EX-99.23.M.5 9 dex9923m5.txt SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR NON-NASD MEMBERS Exhibit 23 (m)(5) [LOGO OF PROFUNDS] ProFunds Distributors, Inc. 3435 Stelzer Road Columbus, Ohio 43219-3035 SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR NON-NASD MEMBERS Ladies and Gentlemen: The Board of Trustees of ProFunds (the "Trust"), an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware business trust and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), on behalf of the holders of Service Shares ("Shares") of each of the investment portfolios of the Trust (individually, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds", identified in Schedule A, as amended from time to time), have adopted a Distribution and Service Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the Shares which, among other things, authorizes ProFunds Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor"), as principal underwriter of the Shares of the Funds, to enter into this Agreement with you (the "Authorized Firm"), concerning the provision of service activities to your clients, members, or customers ("Customers") who may from time to time beneficially own such Funds' Shares. The terms and conditions of this Agreement are as follows: 1. REFERENCE TO PROSPECTUS; DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE. 1.1 Reference is made to the prospectus for the Shares of each Fund (individually, a "Prospectus" and collectively, the "Prospectuses") as from time to time are effective under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). Terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein are used herein with the meaning so defined. 1.2 For purposes of determining the fees payable to you under Section 3, the average daily net asset value of a Fund's Shares will be computed in the manner specified in the Trust's registration statement (as the same is in effect from time to time) in connection with the computation of the net asset value of such Fund's Shares for purposes of purchases and redemptions. 2. SERVICES AS AUTHORIZED FIRM. 2.1 The Authorized Firm is hereby authorized and may from time to time undertake to perform support services to Customers in connection with investments in the Shares of a Fund, which services may include, but are not limited to: the provision of personal, continuing services to investors in each Fund; receiving, aggregating and processing purchase and redemption orders; providing and maintaining retirement plan records; communicating periodically with shareholders and answering questions and handling correspondence from shareholders about their accounts; acting as the sole shareholder of record and nominee for shareholders; maintaining account records and providing beneficial owners with account statements; processing dividend payments; issuing shareholder reports and transaction confirmations; providing subaccounting services for Fund shares held beneficially; forwarding shareholder communications to beneficial owners; receiving, tabulating and transmitting proxies executed by beneficial owners; general account administration activities; and providing such other similar services as the Trust may reasonably request to the extent the Authorized Firm is permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules, or regulations. Overhead and other expenses of the Authorized Firm related to its "service activities," including telephone and other communications expenses, may be included in the information regarding amounts expended for such activities. 2.2 The Authorized Firm will provide such office space and equipment, telephone facilities, and personnel (which may be any part of the space, equipment, and facilities currently used in the Authorized Firm's business, or any 1 personnel employed by the Authorized Firm) as may be reasonably necessary or beneficial in order to provide such support services with respect to a Fund's Shares. 2.3 The minimum dollar transaction of a Fund's Shares (including Shares being acquired by Customers pursuant to any exchange privileges described in the Fund's Prospectus) shall be the applicable minimum amount set forth in the Prospectus of such Fund, and no order for less than such amount shall be processed by the Authorized Firm. The procedures relating to the handling of orders shall be subject to instructions which the Trust shall forward from time to time to the Authorized Firm. All orders for a Fund's Shares are subject to acceptance or rejection by the Trust in its sole discretion, and the Trust may, in its discretion and without notice, suspend or withdraw the sale of a Fund's Shares, including the sale of such Shares to the Authorized Firm for the account of any Customer or Customers. 2.4 In no transaction shall the Authorized Firm act as dealer for its own account; the Authorized Firm shall act solely for, upon the specific or pre-authorized instructions of, and for the account of, its Customers. For all purposes of this Agreement except as specifically provided in section 4.2, the Authorized Firm will be deemed to be an independent contractor, and will have no authority to act as agent for the Distributor or the Trust or any dealer of the Shares in any matter or in any respect. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning the Trust or a Fund's Shares except those representations contained in the Fund's then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information and in such printed information as the Trust or Distributor may subsequently prepare. 2.5 The Authorized Firm and its employees will, upon request, be available during normal business hours to consult with the Distributor, the Trust or its designees concerning the performance of the Authorized Firm's responsibilities under this Agreement. Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement will provide to the Trust's Board of Trustees, and the Trust's Trustees will review at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended. In addition, the Authorized Firm will furnish to the Distributor, the Trust or its designees such information as the Trust or its designees may reasonably request (including, without limitation, periodic certifications confirming the rendering of support services with respect to Shares described herein), and will otherwise cooperate with the Trust and its designees (including, without limitation, any auditors designated by the Trust), in the preparation of reports to the Trust's Board of Trustees concerning this Agreement and the monies paid or payable pursuant hereto, as well as any other reports or filings that may be required by law. 3. FEES. 3.1 In consideration of the costs and expenses of furnishing the services and facilities provided by the Authorized Firm hereunder, and subject to the limitations of applicable law and regulations, the Authorized Firm will be compensated monthly at an annual rate of up to but not more than 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to the Fund's Shares which are held in the name of the Authorized Firm for its Customers. However, no such fee shall be due to the Authorized Firm until the Distributor receives such fee payments from the applicable Fund. In addition, the fee will not be paid to the Authorized Firm with respect to Shares of a Fund that are redeemed or repurchased by the Trust within seven business days of receipt of confirmation of such sale. 3.2 The fee rate with respect to any Fund may be prospectively increased or decreased by the Distributor, in its sole discretion, at any time upon notice to the Authorized Firm. 4. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS. 4.1 The parties acknowledge that they are financial institutions subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the "AML Acts") or are otherwise aware of and agree to abide by the AML Acts, by implementing reasonable procedures to monitor money laundering and by taking all other necessary actions to adhere to the AML Acts. The parties acknowledge that the AML Acts require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering and provide for customer identification programs. The parties further acknowledge that they are in compliance 2 and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable anti-money laundering rules of self-regulatory organizations, including NASD Conduct Rule 3011, in all relevant respects. 4.2 By written acceptance of this Agreement, the Authorized Firm represents, warrants, and agrees that: (i) the Authorized Firm will provide to Customers a schedule of the services it will perform pursuant to this Agreement and a schedule of any fees that the Authorized Firm may charge directly to Customers for services it performs in connection with investments in the Trust on the Customer's behalf; and (ii) any and all compensation payable to the Authorized Firm by Customers in connection with the investment of their assets in the Trust will be disclosed by the Authorized Firm to Customers and will be authorized by Customers and will not result in an excessive fee to the Authorized Firm. 4.3 The Authorized Firm agrees to comply with all requirements applicable to it by reason of all applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws, the Rules and Regulations of the SEC, including, without limitation, all applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and the 1940 Act. Upon request, the Distributor will furnish the Authorized Firm with a list of the states or other jurisdictions in which the Distributor believes the Shares of the Funds are qualified for sale, and the Authorized Firm agrees that it will not purchase a Fund's Shares on behalf of a Customer's account in any jurisdiction in which such Shares are not qualified for sale. The Authorized Firm further agrees that it will maintain all records required by applicable law or otherwise reasonably requested by the Distributor relating to the services provided by it pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Authorized Firm agrees that it will comply at all times with the provisions of Rule 22c-1 of the 1940 Act. Purchase and redemption orders, and payment for shares of a Fund ordered from the Trust, must be received at the time, and in the manner, as determined by the Trust. All Orders are subject to acceptance or rejection by the Trust or the relevant Fund in the sole discretion of either, or by the relevant Fund's transfer agent acting on the Trust's or the Fund's behalf, and orders shall be effective only upon receipt in proper form. The Trust may, if necessary, delay redemption of shares of a Fund to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. The Authorized Firm may submit a purchase, exchange or redemption order (an "Order") for shares of a Fund on behalf of a Customer to such Trust's designated contact in the manner determined by the Trust. Receipt and acceptance of any such Order on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which a Fund calculates its net asset value (a "Business Day") pursuant to SEC rules by the Authorized Firm as limited agent of the Fund prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset value as described from time to time in the Fund's prospectus (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt and acceptance by the Fund on that same Business Day. To facilitate the Funds' daily trading practices, the Authorized Firm (i) may be required to provide the Funds with estimated daily net aggregate trade and other information relating to the Funds at times and in the manner reasonably specified by the Funds prior to the close of business on each Business Day and (ii) may be required to provide the Funds on the following Business Day with a confirmed final report of the previous Business Day's transaction information related to the Funds at such times mandated by the Funds. 4.4 Authorized Firm agrees that under no circumstances shall the Distributor be liable to the Authorized Firm or any other person under this Agreement as a result of any action by the SEC affecting the operation or continuation of the Plan. 4.5 Each party hereto agrees that any Nonpublic Personal Information, as the term is defined in Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P ("Reg S-P"), that may be disclosed by a party hereunder is disclosed for the specific purpose of permitting the other party to perform the services set forth in this Agreement. Each party agrees that, with respect to such information, it will comply with Reg S-P and any other applicable regulations and that it will not disclose any Non-Public Personal Information received in connection with this Agreement to any other party, except to the extent required to carry out the services set forth in this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by law. 4.6 The Authorized Firm agrees that the obligations of the parties hereto and the operation and/or continuation of this Agreement are subject to any applicable policies of the Trust, as they may be amended from time to time. The Authorized Firm further agrees that the operation and/or continuation of this Agreement is subject to: (i) 3 the Board of Trustees' evaluation of the services; (ii) any determinations by the Board of Trustees regarding the nature and quality of and the compensation for the services; and (iii) any other determinations that the Board of Trustees deems appropriate. 4.7 The Authorized Firm will make available to the Distributor, promptly upon request, appropriate books and records as are maintained under this Agreement, and will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any such books and records and any information or reports in connection with the Authorized Firm's services under this Agreement that may be requested, following notice to the Distributor. 4.8 The Funds' prospectus will generically identify the Authorized Firm as a party that may accept purchase and redemption orders on behalf of a Fund and will provide: (i) that the Funds have authorized one or more intermediaries to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders that are in "good order"; (ii) that the intermediaries are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Funds' behalf; (iii) that the Funds will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized intermediary or, if applicable, an intermediary's authorized designee, accepts the order; and (iv) that customer orders will be priced at the Funds' net asset value next computed after they are accepted by an authorized intermediary or the intermediary's designee. 5. EXCULPATION; INDEMNIFICATION. 5.1 The Distributor shall not be liable to the Authorized Firm and the Authorized Firm shall not be liable to the Distributor except for acts or failures to act which constitute lack of good faith or gross negligence and for obligations expressly assumed by either party hereunder. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to operate as a waiver by the Distributor or by the Authorized Firm of compliance with any applicable law, rule, or regulation. 5.2 The Authorized Firm will indemnify the Distributor and hold it harmless from any claims or assertions relating to a breach of any representation or warranty under this Agreement, failure by the Authorized Firm to maintain required anti-money laundering procedures (including customer identification programs), the lawfulness of the Authorized Firm's participation in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or relating to any activities of any persons or entities affiliated with the Authorized Firm performed in connection with the discharge of its responsibilities under this Agreement. If any such claims are asserted, the Distributor shall have the right to manage its own defense, including the selection and engagement of legal counsel of its choosing, and all costs of such defense shall be borne by the Authorized Firm. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION. 6.1 This Agreement will become effective with respect to each Fund on the date of its acceptance by the Authorized Firm. Unless sooner terminated with respect to any Fund, this Agreement will continue with respect to a Fund until terminated in accordance with its terms, provided that the continuance of the Plan is specifically approved at least annually in accordance with the terms of the Plan. 6.2 This Agreement will automatically terminate with respect to a Fund in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) or upon the termination of the Distributor's distribution agreement with the Trust. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Fund by the Trust or by the Authorized Firm, without penalty, upon sixty days' prior written notice to the other party. This Agreement may also be terminated with respect to any Fund at any time without penalty by the vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees or a majority of the outstanding Shares of a Fund on sixty days' written notice. 7. GENERAL. 7.1 The Distributor may enter into other similar agreements for the provision of Shareholder support services with any other person or persons without the Authorized Firm's consent. 4 7.2 Upon receiving the consent of the Distributor, the Authorized Firm may, at its expense, subcontract with any entity or person concerning the provision of the services contemplated hereunder; provided, however, that the Authorized Firm shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement by the appointment of such subcontractor and provided further, that the Authorized Firm shall be responsible, to the extent provided in Article 5 hereof, for all acts of such subcontractor as if such acts were its own. 7.3 This Agreement supersedes any other agreement between the Distributor and the Authorized Firm relating to support services in connection with a Fund's Shares and relating to any other matters discussed herein. All covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties made herein (including but not limited to those set forth in sections 4 and 5) shall be deemed to have been material and relied on by each party, notwithstanding any investigation made by either party or on behalf of either party, and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other term or provision hereof. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not alter or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts which together shall constitute one instrument and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws (other than the conflict of laws rules) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. 7.4 Notices and communications required or permitted hereby will be given to the following persons at the following addresses or facsimile numbers as the party receiving such notices or communications may subsequently direct in writing: If to the Distributor: ProFunds Distributors, Inc. 60 State Street, Suite 1300 Boston, MA 02109 Attention: Broker Dealer Compliance Telephone: Facsimile: If to the Authorized Firm: Attention: 7.5 The Authorized Firm shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or authorized by the Distributor from time to time, have no authority to act for or represent the Distributor in any way or otherwise be deemed its agent. 7.6 During the term of this Agreement, the Authorized Firm will pay all ordinary expenses incurred by it in connection with its obligations under this Agreement. 7.7 Each party acknowledges that the identities of the other party's customers, as well as information maintained by such other party regarding those customers, and all computer programs, technical, trade secret or business information, including, without limitation, financial information, business or marketing strategies or plans, product development and procedures developed by such other party or such other party's agents in connection with this arrangement which is disclosed to the other party hereto or otherwise obtained by the other party, its affiliates, agents or representatives during the term of this Agreement, constitute the valuable property of such other party ("Proprietary Information"). Each party agrees that should either of them be furnished any Proprietary Information, the party who acquired such Proprietary Information shall use its best efforts to hold such information or property in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing, or distributing any of such information or other property except (i) with the other party's prior written consent, or (ii) as required by law or judicial process. Each party acknowledge that any 5 breach of the foregoing agreements as to the other party would result in immediate and irreparable harm to such other party for which there would be no adequate remedy at law and agree that in the event of a breach such other party will be entitled to seek equitable relief, as well as such other relief as any court of competent jurisdiction deems appropriate. Each party shall promptly notify the other in writing of any unauthorized, negligent or inadvertent use or disclosure of Proprietary Information. Each party shall be liable under this Agreement for any use or disclosure in violation of this Agreement by its employees, attorneys, accountants, or other advisors or agents. This section 7.7 shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. 7.8 Any and all disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement will be finally and exclusively resolved by arbitration under the rules of arbitration then in effect for the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or the American Arbitration Association, such organization to be selected in the sole discretion of the Distributor. The arbitration will be held in Boston, Massachusetts before three arbitrators who have no present or former affiliation with any party to this Agreement and who are knowledgeable about mutual funds, the asset management industry and the subject of the dispute. Each party will choose one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so chosen will choose a third who will chair the proceedings. In no event will the arbitrators have the authority to make any award that provides for punitive or exemplary damages. Any decision rendered by the arbitrators will be binding, final and conclusive upon both parties, and a judgment thereon may be entered in, and enforced by, any court having jurisdiction over the party against which an award is entered, or by any court having jurisdiction over the assets of any party against which an award is entered, and the parties hereby irrevocably waive any objections to the jurisdiction of such court based on any ground, including improper venue or forum non conveniens. Except where clearly prevented by the subject matter of the dispute, both parties will continue performing their respective obligations under this Agreement while the dispute is being resolved. The prevailing party in any claim, action, arbitration, or other proceeding arising under or in connection with the implementation or enforcement of this Agreement will be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection therewith. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their officers designated below. ProFunds Distributors, Inc. By: ------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------- The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted: ---------------------------------- Authorized Firm By: Name: Title: Date: --------------------------- 6 SCHEDULE A Airlines UltraSector ProFund* Asia 30 ProFund* Banks UltraSector ProFund Basic Materials UltraSector ProFund Bear ProFund Biotechnology UltraSector ProFund Bull ProFund Consumer Cyclical UltraSector ProFund* Consumer Non-Cyclical UltraSector ProFund* Dow 30 ProFund* Energy UltraSector ProFund Europe 30 ProFund Financial UltraSector ProFund Healthcare UltraSector ProFund Industrial UltraSector ProFund* Internet UltraSector ProFund Large-Cap Growth ProFund Large-Cap Value ProFund Leisure Goods & Services UltraSector ProFund* Mid-Cap Growth ProFund Mid-Cap ProFund Mid-Cap Value ProFund Money Market ProFund Oil Drilling Equipment & Services UltraSector ProFund* OTC ProFund Pharmaceuticals UltraSector ProFund Precious Metals UltraSector ProFund Real Estate UltraSector ProFund Rising Rates Opportunity ProFund Semiconductor UltraSector ProFund Short Dow 30 ProFund* Short Mid-Cap ProFund* Short OTC ProFund Short Small-Cap ProFund Small-Cap Growth ProFund Small-Cap ProFund Small-Cap Value ProFund Technology UltraSector ProFund Telecommunications UltraSector ProFund U.S. Government Plus ProFund UltraBear ProFund UltraBull ProFund UltraDow 30 ProFund UltraJapan ProFund UltraMid-Cap ProFund UltraOTC ProFund UltraShort Dow 30 ProFund* UltraShort Mid-Cap ProFund* UltraShort OTC ProFund UltraShort Small-Cap ProFund* Utilities UltraSector ProFund Wireless Communications UltraSector ProFund *ProFunds has not commenced investment operations. Dated as of: December 17, 2003 7