GALAXY FUND /DE/
485APOS, EX-99.(E)(5), 2000-12-29
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                                                                  Exhibit (e)(5)




                             DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT is made as of this ____ day of ________, 2000 (the
"Agreement") by and between The Galaxy Fund (the "Company"), a Massachusetts
business trust, and PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor"), a Massachusetts
corporation.

         WHEREAS, the Company is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
and is currently offering units of beneficial interest (such units of all
classes and series are hereinafter called the "Shares"), representing interests
in investment portfolios of the Company identified on Schedule A hereto (the
"Funds") which are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") pursuant to the Company's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the
"Registration Statement"); and

         WHEREAS, a front-end sales charge may be imposed in connection with the
sale of certain Shares of one or more of the Funds ("Load Shares"); and

         WHEREAS, a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") may be imposed in
connection with the redemption of certain Shares of one or more of the Funds
("CDSC Shares"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Distributor as distributor
for the Funds to provide for the sale and distribution of the Shares of the
Funds identified on Schedule A and for such additional classes or series as the
Company may issue, and the Distributor is prepared to provide such services
commencing on the date first written above.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
set forth herein and intending to be legally bound hereby the parties hereto
agree as follows:

1.  SERVICE AS DISTRIBUTOR

1.1      The Distributor will act as the Company's disclosed agent for the
         distribution of the Shares covered by the Registration Statement then
         in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
         Act"). The Distributor will have no liability for payment for the
         purchase of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement or with respect to
         redemptions or repurchases of Shares.

1.2      The Distributor agrees to use efforts deemed appropriate by the
         Distributor to solicit orders for the sale of the Shares and will
         undertake such advertising and promotion as it believes reasonable in
         connection with such solicitation. The Distributor shall, at its own
         expense, finance appropriate activities which it deems reasonable which
         are primarily


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         intended to result in the sale of Shares, including, but not limited
         to, advertising, compensation of underwriters, dealers and sales
         personnel, the printing and mailing of Prospectuses to other than
         current shareholders, and the printing and mailing of sales
         literature; provided, however, that each Fund shall bear the
         expenses incurred and other payments made in accordance with the
         provisions of this Agreement and any plan now in effect or hereafter
         adopted with respect to any one or more series of Shares of such
         Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (collectively, the
         "Plans").

1.3      The Company understands that the Distributor is now, and may in the
         future be, the distributor of the shares of several investment
         companies or series (collectively, the "Investment Entities"),
         including Investment Entities having investment objectives similar to
         those of the Funds. The Company further understands that investors and
         potential investors in the Funds may invest in shares of such other
         Investment Entities. The Company agrees that the Distributor's duties
         to such Investment Entities shall not be deemed in conflict with its
         duties to the Company under this Section 1.3.

1.4      The Distributor may enter into selling agreements with selected dealers
         or other institutions with respect to the offering of Shares to the
         public. Each selling agreement will provide that (a) all payments for
         purchases of Shares will be sent directly from the dealer or such other
         institution to the Funds' transfer agent and (b) if payment is not made
         with respect to purchases of Shares at the customary or required time
         for settlement of the transaction, the Distributor will have the right
         to cancel the sale of Shares ordered by the dealer or such other
         institution, in which case the dealer or such other institution will be
         responsible for any loss suffered by any Fund or the Distributor
         resulting from such cancellation. The Distributor may also act as
         disclosed agent for a Fund and sell Shares of that Fund to individual
         investors, such transactions to be specifically approved by an officer
         of the Company.

1.5      The Distributor will send a confirmation to each purchaser of Shares
         under this Agreement. Such confirmations will comply with all
         applicable Federal and state laws and rules and regulations of
         authorized regulatory bodies and will clearly state that the
         Distributor is acting as agent in the transaction and that all
         remittances, registration instructions and certifications for
         redemption should be sent directly to the Funds' transfer agent. Such
         confirmations will also set forth the mailing address and delivery
         address of the Funds' transfer agent.

1.6      All Load Shares offered for sale by the Distributor shall be offered
         for sale to the public at a price per share (the "Offering Price")
         equal to (a) their net asset value (determined in the manner set forth
         in the Company's Declaration of Trust and the then current
         Prospectuses) plus, except with respect to certain classes of persons
         and transactions set forth in the then current Prospectuses, (b) a
         sales charge which shall be the percentage of the Offering Price of
         such Load Shares as set forth in the then current Prospectuses. The
         Offering Price, if not an exact multiple of one cent, shall be adjusted
         to the nearest cent. Concessions by the Distributor to dealers and
         other institutions shall be set forth in either the selling agreements
         between the Distributor and such dealers and institutions as from time
         to time amended, or if such concessions are described in the then
         current


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         Prospectuses, shall be as so set forth. No dealer or other
         institution who enters into a selling agreement with the Distributor
         shall be authorized to act as agent for the Company in connection
         with the offering or sale of the Load Shares to the public or
         otherwise.

1.7      If any Load Shares sold by the Company are redeemed or repurchased by
         the Company or by the Distributor as disclosed agent or are tendered
         for redemption within seven business days after the date of
         confirmation of the original purchase of said Load Shares, the
         Distributor shall forfeit the sales charge received by the Distributor
         in respect of such Shares, provided that the portion, if any, of such
         amount re-allowed by the Distributor to dealers or other institutions
         shall be repayable to the Company only to the extent recovered by the
         Distributor from the dealer or other institution involved. The
         Distributor shall include in each selling agreement with such dealers
         and other institutions a corresponding provision for the forfeiture by
         them of their concession with respect to the Load Shares sold by them
         or their principals and redeemed or repurchased by the Company or by
         the Distributor as disclosed agent (or tendered for redemption) within
         seven business days after the date of confirmation of such initial
         purchases.

1.8      The Distributor agrees to be responsible for implementing and operating
         the Plans in accordance with the terms thereof.

1.9      (a) With respect to CDSC Shares, the Distributor shall impose a CDSC in
         connection with the redemption of such CDSC Shares, not to exceed a
         specified percentage of the original purchase price of the Shares, as
         from time to time set forth in the then current Prospectuses. The
         Distributor may retain (or receive from the Company, as the case may
         be) all or any CDSC. The Distributor may, but shall not be required to,
         pay to broker-dealers or other persons through whom such CDSC Shares
         are sold a commission or other payment to the extent consistent with
         the then current Prospectuses and applicable rules and regulations.

         (b) The Distributor may assign or sell to a third party (a "CDSC
         Financing Entity") all or part of the CDSC on any CDSC Shares that the
         Distributor is entitled to receive under this Agreement. The
         Distributor's right to a CDSC on such CDSC Shares, if assigned or sold
         to a CDSC Financing Entity, shall continue after termination of this
         Agreement.

         (c)(i) The Distributor shall be entitled to receive all distribution
         and service fees at the rate and under the terms and conditions set
         forth in the Distribution and Services Plan adopted with respect to a
         particular class of CDSC Shares (the "Plan") on the CDSC Shares of that
         class which were sold during the period of this Agreement, so long as
         the Plan is in effect. The Distributor may assign or sell to a CDSC
         financing entity all or part of the distribution and service fees the
         Distributor is entitled to receive from the Company under the
         particular Plan. The Distributor's right to payment on such CDSC
         Shares, if assigned or sold to a CDSC Financing Entity, shall continue
         after termination of this Agreement.


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         (c)(ii) The Distributor shall not be required to offer or sell a
         particular class of CDSC Shares unless and until it has received a
         binding commitment from a CDSC Financing Entity (a "Commitment")
         satisfactory to the Distributor which Commitment shall cover all
         expenses and fees related to the offer and sale of such CDSC Shares
         including but not limited to dealer reallowances, financing commitment
         fees, and legal fees. If at any time during the term of this Agreement
         the then current CDSC financing is terminated, the Distributor has the
         right to immediately suspend the sale of such CDSC Shares until
         substitute financing becomes effective.

         (c)(iii) If the Distributor determines, in its sole discretion, to pay
         to broker-dealers or other persons through whom a particular class of
         CDSC Shares are sold a commission or other payment, such commission or
         payment shall not be due and payable by, and shall not become an
         obligation of, the Distributor until the Distributor receives financing
         relating to the sale of such CDSC Shares from the CDSC Financing
         Entity. If the Distributor does not receive such financing, the
         Distributor shall not be liable for the payment of any such commission
         or other payment to any party.

         (d) The Distributor and the Company hereby agree that the terms and
         conditions set forth herein regarding the offer and sale of CDSC Shares
         may be amended upon approval of both parties in order to comply with
         the terms and conditions of any agreement with the CDSC Financing
         Entity to finance the costs for the offer and sale of CDSC Shares so
         long as such terms and conditions are in compliance with the particular
         Plan.

1.10     The Distributor shall not utilize any materials in connection with the
         sale or offering of Shares except the Company's then current
         Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information and such other
         materials as the Company shall provide or approve.

1.11     All activities by the Distributor and its agents and employees, as
         distributor of the Shares, shall comply with all applicable laws, rules
         and regulations, including, without limitation, all rules and
         regulations made or adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act by the SEC or the
         National Association of Securities Dealers.

1.12     The Distributor will transmit any orders received by it for purchase or
         redemption of the Shares to the transfer agent and custodian for the
         Company.

1.13     Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by unusual market,
         economic or political conditions or abnormal circumstances of any kind,
         officers of the Company may decline to accept any orders for, or make
         any sales of, the Shares until such time as those officers deem it
         advisable to accept such orders and to make such sales, and the Company
         shall notify the Distributor promptly of any such determination.

1.14     The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses in connection with the
         registration of Shares under the 1933 Act and all expenses in
         connection with maintaining facilities for the issue and transfer of
         Shares and for supplying information, prices and other data to be
         furnished by the Company hereunder, and all expenses in connection with
         the preparation


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         and printing of the Company's Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
         Information for regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing
         shareholders.

1.15     The Company agrees at its own expense to execute any and all documents
         and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all
         actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the
         qualification of the Shares for sale in such states as the Distributor
         may designate. The Company shall notify the Distributor in writing of
         the states in which the Shares are to be sold and shall notify the
         Distributor in writing of any changes to the information contained in
         the previous notification.

1.16     The Company shall furnish from time to time, for use in connection with
         the sale of the Shares, such information with respect to the Company
         and the Shares as the Distributor may reasonably request; and the
         Company warrants that the statements contained in any such information
         shall fairly show or represent what they purport to show or represent.
         The Company shall also furnish the Distributor upon request with: (a)
         audited annual statements and unaudited semi-annual statements of the
         Funds' books and accounts prepared by the Company, (b) quarterly
         earnings statements of the Funds prepared by the Company, (c) a monthly
         itemized list of the securities in the Funds, (d) monthly balance
         sheets as soon as practicable after the end of each month, and (e) from
         time to time such additional information regarding the Funds' financial
         condition as the Distributor may reasonably request.

1.17     The Company represents to the Distributor that all Registration
         Statements and Prospectuses filed by the Company with the SEC under the
         1933 Act with respect to the Shares have been prepared in conformity
         with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of
         the SEC thereunder. As used in this Agreement, the terms "Registration
         Statement" and "Prospectus" shall mean any Registration Statement and
         any Prospectus (including any Statement of Additional Information
         incorporated therein by reference) relating to the Company filed with
         the SEC and any amendments or supplements thereto at any time filed
         with the SEC. The Company represents and warrants to the Distributor
         that any Registration Statement and Prospectus, when such Registration
         Statement becomes effective, will contain all statements required to be
         stated therein in conformity with the 1933 Act and the rules and
         regulations of the SEC; that all statements of fact contained in any
         such Registration Statement and Prospectus will be true and correct
         when such Registration Statement becomes effective; and that no
         Registration Statement or Prospectus when such Registration Statement
         becomes effective will include an untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a purchaser
         of the Shares. The Distributor may but shall not be obligated to
         propose from time to time such amendment or amendments to any
         Registration Statement and such supplement or supplements to any
         Prospectus as, in the light of future developments, may, in the opinion
         of the Distributor's counsel, be necessary or advisable. The
         Distributor shall promptly notify the Company of any advice given to it
         by its counsel regarding the necessity or advisability of amending or
         supplementing such Registration Statement or Prospectus. If the Company
         shall not propose such amendment or amendments and/or supplement or
         supplements within fifteen days after receipt by the


                                      5
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         Company of a written request from the Distributor to do so, the
         Distributor may, at its option, terminate this Agreement. The
         Company shall not file any amendment to any Registration Statement
         or supplement to any Prospectus without giving the Distributor
         reasonable notice thereof in advance; provided, however, that
         nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the
         Company's right to file at any time such amendments to any
         Registration Statement and/or supplements to any Prospectus, of
         whatever character, as the Company may deem advisable, such right
         being in all respects absolute and unconditional.

         1.18 The Company authorizes the Distributor (and dealers pursuant to
         any agreements described in Section 1.4 above) to use any Prospectus in
         the form furnished by the Company from time to time in connection with
         the sale of the Shares. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and
         hold the Distributor, its several officers and directors, and any
         person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of
         the 1933 Act, free and harmless from and against any and all claims,
         demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of investigating
         or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable
         counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Distributor,
         its officers and directors, or any such controlling person, may incur
         under the 1933 Act, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or
         based upon any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement of a
         material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus
         or arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to
         state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration
         Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in
         either thereof not misleading; provided, however, that the Company's
         agreement to indemnify the Distributor, its officers or directors, and
         any such controlling person, shall not be deemed to cover any claims,
         demands, liabilities or expenses arising out of any representations or
         statements contained in any Registration Statement or in any Prospectus
         that were furnished in writing to the Company or its counsel by the
         Distributor expressly for use in the answers to the Registration
         Statement or in the corresponding statements made in the Prospectus, or
         arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state
         a material fact in connection with such information furnished in
         writing by the Distributor to the Company or its counsel and required
         to be stated in such answers or necessary to make such answers not
         misleading; and further provided that the Company's agreement to
         indemnify the Distributor and the Company's representations and
         warranties hereinbefore set forth in Section 1.17 shall not be deemed
         to cover any liability to the Company or its shareholders to which the
         Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
         misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties,
         or by reason of the Distributor's reckless disregard of its duties and
         obligations under this Agreement. The Company's indemnification
         agreement contained in this Section 1.18 and the Company's
         representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative
         and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
         on behalf of the Distributor, its officers and directors, or any
         controlling person, and shall survive delivery of any Shares. The
         Company agrees promptly to notify the Distributor of the commencement
         of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its
         officers or trustees in connection with the issue and sale of any
         Shares. This agreement to indemnify will inure exclusively to the
         Distributor's benefit, to the benefit of its several officers and
         directors


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         and their respective estates, and to the benefit of its controlling
         persons and their successors.

1.19     The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Company, its
         several officers and trustees, and any person who controls the Company
         within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, free and harmless
         from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses
         (including the costs of investigating or defending such claims,
         demands, or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in
         connection therewith) which the Company, its officers or trustees, or
         any such controlling person, may incur under the 1933 Act, or under
         common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or
         expense incurred by the Company, its officers or trustees, or such
         controlling person, resulting from such claims or demands, shall arise
         out of or be based upon any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement of a
         material fact contained in information furnished in writing by the
         Distributor to the Company or its counsel expressly for use in the
         answers to any of the items of the Registration Statement or in the
         corresponding statements made in the Prospectus, or shall arise out of
         or be based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material
         fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by the
         Distributor to the Company or its counsel and required to be stated in
         such answers or necessary to make such information not misleading. The
         Distributor's indemnification agreement contained in this Section 1.19
         and representations and warranties in this Agreement shall remain
         operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
         made by or on behalf of the Company or its officers and trustees, and
         shall survive the delivery of any Shares. The Distributor agrees
         promptly to notify the Company of the commencement of any litigation or
         proceedings against the Distributor or any of its officers, directors
         or controlling persons in connection with the issuance and sale of any
         of the Shares.

1.20     (a) In any case in which one party hereto (the "Indemnifying Party")
         may be asked to indemnify or hold the other party hereto (the
         "Indemnified Party") harmless, the Indemnified Party will notify the
         Indemnifying Party in writing promptly after identifying any situation
         which it believes presents or appears likely to present a claim for
         indemnification (an "Indemnification Claim") against the Indemnifying
         Party, although the failure to do so shall not relieve the Indemnifying
         Party from any liability which it may otherwise have to the Indemnified
         Party, and the Indemnified Party shall keep the Indemnifying Party
         advised with respect to all developments concerning such situation. The
         Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate at its own expense
         in the defense, or if it so elects, to assume the defense of, any
         Indemnification Claim which may be the subject of this indemnification,
         and, in the event that the Indemnifying Party so elects, such defense
         shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the
         Indemnifying Party and approved by the Indemnified Party, which
         approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event the
         Indemnifying Party elects to assume the defense of any such
         Indemnification Claim and retain such counsel, the Indemnified Party
         shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by
         the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party will not confess any
         Indemnification Claim or make any compromise in any case in which the
         Indemnifying Party will be asked to provide indemnification, except
         with the Indemnifying Party's prior written consent.


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         (b) In the event that the Company is the Indemnifying Party and the
         Indemnifying Party does not elect to assume the defense of any such
         Indemnification Claim, or in case the Distributor reasonably does not
         approve of counsel chosen by the Company, the Company will reimburse
         the Distributor, its officers, directors and employees, or the
         controlling person or persons named as defendant or defendants in such
         Indemnification Claim, for the fees and expenses of any counsel
         retained by the Distributor or them.

         (c) The obligations of the parties hereto under Sections 1.18 through
         1.20 shall survive the termination of this Agreement

1.21     No Shares shall be offered by either the Distributor or the Company
         under any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the
         purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Company
         if and so long as effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in
         effect or any necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any
         of the provisions of the 1933 Act, or if and so long as a current
         Prospectus as required by Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act is not on
         file with the SEC; provided, however, that nothing contained in this
         Section 1.21 shall in any way restrict or have any application to or
         bearing upon the Company's obligation to redeem Shares tendered for
         redemption by any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the
         Company's Registration Statement or Declaration of Trust.

1.22     The Company agrees to advise the Distributor as soon as reasonably
         practical by a notice in writing delivered to the Distributor:

         (a) of any request by the SEC for amendments to the Registration
         Statement or Prospectus then in effect or for additional information;

         (b) in the event of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
         Prospectus then in effect or the initiation by service of process on
         the Company of any proceeding for that purpose;

         (c) of the happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a
         material fact made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus then in
         effect or that requires the making of a change in such Registration
         Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
         misleading; and

         (d) of all actions of the SEC with respect to any amendments to any
         Registration Statement or Prospectus which may from time to time be
         filed with the SEC.

         For purposes of this Section 1.22, informal requests by or acts of the
         staff of the SEC shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the SEC.


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2.       TERM

2.1      This Agreement shall become effective immediately upon the consummation
         of the acquisition of Provident Distributors, Inc. by the Distributor,
         which the parties anticipate to occur on or about December 31, 2000,
         and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue for an
         initial one-year term and thereafter shall continue automatically for
         successive one-year terms, provided such continuance is specifically
         approved at least annually by (i) the Company's Board of Trustees or
         (ii) by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act and Rule 18f-2
         thereunder) of the outstanding voting securities of the Company,
         provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by a
         majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement and who
         are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to
         this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the
         purpose of voting on such approval. This Agreement is terminable
         without penalty, on at least sixty days' written notice, by the
         Company's Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority (as defined in the
         1940 Act and Rule 18f-2 thereunder) of the outstanding voting
         securities of the Company, or by the Distributor. This Agreement will
         also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined
         in the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder).

2.2      In the event a termination notice is given by the Company and provided
         that the Distributor is not in default under this Agreement at the time
         of such termination notice, all reasonable expenses associated with
         movement of records and materials and conversion thereof to a successor
         distributor will be borne by the Company.

3.       LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

3.1      The Distributor shall not be liable to the Company for any error of
         judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Company in
         connection with the performance of its obligations and duties under
         this Agreement, except a loss resulting from the Distributor's willful
         misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of such
         obligations and duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard thereof.

3.2      Each party shall have the duty to mitigate damages for which the other
         party may become responsible.

3.3      NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT
         SHALL EITHER PARTY, ITS AFFILIATES OR ANY OF ITS OR THEIR DIRECTORS,
         TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR SUBCONTRACTORS BE LIABLE TO
         THE OTHER PARTY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
         NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 3.3 SHALL BE CONSTRUED SO AS TO LIMIT
         THE RIGHT OF ANY SHAREHOLDER OF THE COMPANY, WHETHER SUING ON HIS, HER
         OR ITS OWN BEHALF OR DERIVATIVELY THROUGH THE COMPANY, TO CONSEQUENTIAL
         DAMAGES.


                                      9
<PAGE>

4.       MODIFICATIONS AND WAIVERS

         No change, termination, modification, or waiver of any term or
         condition of the Agreement shall be valid unless in writing signed by
         each party. No such writing shall be effective as against the Company
         unless said writing is executed by the President of the Company. No
         such writing shall be effective as against the Distributor unless said
         writing is executed by a Senior Vice President, Executive Vice
         President or President of the Distributor. A party's waiver of a breach
         of any term or condition in the Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver
         of any subsequent breach of the same or another term or condition.

5.       NO PRESUMPTION AGAINST DRAFTER

         The Distributor and the Company have jointly participated in the
         negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. The Agreement shall be
         construed as if drafted jointly by the Company and the Distributor, and
         no presumptions arise favoring any party by virtue of the authorship of
         any provision of this Agreement.

6.       PUBLICITY

         Neither the Distributor nor the Company shall release or publish news
         releases, public announcements, advertising or other publicity relating
         to this Agreement or to the transactions contemplated by it without
         prior review and written approval of the other party; provided,
         however, that either party may make such disclosures as are required by
         legal, accounting or regulatory requirements after making reasonable
         efforts in the circumstances to consult in advance with the other
         party.

7.       SEVERABILITY

         The parties intend every provision of this Agreement to be severable.
         If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any term or
         provision is illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or
         invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this
         Agreement. In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or
         substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the
         parties. Without limiting the generality of this paragraph, if a court
         determines that any remedy stated in this Agreement has failed of its
         essential purpose, then all other provisions of this Agreement shall
         remain fully effective.

8.       FORCE MAJEURE

         No party shall be liable for any default or delay in the performance of
         its obligations under this Agreement if and to the extent such default
         or delay is caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond
         such party's reasonable control. In any such event, the non-performing
         party shall be excused from any further performance and observance of
         the obligations so affected only for so long as such circumstances
         prevail and such


                                      10
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         party continues to use commercially reasonable efforts to recommence
         performance or observance as soon as practicable.

10.      MISCELLANEOUS

10.1     Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by this Agreement
         to be given in writing to the Company or the Distributor shall be
         sufficiently given if addressed to the party and received by it at its
         office set forth below or at such other place as it may from time to
         time designate in writing.

                                            To the Company:

                                            John T. O'Neill, President
                                            The Galaxy Fund
                                            28 Narragansett Bay Avenue
                                            Warwick, Rhode Island 02889














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                                            with a copy to:

                                            W. Bruce McConnel, III, Esq.
                                            Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
                                            One Logan Square
                                            18th and Cherry Streets
                                            Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

                                            To the Distributor:

                                            PFPC Distributors, Inc.
                                            400 Bellevue Parkway
                                            Wilmington, Delaware 19809
                                            Attention:  President

10.2     The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding the laws on
         conflicts of laws, and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act shall
         govern the interpretation, validity, and enforcement of this Agreement.
         To the extent the provisions of Massachusetts law or the provisions
         hereof conflict with the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act shall control. All
         actions arising from or related to this Agreement shall be brought in
         the state and federal courts sitting in the City of Boston, and the
         Distributor and the Company hereby submit themselves to the exclusive
         jurisdiction of those courts

10.3     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
         which shall be deemed to be an original and which collectively shall be
         deemed to constitute only one instrument.

10.4     The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience of
         reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions
         hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

10.5     This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
         the parties hereto and their respective successors and is not intended
         to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder.

11.      CONFIDENTIALITY

11.1     The parties agree that the Proprietary Information (defined below) and
         the contents of this Agreement (collectively "Confidential
         Information") are confidential information of the parties and their
         respective licensers. The Company and the Distributor shall exercise at
         least the same degree of care, but not less than reasonable care, to
         safeguard the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the
         other as it would to protect its own Confidential Information. The
         Company and the Distributor may use the Confidential Information only
         to exercise their respective rights or perform their respective duties
         under this Agreement. Except as otherwise required by law and except as
         disclosed in the Company's Registration Statement and filed as an
         exhibit thereto, the Company and the


                                      12
<PAGE>

         Distributor shall not duplicate, sell or disclose to others the
         Confidential Information of the other, in whole or in part, without
         the prior written permission of the other party. The Company and the
         Distributor may, however, disclose Confidential Information to their
         respective employees who have a need to know the Confidential
         Information to perform work for the other, provided that the Company
         and the Distributor shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that the
         Confidential Information is not duplicated or disclosed by their
         respective employees in breach of this Agreement. The Company and
         the Distributor may also disclose the Confidential Information to
         independent contractors, auditors and professional advisors,
         provided they first agree in writing to be bound by confidentiality
         obligations substantially similar to this Section 11.
         Notwithstanding the previous sentence, in no event shall either the
         Company or the Distributor disclose the Confidential Information to
         any competitor of the other without specific, prior written consent.

11.2     Proprietary Information means:

         (a) any data or information that is competitively sensitive material,
         and not generally known to the public, including, but not limited to,
         information about product plans, marketing strategies, finance,
         operations, customer relationships, customer profiles, sales estimates,
         business plans, and internal performance results relating to the past,
         present or future business activities of the Company or the
         Distributor, their respective subsidiaries and affiliated companies and
         the customers, clients and suppliers of any of them;

         (b) any scientific or technical information, design, process,
         procedure, formula, or improvement that is commercially valuable and
         secret in the sense that its confidentiality affords the Company or the
         Distributor a competitive advantage over its competitors; and

         (c) all confidential or proprietary concepts, documentation, reports,
         data, specifications, computer software, source code, object code, flow
         charts, databases, inventions, know-how, show-how and trade secrets,
         whether or not patentable or copyrightable.

11.3     Confidential Information includes, without limitation, all documents,
         inventions, substances, engineering and laboratory notebooks, drawings,
         diagrams, specifications, bills of material, equipment, prototypes and
         models, and any other tangible manifestation of the foregoing of either
         party which now exist or come into the control or possession of the
         other.

11.4     Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is hereby understood and agreed by
         the parties hereto that any marketing strategies, financing plans,
         customer profiles, sales estimates, business plans or similar items
         prepared or developed by the Distributor for the benefit of the Company
         shall be considered the Proprietary Information of the Company and
         nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or prohibit the
         Company from disclosing such Proprietary Information to a successor
         distributor.


                                      13
<PAGE>

12.      OBLIGATIONS OF THE TRUST

         The names "The Galaxy Fund" and "Trustees of The Galaxy Fund" refer
         respectively to the Trust created and the Trustees, as trustees but not
         individually or personally, acting from time to time under a
         Declaration of Trust dated March 31, 1986 which is hereby referred to
         and a copy of which is on file at the office of the State Secretary of
         the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and at the principal office of the
         Company. The obligations of "The Galaxy Fund" entered into in the name
         or on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, representatives or agents
         are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding
         upon any of the Trustees, Shareholders, or representatives of the
         Company personally, but bind only the Trust Property, and all persons
         dealing with any class of Shares of the Company must look solely to the
         Trust Property belonging to such class for the enforcement of any
         claims against the Company.

13.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT

         This Agreement, including the Schedule hereto, constitutes the entire
         agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
         and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous proposals, agreements,
         contracts, representations, and understandings, whether written or
         oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

















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<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.



                                          THE GALAXY FUND



                                          By:___________________________

                                          Name:_________________________

                                          Title:________________________



                                          PFPC DISTRIBUTORS, INC.



                                          By:___________________________

                                          Name:_________________________

                                          Title:________________________
















                                      15
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                  NAME OF FUNDS

                                Money Market Fund
                                 Government Fund
                                 Tax-Exempt Fund
                               U.S. Treasury Fund
                    Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund
                     Connecticut Municipal Money Market Fund
                    Massachusetts Municipal Money Market Fund
                                Equity Value Fund
                               Equity Growth Fund
                               Equity Income Fund
                            International Equity Fund
                              Asset Allocation Fund
                            Small Company Equity Fund
                             Growth and Income Fund
                              Small Cap Value Fund
                              Short-Term Bond Fund
                       Intermediate Government Income Fund
                             High Quality Bond Fund
                               Corporate Bond Fund
                              Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
                          New York Municipal Bond Fund
                         Connecticut Municipal Bond Fund
                        Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund
                        Rhode Island Municipal Bond Fund
                         New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund
                               Mid Cap Equity Fund
                              Strategic Equity Fund
                                 Prime Reserves
                               Government Reserves
                               Tax-Exempt Reserves
                         Institutional Money Market Fund
                    Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund
                           Florida Municipal Bond Fund
                        Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
                  Connecticut Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
                 Massachusetts Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund
                                 Growth Fund II
                                  Pan Asia Fund


                                      A-1



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