -- A salary reduction
contribution is a contribution made pursuant to an employee's election to have
an amount contributed to his or her SIMPLE IRA, rather than have the amount
paid directly to the employee in cash. An eligible employee must be permitted
to elect to have salary reduction contributions made at the level specified by
the employee, expressed as a percentage of compensation for the year or as a
specific dollar amount. The maximum salary reduction contribution per calendar
year may not exceed $6,000, subject to cost of living adjustments. Salary
reduction contributions may not begin until the eligible employee completes a
form provided by the employer designed to permit the employee to elect the
salary reduction percentage or specific dollar amount. An employer may not
place any restrictions on the amount of an employee's salary reduction
contributions (e.g., by limiting the contribution percentage), except to the
extent needed to comply with the annual limit.
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS -- TWO OPTIONS
1. MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS: Under a SIMPLE plan, an employer is generally
required to make a contribution on behalf of each eligible employee in an
amount equal to the employee's salary reduction contributions, up to a limit of
3% of the employee's compensation for the entire calendar year.
The 3% limit on matching contributions is permitted to be reduced for a
calendar year at the election of the employer, but only if: the limit is not
reduced below 1%; the limit is not reduced for more than two years out of the
five-year period that ends with and includes the year for which the election is
effective; and employees are notified of the reduced limit within a reasonable
period of time before the 60-day election period during which employees can
enter into salary reduction agreements as described below.
In determining whether the limit was reduced below 3% for a year, any year
before the first year in which an employer (or a predecessor employer)
maintains a SIMPLE plan will be treated as a year for which the limit was 3%.
If an employer chooses to make nonelective contributions for a year in lieu of
matching contributions, that year also will be treated as a year for which the
limit was 3%.
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2. NONELECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS: Under a SIMPLE plan, an employer may make
nonelective contributions in lieu of matching contributions. These nonelective
contributions must be equal to 2% of each eligible employee's compensation for
the entire calendar year, regardless of whether the employee elects to make
salary reduction contributions for the calendar year. The employer may, but is
not required to, limit nonelective contributions to eligible employees who have
at least $5,000 (or some lower amount selected by the employer) of compensation
for the year. For purposes of this 2% nonelective contribution only, the
compensation taken into account must be limited to the amount of compensation
under section 401(a)(17) for the year. For 1997, this limit is $160,000 and will
be adjusted in accordance with the cost of living.
An employer may substitute the 2% nonelective contribution for the matching
contribution for a year only if eligible employees are notified within a
reasonable period of time before the 60-day election period during which
employees can enter into salary reduction agreements that a 2% nonelective
contribution will be made instead of a matching contribution.
EMPLOYEE ELECTIONS: During the 60-day period immediately preceding
January 1st of a calendar year (i.e., November 2 to December 31 of the preceding
calendar year), an eligible employee must be given the right to enter into a
salary reduction agreement for the calendar year, or to modify a prior agreement
(including reducing the amount subject to this agreement to $0). However, for
the year in which the employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction
contributions, the period during which the employee may enter into a salary
reduction agreement or modify a prior agreement is a 60-day period that includes
either the date the employee becomes eligible or the day before that date. For
example, if an employer establishes a SIMPLE plan effective as of July 1, 1997,
each eligible employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction contributions
on that date and the 60-day period must begin no later than July 1 and cannot
end before June 30, 1997.
During these 60-day periods, employees have the right to modify their
salary reduction agreements without restrictions. In addition, for the year in
which an employee becomes eligible to make salary reduction contributions, the
employee must be able to commence these contributions as soon as the employee
becomes eligible, regardless of whether the 60-day period has ended. An employer
may, but is not required to, provide additional opportunities or longer periods
for permitting eligible employees to enter into salary reduction agreements or
to modify prior agreements.
An employee must be given the right to terminate a salary reduction
agreement for a calendar year at any time during the year even if this is
outside a SIMPLE plan's normal election period. The employer's SIMPLE plan may,
however, provide that an employee who terminates a salary reduction agreement
at any time other than the normal election period is not eligible to resume
participation until the beginning of the next calendar year.
EMPLOYER ADMINISTRATIVE AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: An employer must notify
each employee, immediately before the employee's 60-day election period, of the
employee's opportunity to enter into a salary reduction agreement or to modify
a prior agreement. If applicable, this notification must disclose an employee's
ability to select the financial institution that will serve as the trustee or
custodian of the employee's SIMPLE IRA. Such notification must also include the
Summary Description required under section 408(1)(2)(B). Such notification must
also include whether the employer will be making either matching contributions
(including the employer's election to reduce the matching contribution below
3%) or nonelective contributions as previously described.
If an eligible employee who is entitled to a contribution under the
employer's SIMPLE plan is unwilling or unable to establish a SIMPLE IRA with
any financial institution prior to the date on which the contribution is
required to be made to the SIMPLE IRA of the employee, the employer may execute
the necessary SIMPLE IRA documents on the employee's behalf with a financial
institution selected by the employer.
The employer must deliver the salary reduction contributions to the
financial institution maintaining the SIMPLE IRA as of the earliest date on
which the contributions can reasonably be segregated from the employer's
general assets, but no later than the close of the 30-day period following the
last day of the month in which amounts would otherwise have been payable to
the employee in cash.
Matching and nonelective employer contributions must be made to the
financial institution maintaining the SIMPLE IRA no later than the due date for
filing the employer's income tax return, including extensions, for the taxable
year that includes the last day of the calendar year for which the
contributions are made.
ROLLOVERS:
ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANOTHER SIMPLE IRA - A rollover contribution to
this SIMPLE IRA is only permitted from another SIMPLE IRA. A rollover
contribution from another SIMPLE IRA is any amount the participant receives
from one SIMPLE IRA and redeposits some or all of it into this SIMPLE IRA. The
participant is not required to roll over the entire amount received from the
first SIMPLE IRA. However, any amount you do not roll over will be taxed at
ordinary income tax rates for federal income tax purposes and may also be
subject to an additional tax if the distribution is a premature distribution
described below.
ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTIONS FROM A SIMPLE IRA - A distribution from any SIMPLE
IRA may be rolled over only to another SIMPLE IRA during the two-year period
the participant first participated in the employer's SIMPLE plan. Thus, a
distribution from a SIMPLE IRA during that two-year period qualifies as a
rollover contribution (and is not includible in gross income of the
participant) only if the distribution is paid into another SIMPLE IRA and
satisfies the other requirements that apply to all IRA rollovers under section
408(d)(3). SIMPLE IRAs may never be rolled into an employer's plan, such as a
qualified plan or section 403(b) plan. After this two-year period, a
distribution from a SIMPLE IRA may be rolled over to any IRA maintained by the
individual. This two-year period begins on the first day on which contributions
made by the individual's employer are deposited in the individual's SIMPLE IRA.
SPECIAL RULES THAT APPLY TO ROLLOVERS -
o The rollover must be completed no later than the 60th day after the day the
distribution was received by you.
o You may have only one IRA-to-IRA rollover during a 12-consecutive-month
period measured from the date you received a distribution of an IRA which
was rolled over to another IRA. (See IRS Publication 590 for more
information).
o The same property you receive in a distribution must be the same property
you roll over into the second IRA. For example, if you receive a
distribution from an IRA of property, such as stocks, that same stock must
be rolled over into the second IRA.
o You are required to make an irrevocable election indicating that this
transaction will be treated as a rollover contribution.
o You are not required to receive a complete distribution from your IRA in
order to make a rollover contribution into another IRA, nor are you
required to roll over the entire amount you received from the first IRA.
o If you inherit an IRA due to the death of the participant, you may not roll
this IRA into your own IRA unless you are the spouse of the decedent.
o If you are age 70 1/2 or older and wish to roll over to another IRA, you
must first satisfy the minimum distribution requirement for that year and
then the rollover of the remaining amount may be made.
o Rollover contributions to a SIMPLE IRA may not be made from a qualified
plan, 403(b) plan, or any other IRA that is not a SIMPLE IRA.
EXCESS DEFERRALS: Excess elective deferrals (amounts in excess of the $6,000
SIMPLE elective deferral limit) are includible in your gross income in the
calendar year of deferral. Income on the excess elective deferrals is
includible in your income in the year of withdrawal from the SIMPLE IRA. You
should withdraw excess elective deferrals and any allocable income, from your
SIMPLE IRA by April 15 following the year to which the deferrals relate. These
amounts may not be transferred or rolled over tax-free to another SIMPLE IRA.
If you fail to withdraw excess elective deferrals, and any allocable income, by
the following April 15th, the excess elective deferrals will be subject to the
IRA contribution limitations of sections 219 and 408 of the Code and thus may
be considered an excess contribution to your IRA. Such excess deferrals may be
subject to a 6% excise tax for each year they remain in your SIMPLE IRA. Income
on excess elective deferrals in includible in your gross income in the year you
withdraw it from your IRA and must be withdrawn by April 15 following the
calendar year to which the deferrals relate. Income withdrawn from the IRA
after that date may be subject to a 10% tax (or 25% if withdrawn within the
first two years of participation) on early distributions. The rules for
determining and allocating income attributable to excess elective deferrals and
other excess SIMPLE contributions are the same as those governing regular IRA
excess contributions. The trustee or custodian of your SIMPLE IRA will inform
you of the income allocable to such excess amounts.
DISTRIBUTIONS: In general, all distributions from a SIMPLE IRA are subject to
federal income tax by the payee or distributee, whichever the case may be. When
you start withdrawing from your SIMPLE IRA, you may take the distributions in
regular payments, random withdrawals or in a single-sum payment. Generally, all
amounts distributed to you from your SIMPLE IRA are included in your gross
income in the taxable year in which they are received. However, if you have
made nondeductible contributions to any regular IRA as permitted under section
408(o) of the Code, the nontaxable portion of the distribution, if any, will be
a percentage based upon the ratio of your unrecovered nondeductible
contributions to the aggregate of all IRA balances, including SEP, SIMPLE and
rollover contributions, as of the end of the year in which you take the
distribution, plus distributions from the account during the year. All taxable
distributions from your SIMPLE IRA are taxed at ordinary income tax rates for
federal income tax purposes and
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are not eligible for either capital gains treatment or 5/10 year averaging. An
employer may not require an employee to retain any portion of the contribution
in the SIMPLE IRA or otherwise impose any withdrawal restrictions.
PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS -- In general, if you are under age 59 1/2 and
receive a distribution from your SIMPLE IRA account, a 10% additional income tax
will apply to the taxable portion of the distribution, unless the distribution
is received due to death; disability; a series of substantially equal periodic
payments at least annually over your life expectancy or the joint life
expectancy of you and your designated beneficiary; medical expenses that exceed
7.5% of your adjusted gross income; health insurance premiums paid by certain
unemployed individuals; a qualifying rollover distribution; or the timely
withdrawal of an excess deferral plus income attributable. If you request a
distribution in the form of a series of substantially equal payments, and you
modify the payments before five years have elapsed and before attaining age
59 1/2, the 10% additional income tax will apply retroactively to the year
payments began through the year of such modification. In addition, if you
request a distribution from your SIMPLE IRA within your first two years of
participation in the SIMPLE plan and none of the exceptions listed above applies
to the distribution, the normal 10% additional income tax referred to earlier is
increased to 25%.
AGE 70 1/2 REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS -- You are required to begin
receiving minimum distributions from your SIMPLE IRA by your required
beginning date (the April 1 of the year following the year you attain age
70 1/2). The year you attain age 70 1/2 is referred to as your "first
distribution calendar year." Your minimum distribution is based upon the value
of your account at the end of the prior year (less any required distributions
you received between January 1 and April 1 of the year following your first
distribution calendar year) by the joint life expectancy of you and your
designated beneficiary. If you do not have a designated beneficiary then the
minimum distribution will be based upon your single life expectancy.
As you can see, who you designate as beneficiary under your SIMPLE IRA
will affect the period over which distributions may be made. If you have more
than one primary beneficiary, generally the beneficiary with the shortest life
expectancy will be the measuring life expectancy used for determining the
period over which distributions will be made. If no beneficiary is named or
you name a beneficiary which is not an individual (i.e., your estate),
distributions will be based upon your single life expectancy.
By the April 1 following your first distribution calendar year, you must
make certain elections on a form provided by the Custodian. If no election is
made, you will be deemed to have elected to take your distributions over a
period not to exceed your single life expectancy. The required distributions
for the second distribution calendar year and for each subsequent distribution
calendar year must be made by December 31 of such year.
Unless otherwise elected by the Custodian (or by you, if the Custodian
permits) in determining the amount to be distributed for the second
distribution calendar year and subsequent distribution calendar years, your
life expectancy (and your designated beneficiary's life expectancy) shall not
be recalculated. If the Custodian elects (or you elect, if the Custodian
permits) to recalculate your life expectancy or your spouse's life expectancy,
you will generally have a longer period of time over which payments will be
made and therefore the minimum distribution will be less.
CAUTION: If you or your spouse should die, the decedent's life expectancy
that is being recalculated is reduced to zero which will reduce the period of
distribution to the survivor's single life expectancy. If recalculation is not
elected, the death of either person will not have an effect on the payment
period.
In any distribution calendar year you may take more than the required
minimum. However, if you take less than the required minimum with respect to
any distribution calendar year, you are subject to a federal excise tax penalty
of 50% of the difference between the amount required to be distributed and the
amount actually distributed.
MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION INCIDENTAL BENEFIT (MDIB) RULE -- Basically, this
rule specifies that benefits provided under a retirement plan must be for the
primary benefit of a participant rather than for his/her beneficiaries. If your
spouse is your sole beneficiary, these special MDIB rules do not apply. The
amount required to be distributed under the MDIB rule may in some cases be more
than the amount required under the normal age 70 1/2 required minimum
distribution rules. If someone other than or in addition to your spouse is a
named primary beneficiary, the minimum distribution required is the greater of
the amount determined under the regular 70 1/2 rules and the amount determined
under the MDIB rules. The minimum amount to be distributed under the MDIB rules
is the amount determined by taking the balance in your SIMPLE IRA account and
dividing it by a factor taken from an IRS table specified in IRS regulations.
The table provides life expectancies for you and a beneficiary who is assumed
to be 10 years younger.
DEATH DISTRIBUTIONS -- If you die after your required beginning date, the
balance in your SIMPLE IRA will be distributed in a manner which is at least as
rapid as the method of distribution being used on the date of your death. If
you die before your required beginning date, the balance in your SIMPLE IRA
must generally be distributed within five years from the date of your death.
However your beneficiary(ies) may elect to receive the balance in your account
over the single life expectancy of your designated beneficiary if distributions
begin no later than the end of the year containing the one year anniversary of
your death. In addition, if your only beneficiary is your surviving spouse,
distributions need not commence until December 31st of the year you would have
attained age 70 1/2.
PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS -- If you or your beneficiary engage in a
prohibited transaction (as defined under Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue
Code) with your SIMPLE IRA, it will lose its tax exemption and you must include
the value of your account in your gross income for that taxable year. If you
pledge any portion of your SIMPLE IRA as collateral for a loan, the amount so
pledged will be treated as a distribution and will be included in your gross
income for that year.
INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING -- All withdrawals from your SIMPLE IRA (except a
direct transfer) are subject to federal income tax withholding. You may,
however, elect not to have withholding apply to your SIMPLE IRA distribution in
most cases. If withholding does apply to your distribution, it is at the rate
of 10% of the amount of the distribution.
DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION "DFI":
In general, under section 408(p), an employer must permit an employee to select
the financial institution for the SIMPLE IRA to which the employer will make
all contributions on behalf of the employee. In this case, the financial
institution is referred to as a "Non-DFI." Alternatively, under section
408(p)(7), an employer may require that all SIMPLE contributions initially be
made to a single designated financial institution selected by the employee. In
this case, the financial institution is referred to as a "DFI." Refer to your
employer's SIMPLE Retirement Plan document to determine if the financial
institution is a DFI or a Non-DFI.
USE OF A DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION "DFI" -- If an employer
requires that all SIMPLE contributions initially be made to a DFI, the
following requirements must be met:
1. The employer and the financial institution must agree that the
financial institution will be a DFI for the employer's SIMPLE plan;
2. The DFI must agree that, if a participant elects before the
expiration of the employee's 60-day election period, the
participant's balance will be transferred without cost or penalty to
another SIMPLE IRA (or after the two-year period no longer applies,
to any IRA) to a financial institution selected by the participant;
and
3. Each participant is given written notification describing the
procedures under which, if a participant so elects, the participant's
balance will be transferred without cost or penalty to another SIMPLE
IRA (or after the two-year period no longer applies, to any IRA) to a
financial institution selected by the participant.
If the participant elects before the expiration of the 60-day election
period to have the balance transferred without cost or penalty as described
above, such election is valid only with respect to the balance attributable to
SIMPLE contributions for the calendar year following that 60-day election
period (or, for the year in which an employee becomes eligible to make salary
reduction contributions for the remainder of that year) and subsequent calendar
years if such election so provides.
If the participant timely elects the transfer of the balance without cost
or penalty as described above, the participant's balance must be transferred on
a reasonably frequent basis, such as on a monthly basis. If a participant
timely elects this transfer without cost or penalty, the Custodian reserves the
right to restrict the investment to a specified investment option until
transferred, even though a variety of investment options are available with
respect to contributions that the participant has not elected to transfer.
A transfer is deemed to be made without cost or penalty if no liquidation,
transaction, redemption or termination fee, or any commission, load (whether
front-end or back-end) or surrender charge or similar fee or charge is imposed
with respect to the balance being transferred that the participant has filed a
timely election with the DFI. However, the DFI can charge a reasonable annual
administrative fee to a SIMPLE IRA from which balances must be transferred in
accordance with the participant's timely transfer election.
In order to timely elect a transfer without cost or penalty, the
participant must indicate such election on the SIMPLE IRA Plan Application
attached hereto and must be received by the DFI no later than the expiration of
the 60-day election period applicable to the employee. If the participant fails
to timely elect such transfers without cost or penalty, the DFI reserves the
right to charge any or all fees and expenses described in Section 8.05 of this
SIMPLE IRA plan agreement.
USE OF A NONDESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION "NON-DFI" -- If the
employer's SIMPLE plan permits the participants to select their own financial
institution to serve as trustee or custodian of the SIMPLE IRA, the rules
explained above do not apply and the Custodian may charge any and all fees
described in Section 8.05 of the SIMPLE IRA plan agreement.
TRANSFERS DEFINED -- A direct transfer is a payment from this SIMPLE IRA
directly to another trustee or custodian of a SIMPLE IRA (or, after the
two-year period no longer applies, to the trustee or custodian of any IRA).
Transfers do not constitute a distribution since you are never in receipt of
the funds. The monies
31
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are transferred directly to the new trustee or custodian. If you should transfer
all or a portion of your SIMPLE IRA to your former spouse's IRA under a divorce
decree (or under a written instrument incident to divorce) or separation
instrument, you will not be deemed to have made a taxable distribution, but
merely a transfer. The portion so transferred will be treated at the time of the
transfer as the IRA of your spouse or former spouse. If your spouse is the
beneficiary of your SIMPLE IRA, in the event of your death, your spouse may
"assume" your SIMPLE IRA. The assumed IRA is then treated as your surviving
spouse's IRA.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION REQUIREMENTS: In general, the Custodian of any
SIMPLE IRA must annually provide to the employer maintaining the SIMPLE plan a
Summary Description early enough to allow the employer to meet its notification
obligations. If the Custodian of this SIMPLE IRA is a DFI, the Summary
Description will be provided directly to the employer by the Custodian in the
underlying SIMPLE plan agreement. If the Custodian of this SIMPLE IRA is a
Non-DFI, the Summary Description will be provided directly to the employee by
the Custodian. The employee agrees to have the employer complete certain
information contained on the Summary Description with respect to the employer's
SIMPLE plan provisions. A sample Summary Description for a Non-DFI is located on
the following page. The Custodian of a "transfer SIMPLE IRA" is not required to
provide this Summary Description. A SIMPLE IRA is a "transfer SIMPLE IRA" if it
is not a SIMPLE IRA to which the employer has made contributions under the
SIMPLE plan.
PROCEDURES FOR WITHDRAWALS: All distributions from this SIMPLE IRA
must be requested in writing on a form provided to the participant by the
Custodian. After the withdrawal form has been completed and executed by the
recipient, the form must be either hand delivered to the Custodian during normal
business hours or mailed to the Custodian by first class mail, certified or
registered mail prepaid through the U.S. Postal Service, or through any means of
an expedited delivery service. After receipt of a properly executed withdrawal
form, the Custodian will process the distribution as soon as administratively
feasible.
FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES: Generally, there is no specific exclusion for
SIMPLE IRAs under the estate tax rules. Therefore, in the event of your death,
your SIMPLE IRA balance will be includible in your gross estate for federal
estate tax purposes. However, if your surviving spouse is the beneficiary of
your SIMPLE IRA, the amount in your SIMPLE IRA may qualify for the marital
deduction available under Section 2056 of the Internal Revenue Code. A transfer
of property for federal gift tax purposes does not include an amount which a
beneficiary receives from a SIMPLE IRA plan.
PENALTIES: If you are under age 59 1/2 and receive a premature distribution from
your SIMPLE IRA, an additional 10% (or 25% for certain SIMPLE IRA distributions)
income tax will apply on the taxable amount of the distribution. If you make an
excess deferral to your SIMPLE IRA and it is not corrected on a timely basis, an
excise tax of 6% is imposed on the excess amount. This tax will apply each year
to any part or all of the excess which remains in your account. If you are age
70 1/2 or over or if you should die, and the appropriate required minimum
distributions are not made from your SIMPLE IRA, an additional tax of 50% is
imposed upon the difference between what should have been distributed and what
was actually distributed.
For tax years ending before 1/1/97, you will be taxed an additional 15% on
any amount you receive and include in income during a calendar year from
qualified plans, TSAs and all IRAs which exceeds the greater of $150,000
(unindexed) or $112,500 (indexed for cost of living). Before you receive an
excess distribution, you should seek advice from your tax advisor with respect
to the application of these rules. For tax years 1997, 1998 and 1999, the 15%
excess distribution tax will not apply. In the event of your death, your estate
may be subject to a 15% tax on the "excess accumulation" in all of your
qualified plans, TSAs and IRAs. You should seek the advice of your own tax
advisor with respect to the application of this excess accumulation excise tax.
You must file IRS Form 5329 with the Internal Revenue Service for any year an
additional tax is due.
IRS APPROVAL AS TO FORM: This SIMPLE IRA Custodial Agreement has been approved
by the Internal Revenue Service as to form. This is not an endorsement of the
plan in operation or of the investments offered.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: You may obtain further information on IRAs and SIMPLE
IRAs from your District Office of the Internal Revenue Service. In particular
you may wish to obtain IRS Publication 590 (Individual Retirement Arrangements).
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EXHIBIT 14(f)
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
ROTH IRA APPLICATION
TO OPEN YOUR AIM ROTH IRA ACCOUNT.
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Complete Sections 1-9.
Return completed application and check to: A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 4739, Houston, TX 77210-4739. Phone: 800-959-4246.
Minors cannot open an AIM Roth IRA account.
1 INVESTOR INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
First Middle Last
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City State ZIP Code
Social Security Number _____________________________________________________________________ Birth Date _____ /_____ /_____
(Required to Open Account) Month Day Year
Home Telephone (_____)_______________________________________Work Telephone (_____)__________________________________________
2 DEALER INFORMATION (To be completed by securities dealer.)
Name of Broker/Dealer Firm _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Home Office Address _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Representative Name and Number _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Authorized Signature of Dealer _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Branch Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Branch Telephone _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
/ / Authorized for NAV purchase. (If authorized for NAV purchase, other than the Broker, please attach NAV Certification
Form.)
3 CONTRIBUTION TYPE
/ / REGULAR - Contribution for tax year 19 _____ .
/ / CONVERSION - Represents a conversion from a Traditional IRA account.
/ / TRANSFER - Transfer from another Roth IRA account. Please complete Roth IRA Asset-Transfer Form.
4 FUND INVESTMENT
Indicate Fund(s) and contribution amount(s).
MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO INVESCO TRUST COMPANY. Minimum purchase to open a Roth IRA is $250.
Fund Amount of Investment Class of Shares (check one)
/ / AIM Advisor Flex Fund $_________________ / / Class A / / Class C
/ / AIM Advisor International Value Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class C
/ / AIM Advisor Large Cap Value Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class C
/ / AIM Advisor MultiFlex Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class C
/ / AIM Advisor Real Estate Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class C
/ / AIM Aggressive Growth Fund $________________ Fund currently closed to new investors
/ / AIM Balanced Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Blue Chip Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
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/ / AIM Capital Development Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Charter Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Constellation Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Global Aggressive Growth Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Global Growth Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Global Income Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Global Utilities Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Growth Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM High Yield Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Income Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Intermediate Government Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM International Equity Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Limited Maturity Treasury Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Money Market Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Cash Reserve Shares
/ / AIM Value Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
/ / AIM Weingarten Fund $________________ / / Class A / / Class B / / Class C
Total $________________
If no class of shares is selected, Class A shares will be purchased, except in the case of AIM Money Market Fund, where AIM
Cash Reserve Shares will be purchased. If you are funding your retirement account through a transfer, please indicate the
contribution amounts both in this section and in Section 3 of the Asset-Transfer Form.
5 TELEPHONE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Unless indicated below, I authorize A I M Fund Services, Inc., to accept instructions from any person to exchange shares in my
account(s) by telephone in accordance with the procedures and conditions set forth in the Fund's current prospectus.
/ / I DO NOT want the Telephone Exchange Privilege.
6 DOLLAR-COST AVERAGING PLAN (Must be under the same registration and class of shares with the exception of AIM Cash
Reserve Shares of the AIM Money Market Fund, which may only be exchanged for Class A shares of another AIM fund.)
I have at least $5,000 in shares in my __________________________ Fund, for which no certificates have been issued, and I
would like to exchange:
$ _________________ into the ______________________________ Fund, Account # ____________________________
($50 minimum)
$__________________ into the ______________________________ Fund, Account # ____________________________
($50 minimum)
$__________________ into the ______________________________ Fund, Account # ____________________________
($50 minimum)
on a / / monthly / / quarterly basis starting in the month of ________ on or near the / / 10th or / / 25th of the
month.
7 REDUCED SALES CHARGE (optional)
RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION (This option is for Class A shares only.)
I apply for Right of Accumulation reduced sales charges based on the following accounts in The AIM Family of Funds-Registered
Trademark-:
Fund(s)/ Account No.(s) _______________________ Social Security No.(s)_________________________________
_______________________ __________________________________
_______________________ __________________________________
LETTER OF INTENT
I agree to the Letter of Intent provisions in the Prospectus. I plan to invest during a 13-month period a dollar amount of at
least:
/ / $25,000 / / $50,000 / / $100,000 / / $250,000 / / $500,000 / / $1,000,000
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8 BENEFICIARY INFORMATION
I hereby designate the following beneficiary(ies) to receive the balance in my Roth IRA custodial account upon my death. To be
effective, the designation of beneficiary and any subsequent change in designation of beneficiary must be filed with the
Custodian prior to my death. The balance of my account shall be distributed in equal amounts to the beneficiary(ies) who
survives me. If no beneficiary is designated or no designated beneficiary or contingent beneficiary survives me, the balance
in my Roth IRA will be distributed to the legal representatives of my estate. This designation revokes any prior designations.
I retain the right to revoke this designation at any time.
I hereby certify that there is no legal impediment to the designation of this beneficiary.
PRIMARY BENEFICIARY(IES)
Name _____________________________________________ __________ % Relationship _________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street City State ZIP Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number _________________________________ Birth Date _____ /_____ /_____
Month Day Year
Name__________________________________________________ _________ % Relationship_________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street City State ZIP Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number______________________________________ Birth Date _____ /_____ /_____
Month Day Year
CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY
In the event that I die and no primary beneficiary listed above is alive, distribute all Fund accounts in my Roth IRA to the
following contingent beneficiary(ies) who survives me, in equal amounts unless otherwise indicated. If more than one, please
attach a list.
Name _________________________________________________ _________ % Relationship______________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street City State ZIP Code
Beneficiary's Social Security Number_______________________________________ Birth Date _____ /_____ /_____
Month Day Year
9 SERVICE ASSISTANCE
Our knowledgeable Client Service Representatives are available to assist you between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Central time
at 800-959-4246.
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10 AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I hereby establish the A I M Distributors, Inc. Roth Individual Retirement
Account (IRA) appointing INVESCO Trust Company as Custodian. I have
received and read the current prospectus of the investment company(ies)
selected in this agreement and have read and understand the Roth IRA
custodial agreement and disclosure statement and consent to the custodial
account fees as specified. I understand that a $10 annual Maintenance Fee
will be deducted early in each December from my AIM Roth IRA.
WITHHOLDING INFORMATION (SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9)
Under the Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983, the Fund
is required to have the following certification: Under the penalties
of perjury I certify by signing this Application as provided below
that:
1. The number shown in Section 1 of this Application is my correct
Social Security (or Tax Identification) Number, and
2. I am not subject to backup withholding either because (a) I have
not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") that I
am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report
all interest or dividends or (b) the IRS has notified me that I am no
longer subject to backup withholding. (This paragraph (2) does not
apply to real estate transactions, mortgage interest paid, the
acquisition or abandonment of secured property, contributions to an
individual retirement arrangement and payments other than interest and
dividends.)
YOU MUST CROSS OUT PARAGRAPH (2) ABOVE IF YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY
THE IRS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING BECAUSE
OF UNDERREPORTING INTEREST OR DIVIDENDS ON YOUR TAX RETURN.
In addition, the Fund hereby incorporates by reference into this
section of the Application either the IRS instructions for Form
W-9 or the substance of those instructions--whichever is
incorporated in the Prospectus.
SIGNATURE PROVISIONS
I, the undersigned Depositor, have read and understand the foregoing
Application and the attached material included herein by reference. In
addition, I certify that the information which I have provided and the
information which is included within the Application and the attached
material included herein by reference is accurate including but not limited
to the representations contained in the Witholding Information section of
this Application above. (The Internal Revenue Service does not require your
consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications to
avoid backup withholding.)
Dated _____ /_____ /_____
Signature of Roth IRA Shareholder ______________________________________
11 MAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Make check payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
Return Application to:
REGULAR MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERIES ONLY
AIM Fund Services, Inc. AIM Fund Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 4739 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 763
Houston, TX 77210-4739 Houston, TX 77046
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[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
ROTH IRA ASSET-TRANSFER FORM
USE THIS FORM ONLY WHEN TRANSFERRING ASSETS FROM AN EXISTING ROTH IRA TO AN AIM
ROTH IRA.
THIS FORM IS NOT TO BE USED FOR CONVERSIONS.
Note: Use this form ONLY if you want AIM to request the money directly from
another custodian.
Complete Sections 1-5.
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<S><C>
If you do not already have an AIM Roth IRA, you must also submit an AIM Roth IRA Application. AIM will arrange
the transfer for you.
1 INVESTOR INFORMATION (Please print or type.)
Name_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
First Name Middle Last Name
Address______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip Code
Social Security Number______________________________________________________________________ Birth Date _____ /_____ /_____
Month Day Year
Home Telephone (_____)______________________________________________________ Work Telephone(_____)__________________________
2 CURRENT TRUSTEE/CUSTODIAN
Name of Resigning Trustee/Custodian__________________________________________________________________________________________
Account Number of Resigning Trustee/Custodian _____________________________________________________________________________
Address of Resigning Trustee/Custodian_______________________________________________________________________________________
Street
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip Code
Attention _______________________________________________________ Telephone________________________________________________
3 ROTH IRA ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Please deposit proceeds in my / / New AIM Roth IRA* / / Existing AIM Roth IRA Account Number _________________________
INVESTMENT ALLOCATION:
Fund Name ____________________________________________________ Class __________________________ % ______________________
Fund Name ____________________________________________________ Class __________________________ % ______________________
Fund Name ____________________________________________________ Class __________________________ % ______________________
*If this is a new AIM Roth IRA account, you must attach a completed AIM Roth IRA Application. If no class of shares is
selected, Class A shares will be purchased with the exception of the AIM Money Market Fund, where AIM Cash Reserve Shares
will be purchased.
4 TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
OPTION 1: Please liquidate from my Roth IRA account listed in Section 2 and transfer the amount indicated below to my Roth IRA
with INVESCO Trust Company.
Amount to liquidate: / / All / / Partial amount of $_______________
When to liquidate: / / Immediately / / At maturity _____/_____ /_____
OPTION 2: (If the account listed in Section 2 contains shares of an AIM Fund, you may choose to transfer them "in kind.")
Please deposit "in kind" the shares of the AIM Fund held in my account to INVESCO Trust Company. NOTE: ONLY AIM FAMILY OF FUND
SHARES MAY BE TRANSFERRED IN KIND. TO TRANSFER ALL OTHER ASSETS, THEY MUST BE LIQUIDATED.
Amount to transfer "in kind" immediately: / / All / / Partial amount of shares_____________
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<PAGE>
5 AUTHORIZATION AND SIGNATURE
I have established a Roth Individual Retirement Account with the AIM Funds and have appointed INVESCO Trust Company as the
successor Custodian. Please accept this as your authorization and instruction to liquidate or transfer in kind the assets
noted above, which your company holds for me.
Your Signature ___________________________________________________________________________________ Date _____ /_____ /_____
Note: Your resigning trustee or custodian may require your signature to be guaranteed. Call that institution for
requirements.
Name of Bank or Brokerage Firm ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature Guaranteed by _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Name and title)
REMAINDER OF FORM TO BE COMPLETED BY AIM
6 CUSTODIAN ACCEPTANCE
This is to advise you that INVESCO Trust Company, as custodian, will accept the account identified above for:
Depositor's Name ____________________________________________________________________ Account Number ______________________
This transfer of assets is to be executed from fiduciary to fiduciary and will not place the participant in actual receipt
of all or any of the plan assets. No federal income tax is to be withheld from this transfer of assets.
Authorized Signature /s/ illegible Mailing Date _____ /_____ /_____
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(INVESCO Trust Company)
7 INSTRUCTIONS TO RESIGNING TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN
Please attach a copy of this form to the check. Return this completed form and completed Roth IRA application to:
INVESCO Trust Company, c/o A I M Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 4739, Houston, TX 77210-4739.
Make check payable to INVESCO Trust Company.
Indicate the AIM account number and the Social Security number of the Roth IRA holder on all documents.
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[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
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Form 5305-RA ROTH INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT Do not file
(January 1998) (Under Section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code) with the Internal
Department of the Treasury Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Services
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of depositor Date of birth of depositor Social security number
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address of depositor Check if Roth Conversion IRA / /
Check if Amendment / /
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Custodian Address or principal place of business or custodian
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The depositor whose name appears above is establishing a Roth individual
retirement account (Roth IRA) under section 408A to provide for his or her
retirement and for the support of his or her beneficiaries after death.
The custodian named above has given the depositor the disclosure statement
required under Regulations section 1.408-6.
The depositor assigned the custodial account $........................
The depositor and the custodian make the following agreement:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTICLE I
1. If this Roth IRA is not designated as a Roth Conversion IRA, then,
except in the case of a rollover contribution described in section 408A(e), the
custodian will accept only cash contributions and only up to a maximum amount of
$2,000 for any tax year of the depositor.
2. If this Roth IRA is designated as a Roth Conversion IRA, no
contributions other than IRA Conversion Contributions made during the same tax
year will be accepted.
ARTICLE II
The $2,000 limit described in Article I is gradually reduced to $0
between certain levels of adjusted gross income (AGI). For a single
depositor, the $2,000 annual contribution is phased out between AGI of
$95,000 and $110,000; for a married depositor who files jointly, between AGI
of $150,000 and $160,000; and for a married depositor who files separately,
between $0 and $10,000. In the case of a conversion, the custodian will not
accept IRA Conversion Contributions in a tax year if the depositor's AGI for
that tax year exceeds $100,000 or if the depositor is married and files a
separate return. Adjusted gross income is defined in section 408A(c)(3) and
does not include IRA Conversion Contributions.
ARTICLE III
The depositor's interest in the balance in the custodial account is
nonforfeitable.
ARTICLE IV
1. No part of the custodial funds may be invested in life insurance
contracts, nor may the assets of the custodial account be commingled with
other property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund
(within the meaning of section 408(a)(5)).
2. No part of the custodial funds may be invested in collectibles (within
the meaning of section 408(m)) except as otherwise permitted by section
408(m)(3), which provides an exception for certain gold, silver, and platinum
coins, coins issued under the laws of any state, and certain bullion.
ARTICLE V
1. If the depositor dies before his or her entire interest is distributed
to him or her and the grantor's surviving spouse is not the sole beneficiary,
the entire remaining interest will, at the election of the depositor or, if the
depositor has not so elected, at the election of the beneficiary or
beneficiaries, either:
(a) Be distributed by December 31 of the year containing the fifth
anniversary of the depositor's death, or
(b) Be distributed over the life expectancy of the designated
beneficiary starting no later than December 31 of the following the year of
the depositor's death.
If distributions do not begin by the date described in (b), distribution
method (a) will apply.
2. In case of distribution method 1.(b) above, to determine the minimum
annual payment for each year, divide the grantor's entire interest in the trust
as of the close of business on December 31 of the preceding year by the life
expectancy of the designated beneficiary using the attained age of the
designated beneficiary as of the beneficiary's birthday in the year
distributions are required to commence and subtract 1 for each subsequent year.
3. If the depositor's spouse is the sole beneficiary on the depositor's
date of death, such spouse will then be treated as the depositor.
ARTICLE VI
1. The depositor agrees to provide the custodian with information
necessary for the custodian to prepare any reports required under sections
408(I) and 408A(d)(3)(E). Regulations sections 1.408-5 and 1.408-6, and under
guidance published by the Internal Revenue Service.
2. The custodian agrees to submit reports to the Internal Revenue Service
and the depositor prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service.
ARTICLE VII
Notwithstanding any other articles which may be added or Incorporated, the
provisions of Articles I through IV and this sentence will be controlling. Any
additional articles that are not consistent with section 408A, the related
regulations, and other published guidance will be invalid.
ARTICLE VIII
This agreement will be amended from time to time to comply with the
provisions of the Code, related regulations, and other published guidance. Other
amendments may be made with the consent of the persons whose signatures appear
below.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Cat No. 25094Y Form 5305-RA (1-98)
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IX
The following information is applicable to Roth IRAs, not Traditional IRAs.
The rules regarding Roth IRAs are new. Congress and the Internal Revenue Service
are refining the rules, so the following rules and/or their interpretation are
subject to change.
1. PURSUANT TO THE TERMS of this A I M Distributors, Inc. Individual
Retirement Custodial Account Agreement and the related Roth IRA Application
(referred to herein as the "Roth IRA Adoption Agreement"), the Depositor directs
the Custodian to invest all custodial account funds after deductions for sales
charges and Custodian fees, in shares issued by the investment company or
companies selected by the Depositor on the Roth IRA Adoption Agreement, until
the Depositor hereafter gives the Custodian contrary instructions pursuant to
Article XIII below. The investment companies from which the Depositor may select
are enumerated on the applicable list prepared by A I M Distributors, Inc. (the
"Distributor"), a copy of which accompanies the Adoption Agreement. Such
investment companies are part of "The AIM Family of Funds-Registered
Trademark-," which are managed or advised by subsidiaries of A I M Management
Group Inc. and any such investment company will hereafter be referred to as
"Investment Company."
2. (i) ANNUAL CASH CONTRIBUTIONS:
The Depositor may make annual cash contributions to the account within the
limits specified in Article I. All contributions shall be hand delivered or
mailed to the Custodian by the Depositor, with an indication of the taxable year
to which such contribution relates.
(ii) ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS:
In addition to any annual contributions referred to in Paragraph (i) above,
but subject to this Paragraph (ii), the Depositor may contribute to the account,
at any time, a rollover contribution of such cash or other property as shall
constitute a rollover amount or contribution under section 402(c), 403(a)(4),
403(b)(8), 408(d)(3) or 408A(e) of the Code. The Depositor shall be responsible
for determining whether a rollover to a Roth IRA is permissible under the
Internal Revenues Code, and the timeliness of any rollover. The Custodian will
accept for the account all rollover contributions which consist of cash, and it
may, but shall be under no obligation to, accept any other rollover
contribution. In the case of rollover contributions composed of assets other
than cash, the prospective Depositor shall provide the Custodian with a
description of such assets and such other information as the Custodian may
reasonably require. The Custodian may accept all or any part of such a rollover
contribution if it determines that the assets of which such contribution
consists are either in a medium proper for investment hereunder or that the
assets can be promptly liquidated for cash. The Custodian may reject any
rollover contribution.
The Depositor warrants that any rollover contribution to the account
consists of cash, the same property received in the distribution or, in the case
of amounts distributed to the Depositor from a qualified employer's plan or
annuity, the proceeds from the sale of the same property received in the
distribution.
3. THE DEPOSITOR SHALL BE FULLY AND SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for all taxes,
interest and penalties which might accrue or be assessed by reason of any excess
or impermissible deposit, and interest, if any, earned thereon. Any
contributions made by or on behalf of the Depositor in respect of a taxable year
of the Depositor shall be made by or on behalf of the Depositor to the Custodian
for deposit in the custodial account within the time period for claiming any
income tax deduction for such taxable year. It shall be the sole responsibility
of the Depositor to determine the amount of the contributions made hereunder.
The Depositor shall execute such forms as the Custodian may require in
connection with any contribution hereunder.
ARTICLE X
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL from time to time, subject to the provisions of
Articles IV and V, make distributions out of the custodial account to the
Depositor, in such manner and amounts as may be specified in written
instructions of the Depositor. All such instructions shall be deemed to
constitute a certification by the Depositor that the distribution so directed is
one that the Depositor is permitted to receive. A declaration of the Depositor's
intention as to the disposition of an amount distributed pursuant to Article V
hereof shall be in writing and given to the Custodian. The Custodian shall have
no liability with respect to any contribution to the custodial account, any
investment of assets in the custodial account or any distribution therefrom
pursuant to instructions received from the Depositor or pursuant to this
Agreement, or for any consequences to the Depositor arising from such
contributions, investments or distributions including, but not limited to,
excise and other taxes and penalties which might accrue or be assessed by reason
thereof, nor shall the Custodian be under any duty to make any inquiry or
investigation with respect thereto.
2. THE DEPOSITOR SHALL BE fully and solely responsible for all taxes and
penalties which might accrue or be assessed for having failed to make the annual
minimum withdrawal required in any year.
ARTICLE XI
A Depositor shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or
beneficiaries to receive any amounts remaining in his account in the event of
his death. Any prior beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked at any
time by a Depositor by written designation signed by the Depositor on a form
acceptable to, and filed with, the Custodian; provided, however, that such
designation, or change or revocation of a prior designation shall not become
effective until it has been received by the Custodian, nor shall it be effective
unless received by the Custodian no later than thirty days before the death of
the Depositor, and provided further that the last such designation of
beneficiary or change or revocation of beneficiary executed by the Depositor, if
received by the Custodian within the time specified, shall control. Unless
otherwise provided in the beneficiary designation, amounts payable by reason of
the Depositor's death will be paid in equal shares only to the primary
beneficiary or beneficiaries who survive the Depositor, or, if no primary
beneficiary survives the Depositor, to the contingent beneficiary or
beneficiaries who survive the Depositor. If the Depositor had not, by the date
of his death, properly designated a beneficiary in accordance with the preceding
sentences, or if no designated beneficiary survives the Depositor, then the
Depositor's beneficiary shall be the Depositor's estate.
ARTICLE XII
1. ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OR OTHER FEES of the Custodian and its agents for
performing duties pursuant to this Agreement shall be in such amount as shall be
established from time to time. The Depositor agrees to pay the Custodian the
fees specified in its current fee schedule and authorizes the Custodian to
charge the Depositor's custodian account for the amount of such fees.
2. UPON 30 DAYS' PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE, the Custodian may substitute a new
fee schedule. The Custodian's fees, any income, gift, estate and inheritance
taxes and other taxes of any kind whatsoever, including transfer taxes incurred
in connection with the investment or reinvestment of the assets of the custodial
account, that may be levied or assessed in respect of such assets, and all other
administrative expenses incurred by the Custodian in the performance of its
duties including fees for legal services rendered to the Custodian, may be
charged to the custodial account with the right to liquidate Investment Company
shares for this purpose, or at the Custodian's option, shall be billed to the
Depositor directly.
ARTICLE XIII
1. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL take effect only when accepted and signed by the
Custodian. As directed, the Custodian shall then open and maintain a separate
custodial account for Depositor and invest the initial contribution hereunder in
shares of the Investment Company. Where the Roth IRA Adoption Agreement is
checked for spousal accounts, separate custodial accounts will be opened and
maintained in each spouse's name. The amounts specified in the Roth IRA Adoption
Agreement shall be credited to each spouse's separate custodial account except
that no more than $2,000 shall be credited to either custodial account.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL invest subsequent contributions as directed. If any
such written instructions are not received as required however, or if received,
are in the opinion of the Custodian unclear, or if the accompanying contribution
exceeds $2,000 for the Depositor and/or $2,000 for the Depositor's spouse, the
Custodian may hold or return all or a portion of the contribution uninvested
without liability for loss of income or appreciation, and without liability for
interest, pending receipt of written instructions or clarification.
3. ALL DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS, less charges, received on
Investment Company shares held in the custodial account shall (unless received
in additional such shares) be reinvested in shares of the Investment Company,
which shall be credited to the custodial account. If any distribution on such
shares may be received at the election of the Depositor in additional such
shares or in cash or other property, the Custodian shall elect to receive it in
additional Investment Company shares.
4. ALL INVESTMENT COMPANY SHARES ACQUIRED by the Custodian hereunder shall
be registered in the name of the Custodian (with or without identifying the
Depositor) or of its nominees. The Custodian shall deliver, or cause to be
executed and delivered, to the Depositor all notices, prospectuses, financial
statements, proxies and proxy solicitation materials relating to such Investment
Company shares held in the custodial account. The Custodian shall not vote any
Investment Company shares except in accordance with the written instructions
received from the Depositor.
ARTICLE XIV
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL keep adequate records of transactions it is required
to perform hereunder. Not later than six months after the close of each calendar
year or after the Custodian's registration or removal pursuant to Article XV
below, the Custodian shall render to the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative a written report or reports reflecting the transactions effected
by it during such period and the assets and liabilities of the custodial account
at the close of the period. Sixty days after rendering such report(s), the
Custodian shall (to the extent permitted by law) be forever released and
discharged from all liability and accountability to anyone with respect to its
acts and transactions shown in or reflected by such report(s), except with
respect to those as to which the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative shall have filed written objections with the Custodian within the
latter such sixty-day period.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL receive and invest contributions as directed by the
Depositor, hold and distribute such investments, and keep adequate records and
reports thereon, all in accordance with this Agreement. The parties do not
intend to confer any other fiduciary duties of the Custodian, and none shall be
implied. The Custodian shall not be liable (and assumes no responsibility) for
the
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collection of contributions, the deductibility or propriety of any contribution
under this Agreement, or the purposes or propriety of any distribution from the
account, which matters are the responsibility of the Depositor or the
Depositor's legal representative.
3. THE DEPOSITOR, to the extent permitted by law, shall always fully
indemnify the Custodian and save it harmless from any and all liability
whatsoever which may arise in connection with this Agreement and matters which
it contemplates, except that which arises due to the Custodian's negligence and
willful misconduct. The Custodian shall not be obligated or expected to commence
or defend any legal action or proceeding in connection with this Agreement or
such matters unless agreed upon by the Custodian and Depositor or said legal
representative, and unless fully indemnified for so doing to the Custodian's
satisfaction.
4. THE CUSTODIAN MAY conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in
acting upon any written order from the Depositor or the Depositor's legal
representative or any other notice, request, consent, certificate or other
instruments or paper believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly
executed, and as long as it acts in good faith in taking or omitting to take any
other action in reliance thereon.
ARTICLE XV
1. THE CUSTODIAN MAY resign at any time upon 30 days' notice in writing to
the Depositor, and may be removed by the Depositor at any time upon thirty days'
notice in writing to the Custodian. Upon such resignation or removal, the
Depositor shall appoint a successor custodian to serve under this Agreement.
Upon receipt by the Custodian of written acceptance of such appointment by the
successor custodian, the Custodian shall transfer to such successor the assets
of the custodial account and all necessary records (or copies thereof)
pertaining thereto, provided that (at the Custodian's request) any successor
custodian shall agree not to dispose of any such records without the Custodian's
consent. The Custodian is authorized, however, to reserve such assets as it may
deem advisable for payment of any other liabilities constituting a charge on or
against the assets of the custodial account or on or against the Custodian, with
any balance of such reserve remaining after the payment of all such items to be
paid over to the successor custodian.
2. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL NOT be liable for the acts or omissions of such
successor custodian.
3. THE CUSTODIAN, AND EVERY SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN appointed to serve under
this Agreement, must be a bank (as defined in Section 408(n) of the Code) or
such other person who qualifies with the Internal Revenue Service to serve in
the manner prescribed by Code section 408(a)(2) and satisfies the Custodian,
upon request, as to such qualification.
4. AFTER THE CUSTODIAN HAS transferred the custodial account assets
(including any reserve balance as contemplated above) to the successor
custodian, the Custodian shall be relieved of all further liability with respect
to this Agreement, the custodial account and the assets thereof.
ARTICLE XVI
1. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL terminate the custodial account and pay the
proceeds of the account to the depositor if within 30 days after the resignation
or removal of the Custodian pursuant to Article XV above, the Depositor has not
appointed a successor custodian which has accepted such appointment unless
within that time the Distributor appoints such successor and gives written
notice thereof to the Depositor and the Custodian. The Distributor shall have
the right, but not the duty, to appoint such a successor. Termination of the
custodial account shall be effected by distributing all of the assets therein in
cash or in kind to the Depositor in a lump sum, subject to the Custodian's right
to reserve funds as provided in said Article XV.
2. UPON TERMINATION of the custodial account in any manner provided for in
this Article XVI, this Agreement shall terminate and have no further force and
effect, and the Custodian shall be relieved from all further liability with
respect to this Agreement, the custodial account and all assets thereof so
distributed.
ARTICLE XVII
1. ANY NOTICE FROM THE CUSTODIAN TO THE DEPOSITOR provided for in this
Agreement shall be effective when mailed if sent by first class mail to the
Depositor at the Depositor's last known address as shown on the Custodian's
records. Any notice required or permitted to be given to the Custodian, shall
become effective upon actual receipt by the Custodian at such address as the
Custodian shall provide the Depositor from time to time in writing.
2. THIS AGREEMENT IS accepted by the Custodian and shall be construed and
administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado. The Custodian
and the Depositor hereby waive and agree to waive right to trial by jury in an
action or proceeding instituted in respect to this custodial account. The
Depositor further agrees that the venue of any litigation between him and the
Custodian with respect to the custodial account shall be in the State of
Colorado.
3. THIS AGREEMENT IS intended to qualify under section 408A of the Code as
a Roth IRA and if any provision hereof is subject to more than one
interpretation or any term used herein is subject to more than one construction,
such ambiguity shall be resolved in favor of that interpretation or construction
which is consistent with that intent.
4. ALL PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE subject to the Code and to
regulations promulgated thereunder. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement.
5. THE CUSTODIAN SHALL have no duties whatsoever except such duties as it
specifically agrees to in writing, and no implied covenants or obligations shall
be read into this Agreement against the Custodian. The Custodian shall not be
liable under this Agreement, except for its own bad faith, gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
6. NO INTEREST, RIGHT OR CLAIM IN OR TO ANY PART of the custodial account
or any payment therefrom shall be assignable, transferable, or subject to sale,
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, communication, anticipation, garnishment,
attachment, execution, or levy of any kind and the Custodian shall not recognize
any attempt to assign, transfer, sell, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, commute or
anticipate the same, except as required by law.
7. THE DEPOSITOR HEREBY DELEGATES to the Custodian the power to amend
this Agreement from time to time as it deems appropriate, and hereby consents
to all such amendments, provided, however, that all such amendments are in
compliance with the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder. All such amendments shall be effective as of the date specified
in a written notice of amendment which will be sent to the Depositor.
INSTRUCTIONS
(Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.)
PURPOSE OF FORM
This model custodial account agreement may be used by an individual who
wishes to adopt a Roth IRA under section 408A. When fully executed by the
Depositor and the Custodian not later than the time prescribed by law for filing
the Federal income tax return for the Depositor's tax year (not including any
extensions thereof), a Depositor will have a Roth IRA custodial account which
meets the requirements of section 408A. This account must be created in the
United States for the exclusive benefit of the Depositor or his/her
beneficiaries.
DEFINITIONS
CUSTODIAN. The Custodian must be a bank or savings and loan association, as
defined in section 408(n), or other person who has the approval of the Internal
Revenue Service to act as custodian.
DEPOSITOR. The Depositor is the person who establishes the custodial
account.
ROTH IRA FOR NONWORKING SPOUSES
Contributions to a Roth IRA custodial account for a non-working spouse must
be made to a separate Roth IRA custodial account established by the nonworking
spouse.
This form may be used to establish the Roth IRA custodial account for the
nonworking spouse.
An individual's social security number will serve as the identification
number of his or her individual retirement account.
For more information, obtain a copy of the required disclosure statement
from your custodian or get Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements
(IRAs).
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
ARTICLE IV -- Distribution made under this Article may be made in a single
sum, periodic payment, or a combination of both.
ARTICLE IX -- This article and any that follow it may incorporate
additional provisions that are agreed upon by the Depositor and the Custodian to
complete the agreement. These may include, for example: definitions, investment
powers, voting rights, exculpatory provisions, amendment and termination,
removal of Custodian, Custodian's fees, state law requirements, beginning date
of distributions, accepting only cash, treatment of excess contributions,
prohibited transactions with the Depositor, etc. Use additional pages if
necessary and attach them to this form.
Note: This form may be reproduced and reduced in size for adoption to
passbook or card purposes.
THE AIM FAMILY OF FUNDS-Registered Trademark-
ROTH IRA CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Under applicable federal regulations, a custodian of a Roth IRA account is
required to furnish each depositor who has established or is establishing a Roth
IRA account with a statement which discloses certain information regarding the
account. INVESCO Trust Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Custodian") is
providing this Disclosure Statement to you in accordance with that requirement,
and this Disclosure Statement contains general information about the The AIM
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Family of Funds-Registered Trademark- Roth IRA Custodial Account (hereinafter
referred to as "Roth IRA"). This Disclosure Statement should be reviewed in
conjunction with both the Roth Individual Retirement Custodial Account agreement
(Form 5305 and any attachments thereto, hereinafter referred to as the
"Custodial Agreement") and the Adoption Agreement for your Roth IRA. You should
review this Disclosure Statement and the Roth IRA documents with your attorney
or tax advisor. The Custodian cannot give tax advice or determine whether or not
the Roth IRA is appropriate for you.
The following information is applicable to Roth IRAs, not Traditional IRAs. The
rules regarding Roth IRAs are new. Congress and the Internal Revenue Service are
refining the rules, so the following rules and/or their interpretation are
subject to change.
A. SEVEN DAY RIGHT TO REVOKE YOUR ROTH IRA.
You may revoke your Roth IRA at any time within 7 business days after the
date the Roth IRA is established, by giving proper notice. For purposes of
revocation, it will be assumed that you received the Disclosure Statement no
later than the date of your check with which you opened your Roth IRA. Written
notice must be hand delivered or sent by first class mail, in which case, the
revocation will be effective as of the date the notice is postmarked (or if sent
by certified or registered mail, the date of certification or registration).
Notice of revocation should be made to: A I M Distributors, Inc., Eleven
Greenway Plaza, Suite 763, P.O. Box 4739, Houston, Texas 77210-4739, Attention:
Shareholder Services Department, area code (800) 959-4246. If you revoke your
Roth IRA, you are entitled to a refund of your entire contribution to the Roth
IRA, without adjustment for such items as sales commissions, administrative
expenses or fluctuation in market value. If you do not revoke within 7 business
days after the establishment of the Roth IRA, you will be deemed to have
accepted the terms and conditions of the Roth IRA and cannot later revoke the
Roth IRA without certain potential penalties.
B. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.
A Roth IRA is a trust or custodial account created or organized in the
United States for your exclusive benefit or that of your beneficiaries. It must
be created by a written governing instrument that meets the following
requirements:
(1) THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN MUST BE A BANK, federally insured credit
union, savings and loan association or another person eligible to act as trustee
or custodian;
(2) EXCEPT FOR ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS (as described in Part F below), no
contribution will be accepted unless it is in cash or cash equivalent,
including, but not by way of limitation, personal checks, cashier's checks,
and wire transfers;
(3) EXCEPT FOR ROLLOVERS contributions of more than $2,000 for any tax year
may not be made;
(4) YOU WILL HAVE A NONFORFEITABLE INTEREST IN THE ACCOUNT;
(5) NO PART OF THE TRUST OR CUSTODIAL FUNDS will be invested in life
insurance contracts, nor may the assets be commingled with other property
except in a common trust fund or common investment fund. Furthermore, as
provided in section 408(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), your Roth IRA may not be invested in "collectibles," such as
art works, antiques, metals, gems, stamps, coins (with an exception for
certain U.S.-minted gold and silver coins and certain bullion), and certain
other types of tangible personal property. An investment in a collectible
would be treated as a distribution from your Roth IRA which would be
includible in your gross income, and, if you had not attained the age of 59
1/2, the distribution would also be subject to the premature distribution
penalty as discussed in Part E(5) below;
(6) UNLIKE A TRADITIONAL IRA, YOUR INTEREST IN YOUR ROTH IRA IS NOT
REQUIRED TO BE DISTRIBUTED WHEN YOU REACH AGE 70 1/2.
C. INVESTMENT OF YOUR ROTH IRA.
Under the terms of the Custodial Agreement, your contributions will be
invested by the Custodian in full and fractional shares of the investment
company or companies that you select. As provided in the Custodial Agreement,
you may only invest your Roth IRA Funds in shares of investment companies which
are part of "The AIM Family of Funds-Registered Trademark-," which are managed
or advised by subsidiaries of A I M Management Group Inc. You will be provided
with a list of the investment companies from which you may choose to invest.
Subject to the foregoing and to any additional restrictions described in the
Custodial Agreement, you have complete control over the investment of your Roth
IRA Funds. The Custodian will not provide any form of investment advice or make
investment recommendations of any type, so you will make all investment
decisions on the basis of information you obtain from other sources. When you
make a decision on how you wish to invest Funds held in your Roth IRA, you
should provide the Custodian with specific instructions, detailing your
investment decision so that the Custodian can effectuate such investments as
provided in your Roth IRA Custodial Agreement. If you fail to direct the
Custodian as to the Investment of all or any portion of your Roth IRA account,
the Custodian shall hold such uninvested amount in your account and shall incur
no liability for interest or earnings thereon. All dividends and capital gain
distributions received on shares of an investment company held in your Roth IRA
will be reinvested in shares of that investment company, if available, which
shall be credited to the Custodian account. Detailed information about the
shares of the AIM fund(s) you select must be furnished to you in the form of
prospectuses governed by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
D. LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEDUCTIONS.
Except in the case of rollover contributions (see Part F below), generally
you may contribute up to the lesser of $2,000 or 100% of your compensation
(earned income) to your Roth IRA for any taxable year. A non-working spouse may
contribute up to $2,000 to a separate Roth IRA.
Contributions to a Roth IRA are nondeductible, but earnings on a Roth IRA
generally are not subject to federal income tax. The $2,000 individual Roth IRA
limit is reduced by any deductible or nondeductible contributions you make to a
Traditional IRA. You should consult your tax advisor to determine the specific
application of such rules to your Roth IRA contributions for any particular
taxable year.
Contributions to a Roth IRA are not deductible, but earnings on a Roth
IRA generally are not subject to federal income tax if they are distributed
after the account has been in existence for five years and the distribution
is made on account of death, disability, after age 59 1/2, or for certain
qualifying events. The $2,000 maximum contribution to a Roth IRA is reduced
for taxpayers whose income exceeds $95,000 (single filer) or $150,000 (joint
filers) and is phased-out entirely for taxpayers whose income exceeds
$110,000 (single) or $160,000 (joint).
E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS OF THE ROTH IRA AND CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS.
(1) IN GENERAL. Except as described below, your Roth IRA and earnings
thereon are exempt from federal income tax at least until distributions are made
from the Roth IRA.
(2) TAX TREATMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS FROM A ROTH IRA. Contributions to a Roth
IRA are not tax-deductible, but distributions may be received tax-free under
certain circumstances. After a Roth IRA account has been maintained for at least
five years (whether or not contributions were made for all years), investment
earnings may be withdrawn without being subject to federal income tax if the
distribution is made after age 59 1/2, in the case of death or disability, or
for a first home purchase. A withdrawal for a first home purchase is limited to
$10,000 and is available to a person who has not had an ownership interest in a
principal residence during the two years ending on the date of purchase. The
dollar amount of contributions (but not earnings) to a Roth IRA may be withdrawn
without penalty at any time.
(3) EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS. If contributions to your Roth IRA are in excess
of the limits stated in Part D above, you will be assessed a 6% nondeductible
excise tax on such excess amounts. This tax is payable for each year the excess
is permitted to remain in your Roth IRA. However, if the excess contribution and
all earnings thereon are returned before the due date for filing your income tax
return for the year in which the excess contribution was made, the 6% excise tax
will not be assessed. The earnings on such excess contributions that are
returned to you will be taxable as ordinary income and will be deemed to have
been earned and taxable in the tax year during which the excess contribution was
made. In addition, if you are not disabled or have not reached age 59 1/2, the
earnings will be subject to the 10% premature withdrawal penalty discussed
below. The 6% excess contribution tax may be eliminated for future tax years by
withdrawing the excess contribution from your Roth IRA before the due date for
filing your tax return for that year or by under-contributing for a subsequent
year by an amount equal to the excess contribution. If the total contributions
for the year to your Roth IRA are $2,000 or less, you may withdraw any excess
contributions after the due date for filing your tax return, including
extensions, and not include the amount withdrawn in your gross income. It is not
necessary to withdraw the interest or other income earned on the excess. You
will have to pay the 6% tax on the excess amount for each year the excess
contribution was in the Roth IRA.
If less than the maximum amount of contributions has been made in years
before the year you make an excess contribution, the prior year's difference may
not be used to reduce the excess contribution. Qualified rollover contributions,
as described in Part F below, are not considered excess contributions.
(4) PREMATURE DISTRIBUTIONS. In addition to any regular income tax that
may be payable, distributions from your Roth IRA that occur before you reach
age 59 1/2 (except in the event of disability, death, rollover, or as a
qualifying distribution), will be assessed a 10% additional income tax on the
amount distributed which is includible in your gross income. However, the
additional 10% income tax will not be imposed if the distribution is one of a
scheduled series of level payments to be made over your life or life
expectancy or over the joint lives or joint life expectancies of you and your
beneficiary. Amounts treated as distributions from the Roth IRA because of
pledging the Roth IRA as described below, or prohibited transactions as
described below, will also be considered premature distributions if they
occur before you reach age 59 1/2 (assuming you are not disabled).
(5) PLEDGING THE ROTH IRA. If you pledge your Roth IRA as security for a
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loan, the portion so pledged is treated as being distributed to you in that
year. In addition to any regular income tax that may be payable on the
distribution, the premature distribution penalty as discussed above may also be
applicable.
(6) PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS. If you or your beneficiary engages in a
prohibited transaction, as described in section 4975 of the Code with respect to
your Roth IRA, your Roth IRA will lose its exemption from tax and you must
include the fair market value of your Roth IRA in your gross income for the year
during which the prohibited transaction occurred. In addition to any regular
income tax that may be payable, the premature distribution penalty as discussed
above may also be applicable.
(7) ESTATE AND GIFT TAX STATUS OF DISTRIBUTIONS. You should consult your
tax advisor with respect to the application of community property laws on estate
and gift tax issues relating to your Roth IRA.
(8) FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING. The taxable portion of distributions
from your Roth IRA, if any, is subject to federal income tax withholding unless
you elect not to have withholding applied. If you elect not to have withholding
applied to taxable distributions from your IRA, or if insufficient federal
income tax is withheld from any distribution, you may be responsible for payment
of estimated taxes, as well as for penalties under the estimated tax rules, if
withholding and estimated tax payments were not sufficient. Additional
information regarding withholding and the necessary election forms will be
provided no later than at the time a distribution is requested.
F. ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS.
A rollover is a contribution of cash or other assets from one retirement
program to another. There are two kinds of rollover contributions to an IRA.
In one, you contribute amounts distributed to you from one IRA to another IRA.
With the other type, you contribute amounts distributed to you from your
employer's qualified plan or 403(b) plan to an IRA. A rollover is an allowable
IRA contribution which is not subject to the limits on regular contributions
discussed in Part D above. However, you may not deduct a rollover contribution
to your IRA on your tax return.
If you receive a distribution from the qualified plan of your employer or
former employer, the distribution must be an "eligible rollover distribution" in
order for you to be able to roll all or part of the distribution over to your
IRA. Your employer or former employer will give you the opportunity to roll over
the distribution directly from the plan to the IRA. If you elect, instead, to
receive the distribution, you must deposit it into the IRA within 60 days after
you receive it.
An "eligible rollover distribution" is any distribution from a qualified
plan that would be taxable other than (1) a distribution that is one of a series
of periodic payments for an employee's life or over a period of 10 years or
more, (2) a required distribution after you attain age 70 1/2 and (3) certain
corrective distributions.
The proceeds of a Roth IRA may be rolled over only to another Roth IRA. A
Roth IRA may accept the proceeds of a tax-qualified plan or a traditional IRA,
but any taxable portion of such a rollover shall be subject to federal income
tax. Similarly, a Traditional IRA may be redesignated as a Roth IRA, with the
taxable portion of the converted IRA being subject to federal income tax at the
time of conversion. In the case of such a rollover or conversion during 1998,
the amount required to be included in income shall be spread ratably over four
years.
G. AMENDMENTS.
The Custodian of your Roth IRA may amend the agreements establishing your
Roth IRA at any time. The Custodian will comply with the amendment procedures
set forth in your Custodial Agreement.
H. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
Because the value of assets held in your Roth IRA is subject to market
fluctuation, the value of your Roth IRA can neither be guaranteed nor projected.
There is no assurance of growth in the value of your Roth IRA or guarantee of
investment results. You will, however, be provided with periodic statements of
your Roth IRA, including current market values of investments.
Certain fees will be charged by the Custodian in connection with your Roth
IRA. Such fees are disclosed on the Custodian's fee schedule, a copy of which
has been provided to you. Upon thirty days' prior written notice, the Custodian
may substitute a new fee schedule. Any fees or other expenses incurred in
connection with your Roth IRA will be deducted from your Roth IRA (with
liquidation of Fund Shares, if necessary), or at the Custodian's option, such
fees or expenses may be billed to you directly.
For its services to the various funds, in The AIM Family of
Funds-Registered Trademark-, INVESCO Trust Company receives a custodian fee.
This fee is in addition to fees it receives for acting as Custodian under the
Roth IRA. INVESCO Trust Company and A I M Distributors, Inc., also will receive
additional fees for performing specific services with respect to the various
funds in the AIM Family of Funds. Any such fees will be fully disclosed to you.
Potential investors should obtain a copy of the current Prospectus relating to
the fund(s) selected for investment prior to making an investment. Also, copies
of the Statement of Additional Information relating to such fund(s) will be
provided upon your request to A I M Distributors, Inc.
I. MISCELLANEOUS.
Each year you will be provided a statement(s) of account which will give
the amount of contributions to the Roth IRA, the year to which each contribution
relates, and the total value of the Roth IRA as of the end of the year.
Information relating to contributions and distributions must be reported
annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to you. You must also file Form
5329 (Return for Individual Retirement Savings Arrangement) with the Internal
Revenue Service for each taxable year during which you are assessed any penalty
or tax as discussed in Part E above.
Further information about Roth IRAs can be obtained from any district
office of the Internal Revenue Service or from the Custodian.
All provisions in this Disclosure Statement are subject to the Code and to
the regulations promulgated thereunder. This Disclosure Statement constitutes a
nontechnical restatement and summary of certain provisions of the Code which may
affect your Roth IRA. This is not a legal document. Your legal rights and
obligations are governed by the federal tax laws and regulations and your
Custodial Agreement and Adoption Agreement with the Custodian.
The Depositor has assigned the Roth IRA custodial account ______ dollars
($______) in cash.
The Depositor has assigned the Roth IRA custodial account ______ dollars
($______) in cash.
__________________________________________________________________________
Depositor's signature Date
__________________________________________________________________________
Custodian's signature Date
__________________________________________________________________________
Witness
(Use only if signature of the Depositor or the Custodian is required to be
witnessed.)
21
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
(CLASS A SHARES)
SECTION 1. AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc. a Maryland Corporation (the
"Fund"), on behalf of the series of shares of common stock set forth in
Schedule A to this plan (the "Portfolios"), may act as a distributor of the
Class A Shares of such Portfolios as described in Schedule A to this plan
(the "Shares") of which the Fund is the issuer, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), according to the terms
of this Distribution Plan (the "Plan").
SECTION 2. The Fund may incur as a distributor of the Shares, expenses
at the rates set forth in Schedule A per annum of the average daily net
assets of the Fund attributable to the Shares, subject to any applicable
limitations imposed from time to time by applicable rules of the NASD
Regulation, Inc.
SECTION 3. Amounts set forth in Schedule A may be expended when and if
authorized in advance by the Fund's Board of Directors. Such amounts may be
used to finance any activity which is primarily intended to result in the
sale of the Shares, including, but not limited to, expenses of organizing and
conducting sales seminars, advertising programs, finders fees, printing
prospectuses and statements of additional information (and supplements
thereto) and reports for other than existing shareholders, preparation and
distribution of advertising material and sales literature, supplemental
payments to dealers and other institutions as asset-based sales charges.
Amounts set forth on Schedule A may also be used to finance payments of
service fees under a shareholder service arrangement to be established by A I
M Distributors, Inc. ("Distributors") as the Fund's distributor in accordance
with Section 4, and the costs of administering the Plan. To the extent that
amounts paid hereunder are not used specifically to reimburse Distributors
for any such expense, such amounts may be treated as compensation for
distribution-related services of Distributors or the Fund's former
distributor, GT Global, Inc. All amounts expended pursuant to the Plan shall
be paid to Distributors and are the legal obligation of the Fund and not of
Distributors. That portion of the amounts paid under the Plan that is not
paid or advanced by Distributors to dealers or other institutions that
provide personal continuing shareholder service as a service fee pursuant to
Section 4 shall be deemed an asset-based sales charge. No provision of this
Plan shall be interpreted to prohibit any payments by the Fund during periods
when the Fund has suspended or otherwise limited sales.
<PAGE>
SECTION 4.
(a) Amounts expended by the Fund under the Plan shall be used in part
for the implementation by Distributors of shareholder service
arrangements. The maximum service fee paid to any service provider
shall be twenty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.25%), or such
lower rate for the Portfolio and Class as is specified on
Schedule A, per annum of the average daily net assets of the Fund
attributable to the Shares owned by the customers of such service
provider.
(b) Pursuant to this program, Distributors may enter into agreements
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A ("Service
Agreements") with such broker-dealers ("Dealers") as may be
selected from time to time by Distributors for the provision of
distribution-related personal shareholder services in connection
with the sale of Shares to the Dealers' clients and customers
("Customers") who may from time to time directly or beneficially
own Shares. The distribution-related personal continuing
shareholder services to be rendered by Dealers under the Service
Agreements may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
(i) distributing sales literature; (ii) answering routine
Customer inquiries concerning the Fund and the Shares;
(iii) assisting Customers in changing dividend options, account
designations and addresses, and in enrolling into any of several
retirement plans offered in connection with the purchase of the
Shares; (iv) assisting in the establishment and maintenance of
customer accounts and records, and in the processing of purchase
and redemption transactions; (v) investing dividends and
capital gains distributions automatically in Shares; and (vi)
providing such other information and services as the Fund or the
Customer may reasonably request.
(c) Distributors may also enter into Bank Shareholder Service
Agreements substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B
("Bank Agreements") with selected banks acting in an agency
capacity for their customers ("Banks"). Banks acting in such
capacity will provide some or all of the shareholder services to
their customers as set forth in the Bank Agreements from time to
time.
(d) Distributors may also enter into Agency Pricing Agreements
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C ("Pricing
Agreements") with selected retirement plan service providers acting
in an agency capacity for their customers ("Retirement Plan
Providers"). Retirement Plan Providers acting in such a capacity
will provide some or all of the shareholders services to their
customers as set forth in the Pricing Agreements from time to time.
<PAGE>
(e) Distributors may also enter into Shareholder Service Agreements
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D ("Bank Trust
Department Agreements and Brokers for Bank Trust Department
Agreements") with selected bank trust departments and brokers for
bank trust departments. Such bank trust departments and brokers for
bank trust departments will provide some or all of the shareholder
services to their customers as set forth in the Bank Trust
Department Agreements and Brokers for Bank Trust Department
Agreements.
SECTION 5. Any amendment to this Plan that requires the approval of the
shareholders of a Class pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act shall
become effective as to such Class upon approval of such amendment by a
"majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as defined in the 1940 Act)
of such Class, provided that the Board of Directors of the Fund has approved
such amendment in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of this Plan.
SECTION 6. This Plan, any amendment to this Plan and any agreements
related to this Plan shall become effective with respect to any Class of any
Portfolio immediately upon receipt by the Fund of both (a) the affirmative
vote of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Fund, and (b) the
affirmative vote of a majority of those Directors of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any
agreements related to it (the "Disinterested Directors"), cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan or such agreements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment that requires the approval
of the shareholders of a Class of a Portfolio shall become effective as to
such Class until such amendment has been approved by the shareholders of such
Class in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Plan.
SECTION 7. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 9, this Plan
shall continue in effect until May 29, 1999 and thereafter shall continue
in effect so long as such continuance is specifically approved, at least
annually, in the manner provided for approval of this Plan in Section 6.
SECTION 8. Distributors shall provide to the Fund's Board of Directors
and the Board of Directors shall review, at least quarterly, a written report
of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were
made.
SECTION 9. This Plan may be terminated with respect to the shares of any
Class of any Portfolio at any time by vote of a majority of the Disinterested
Directors, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
such Class of such Portfolio. Upon termination of this Plan with respect to
any or all such Classes, the obligation of the Fund to make payments pursuant
to this Plan with respect to such Classes shall terminate, and the Fund shall
not be required to make payments hereunder beyond such termination date with
respect to expenses incurred in connection with shares of such Classes sold
prior to such termination date.
<PAGE>
SECTION 10. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be made in writing,
and shall provide:
(a) that such agreement may be terminated with respect to the shares
of any Class of any Portfolio at any time, without payment of
any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Disinterested Directors or
by a vote of the outstanding voting securities of such Class of
such Portfolio, on not more than sixty (60) days' written notice to
any other party to the agreement; and
(b) that such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment.
SECTION 11. This Plan may not be amended with respect to the shares of
any Class of any Portfolio to increase materially the amount of
distribution expenses provided for in Section 2 hereof unless such amendment
is approved by such Class in the manner provided in Section 5 hereof, and
no material amendment to the Plan with respect to the shares of any
Class of any Portfolio shall be made unless approved in the manner
provided for in Section 6 hereof.
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
(on behalf of its Class A Shares)
Attest: By:
Assistant Secretary President
Effective as of May 29, 1998.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
TO
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
The Fund shall pay the Distributor as full compensation for all
services rendered and all facilities furnished under the Distribution
Plan for each Portfolio (or Class thereof) designated below, a
Distribution Fee* determined by applying the annual rate set forth below
as to each Portfolio (or Class thereof) to the average daily net
assets of the Portfolio (or Class thereof) for the plan year,
computed in a manner used for the determination of the offering price of
shares of the Portfolio.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PORTFOLIO (CLASS A SHARES) MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
ASSET-BASED SERVICE FEE AGGREGATE FEE
SALES CHARGE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AIM Dollar Fund 0.00% 0.25% 0.25%
</TABLE>
The Distributor will waive part or all of its Distribution Fee as to
a Portfolio (or Class thereof) to the extent that the ordinary business
expenses of the Portfolio exceed the expense limitation as to the Portfolio
(if any) as contained in the Investment Advisory Agreement between the
Company and A I M Advisors, Inc.
THIS PLAN REFERS TO EXHIBITS A-D, WHICH RELATE TO AGREEMENTS THAT
THE DISTRIBUTOR MAY ENTER INTO WITH THIRD PARTIES. FORMS OF THESE
AGREEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED WITH THIS PLAN.
- --------------
* The Distribution Fee is payable apart from the sales charge, if
any, as stated in the current prospectus for the applicable
Portfolio (or Class thereof).
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
(CLASS B SHARES)
SECTION 1. AIM Investment Portfolios, Inc., a Maryland Corporation, (the
"Fund"), on behalf of the series of common stock set forth in Schedule A to
this plan (the "Portfolios"), may pay for distribution of the Class B Shares
of such Portfolios (the "Shares") which the Fund issues from time to time,
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940
Act"), according to the terms of this Distribution Plan (the "Plan").
SECTION 2. The Fund may incur expenses for and pay any institution selected
to act as the Fund's agent for distribution of the Shares of any portfolio
from time to time (each, a "Distributor") at the rates set forth in
Schedule A hereto based on the average daily net assets of each class of
Shares subject to any applicable limitations imposed by the Conduct
Rules of the NASD Regulation, Inc. in effect from time to time (the
"Conduct Rules"). All such payments are the legal obligation of the Fund
and not of any Distributor or its designee.
SECTION 3.
(a) Amounts set forth in Section 2 may be used to finance any activity
which is primarily intended to result in the sale of the Shares, including,
but not limited to, expenses of organizing and conducting sales seminars and
running advertising programs, payment of finders fees, printing of
prospectuses and statements of additional information (and supplements
thereto) and reports for other than existing shareholders, preparation and
distribution of advertising material and sales literature, payment of
overhead and supplemental payments to dealers and other institutions as
asset-based sales charges. Amounts set forth in Section 2 may also be used to
finance payments of service fees under a shareholder service arrangement,
which may be established by each Distributor in accordance with Section 4,
and the costs of administering the Plan. To the extent that amounts paid
hereunder are not used specifically to reimburse the Distributor for any such
expense, such amounts may be treated as compensation for the Distributor's
distribution-related services. No provision of this Plan shall be interpreted
to prohibit any payments by the Fund during periods when the Fund has
suspended or otherwise limited sales.
(b) Subject to the provisions in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, amounts
payable pursuant to Section 2 in respect of Shares of each Portfolio shall be
paid by the Fund to the Distributor in respect of such Shares or, if more
than one institution has acted or is acting as Distributor in respect of such
Shares, then amounts payable pursuant to Section 2 in respect of such Shares
shall be paid to each such Distributor in proportion to the number of such
Shares sold by or attributable to such Distributor's distribution efforts
<PAGE>
in respect of such Shares in accordance with allocation provisions of each
Distributor's distribution agreement (the "Distributor's 12b-1 Share")
notwithstanding that such Distributor's distribution agreement with the fund
may have been terminated. The Distributor's 12b-1 Share shall include amounts
payable pursuant to Section 2 in respect of Shares sold by or attributable to
distribution efforts of GT Global, Inc. That portion of the amounts paid
under the Plan that is not paid or advanced by the Distributor to dealers or
other institutions that provide personal continuing shareholder service as a
service fee pursuant to Section 4 shall be deemed an asset-based sales charge.
(c) Any Distributor may assign, transfer or pledge ("Transfer") to
one or more designees (each an "Assignee"), its rights to all or a
designated portion of its Distributor's 12b-1 Share from time to time (but
not such Distributor's duties and obligations pursuant hereto or pursuant to
any distribution agreement in effect from time to time, if any, between such
Distributor and the Fund), free and clear of any offsets or claims the Fund
may have against such Distributor. Each such Assignee's ownership interest in
a Transfer of a specific designated portion of a Distributor's 12b-1 Share is
hereafter referred to as an "Assignee's 12b-1 Portion." A Transfer pursuant
to this Section 3(c) shall not reduce or extinguish any claims of the Fund
against the Distributor.
(d) Each Distributor shall promptly notify the Fund in writing of each
such Transfer by providing the Fund with the name and address of each such
Assignee.
(e) A Distributor may direct the Fund to pay an Assignee's 12b-1
Portion directly to such Assignee. In such event, the Distributor shall
provide the Fund with a monthly calculation of the amount of (i) the
Distributor's 12b-1 Share, and (ii) each Assignee's 12b-1 Portion, if any,
for such month (the "Monthly Calculation"). In such event, the Fund shall,
upon receipt of such notice and Monthly Calculation from the Distributor,
make all payments required under such distribution agreement directly to the
Assignee in accordance with the information provided in such notice and
Monthly Calculation upon the same terms and conditions as if such payments
were to be paid to the Distributor.
(f) Alternatively, in connection with a Transfer, a Distributor may
direct the Fund to pay all of such Distributor's 12b-1 Share from time to
time to a depository or collection agent designated by any Assignee, which
depository or collection agent may be delegated the duty of dividing such
Distributor's 12b-1 Share between the Assignee's 12b-1 Portion and the
balance of the Distributor's 12b-1 Share (such balance, when distributed to
the Distributor by the depository or collection agent, the "Distributor's
12b-1 Portion"), in which case only the Distributor's 12b-1 Portion may be
subject to offsets or claims the Fund may have against such Distributor.
<PAGE>
SECTION 4.
(a) Amounts expended by the Fund under the Plan shall be used in part
for the implementation by the Distributor of shareholder service arrangements
with respect to the Shares. The maximum service fee payable to any provider
of such shareholder service shall be twenty-five one-hundredths of one
percent (0.25%) per annum of the daily net assets of the Shares attributable
to the customers of such service provider. All such payments are the legal
obligation of the Fund and not of any Distributor or its designee.
(b) Pursuant to this Plan, the Distributor may enter into agreements
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A ("Service
Agreements") with such broker-dealers ("Dealers") as may be selected from
time to time by the Distributor for the provision of continuing shareholder
services in connection with Shares held by such Dealers' clients and
customers ("Customers") who may from time to time directly or beneficially
own Shares. The personal continuing shareholder services to be rendered by
Dealers under the Service Agreements may include, but shall not be limited
to, some or all of the following: (i) distributing sales literature;
(ii) answering routine Customer inquiries concerning the Fund and the
Shares; (iii) assisting Customers in changing dividend options, account
designations and addresses, and in enrolling in any of several retirement
plans offered in connection with the purchase of Shares; (iv) assisting in
the establishment and maintenance of Customer accounts and records, and in
the processing of purchase and redemption transactions; (v) investing
dividends and capital gains distributions automatically in Shares;
(vi) performing sub-accounting; (vii) providing periodic statements
showing a Customer's shareholder account balance and the integration of such
statements with those of other transactions and balances in the Customer's
account serviced by such institution; (viii) forwarding applicable
prospectuses, proxy statements, reports and notices to Customers who hold
Shares; and (ix) providing such other information and administrative
services as the Fund or the Customer may reasonably request.
(c) The Distributor may also enter into Bank Shareholder Service
Agreements substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B ("Bank
Agreements") with selected banks and financial institutions acting in an
agency capacity for their customers ("Banks"). Banks acting in such
capacity will provide some or all of the shareholder services to their
customers as set forth in the Bank Agreements from time to time.
(d) The Distributor may also enter into Agency Pricing Agreements
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C ("Pricing
Agreements") with selected retirement plan service providers acting in an
agency capacity for their customers ("Retirement Plan Providers").
Retirement Plan Providers acting in such capacity will provide some or all of
the shareholder services to their customers as set forth in the Pricing
Agreements from time to time.
<PAGE>
(e) The Distributor may also enter into Shareholder Service Agreements
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D ("Bank Trust
Department Agreements and Brokers for Bank Trust Department Agreements")
with selected bank trust departments and brokers for bank trust departments.
Such bank trust departments and brokers for bank trust departments will
provide some or all of the shareholder services to their customers as set
forth in the Bank Trust Department Agreements and Brokers for Bank Trust
Department Agreements from time to time.
SECTION 5. This Plan shall not take effect with respect to any Shares of any
Portfolio until (i) it has been approved, together with any related
agreements, by votes of the majority of both (a) the Board of Directors of
the Fund, and (b) those Directors of the Fund who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any agreements
related to it (the "Disinterested Directors"), cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on this Plan or such agreements, and (ii)
the execution by the Fund and A I M Distributors, Inc. of a Master
Distribution Agreement in respect of the Shares of such Portfolio.
SECTION 6. Unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 8, this Plan shall
continue in effect until May 29, 1999 and thereafter shall continue in
effect so long as such continuance is specifically approved, at least
annually, in the manner provided for approval of this Plan in Section 5.
SECTION 7. Each Distributor shall provide the Fund's Board of Directors and
the Board of Directors shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of
the amounts expended for distribution of the Shares and the purposes for
which such expenditures were made.
SECTION 8. This Plan may be terminated with respect to the Shares of any
Portfolio at any time by vote of a majority of the Disinterested Directors,
or by a vote of a majority of outstanding Shares of such Portfolio. Upon
termination of this Plan with respect to any or all such classes, the
obligation of the Fund to make payments pursuant to this Plan with respect to
such classes shall terminate, and the Fund shall not be required to make
payments hereunder beyond such termination date with respect to expenses
incurred in connection with Shares sold prior to such termination date,
provided, in each case that each of the requirements of a Complete
Termination of the Plan in respect of such class, as defined below, are met.
A termination of this Plan with respect to any or all Shares of any or all
Portfolios shall not affect the obligation of the Fund to withhold and pay to
any Distributor contingent deferred sales changes to which such distributor
is entitled pursuant to any distribution agreement. For purposes of this
Section 8, a "Complete Termination" of this Plan in respect of any Portfolio
shall mean a termination of this Plan in respect of such Portfolio, provided
that: (i) the Disinterested Directors of the Fund shall have acted in good
faith and shall have determined that such termination is in the best interest
of the Fund and the shareholders of such Portfolio; (ii) the Fund does not
alter the terms of the contingent deferred sales charges applicable to Shares
outstanding at the time of such
<PAGE>
termination; and (iii) unless the applicable Distributor at the time of
such termination was in material breach under the distribution agreement in
respect of such Portfolio, the Fund shall not, in respect of such Portfolio,
pay to any person or entity, other than such Distributor or its designee,
either the asset-based sales charge or the service fee (or any similar fee)
in respect of the Shares sold by such Distributor prior to such termination.
SECTION 9. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be made in writing, and
shall provide:
(a) that such agreement may be terminated with respect to the Shares
of any or all Portfolios at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote
of a majority of the Disinterested Directors or by a vote of the majority of
the outstanding Shares of such Portfolio, on not more than sixty (60) days'
written notice to any other party to the agreement; and
(b) that such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section
8 hereof, if such agreement is terminated for any reason, the obligation of
the Fund to make payments of (i) the Distributor's 12b-1 Share in
accordance with the directions of the Distributor pursuant to Section
3(e) or (f) hereof if there exist Assignees for all or any portion of
such Distributor's 12b-1 Share, and (ii) the remainder of such
Distributor's 12b-1 Share to such Distributor if there are no Assignees for
such Distributor's Share, pursuant to such agreement and this Plan will
continue with respect to the Shares until such Shares are redeemed or
automatically converted into another class of shares of the Fund.
SECTION 10. This Plan may not be amended with respect to the shares of any
Portfolio to increase materially the amount of distribution expenses provided
for in Section 2 hereof unless such amendment is approved by a vote of at
least a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as defined in the
1940 Act) of the Shares of such Portfolio, and no material amendment to the
Plan with respect to the shares of any Portfolio shall be made unless
approved in the manner provided for in Section 5 hereof.
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
(on behalf of its Class B Shares)
Attest: By:
Secretary President
Effective as of May 29, 1998.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
TO
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
OF
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B SHARES MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
ASSET-BASED SERVICE FEE AGGREGATE FEE
SALES CHARGE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AIM Dollar Fund 0.75% 0.25% 1.00%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant hereby certifies
that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment
pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused
this Post-Effective Amendment to this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of San
Francisco, and the State of California, on the 28th day of May, 1998.
AIM INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, INC.
By: William J. Guilfoyle*
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on the 28th day of May, 1998.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
William J. Guilfoyle* President, Director and
Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ KENNETH W. CHANCEY Vice President and
- ------------------------------------------- Principal Accounting Officer
Kenneth W. Chancey
C. Derek Anderson* Director
Arthur C. Patterson* Director
Frank S. Bayley* Director
Ruth H. Quigley* Director
Robert G. Wade, Jr.* Director
*By: /s/ MICHAEL A. SILVER
- ------------------------------------------
Michael A. Silver
Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to
Power of Attorney previously filed
</TABLE>
C-7
