EX-99.B(6)(e)
FLAG INVESTORS REAL ESTATE SECURITIES FUND, INC.
FLAG INVESTORS INSTITUTIONAL SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made as of the 20th day of January, 1997, by
and between FLAG INVESTORS REAL ESTATE SECURITIES FUND, INC., a Maryland
corporation (the "Fund"), and ALEX. XXXXX & SONS INCORPORATED, a Maryland
corporation ("Alex. Xxxxx").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end,
diversified, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Maryland on March 2, 1994, authorize the
Board of Directors of the Fund to increase or decrease the number of shares of
capital stock of the Fund and the number of shares of any class of capital stock
of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Fund's Board of Directors has authorized the
designation of two classes of shares of the Fund known respectively as the Flag
Investors Real Estate Securities Fund Class A Shares and the Flag Investors Real
Estate Securities Fund Class B Shares; and
WHEREAS, the Fund's Board of Directors has further
authorized the creation of an institutional class of shares of the Fund known as
the Flag Investors Real Estate Securities Fund Institutional Shares (the
"Shares") ; and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to appoint Alex. Xxxxx as the
exclusive distributor of the class of shares of the Fund known as the Flag
Investors Institutional Shares (the "Shares") and Alex. Xxxxx wishes to become
the distributor of the Shares; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein
and of other good and valuable consideration the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment. The Fund appoints Alex. Xxxxx as
Distributor for the Shares for the period and on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. Alex. Xxxxx accepts such appointment and agrees to render the
services set forth herein.
2. Delivery of Documents. The Fund has furnished Alex.
Xxxxx with copies properly certified or authenticated, of each of the following:
(a) The Fund's Articles of Incorporation and all
amendments thereto (the "Articles of Incorporation");
(b) The Fund's By-Laws and all amendments thereto
(such By-Laws, as presently in effect and as they shall from time to time be
amended, are herein called the "By-Laws");
(c) Resolutions of the Fund's Board of Directors and
shareholders authorizing the appointment of Alex. Xxxxx as the Fund's
Distributor of the Shares and approving this Agreement;
(d) The Fund's Notification of Registration filed
pursuant to Section 8(a) of the 1940 Act on Form N-8A under the 1940 Act, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 5, 1994;
(e) The Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") (File No.
33-78648) and under the 1940 Act as filed with the SEC on May 5, 1994 relating
to the Shares of the Fund, and all amendments thereto; and
(f) The Fund's most recent prospectus for the Shares
(such prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto are herein called
"Prospectus").
The Fund will xxxxxxx Xxxx. Xxxxx from time to time with
copies, properly certified or authenticated, of all amendments or supplements to
the foregoing, if any, and all documents, notices and reports filed with the
SEC.
3. Duties as Distributor. Alex. Xxxxx shall give the Fund
the benefit of its best judgment, efforts and facilities in rendering its
services as Distributor of the Shares. Alex. Xxxxx shall:
(a) respond to inquiries from the Fund's shareholders
concerning the status of their accounts with the Fund;
(b) take, on behalf of the Fund, all actions deemed
necessary to carry into effect the distribution of the Shares;
2
4. Distribution of Shares. Alex. Xxxxx shall be the
exclusive distributor of the Shares. It is mutually understood and agreed that
Alex. Xxxxx does not undertake to sell all or any specific portion of the
Shares. The Fund shall not sell any of the Shares except through Alex. Xxxxx.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing
sentence, the Fund may issue its Shares at their net asset value to any
shareholder of the Fund purchasing such Shares with dividends or other cash
distributions received from the Fund pursuant to an offer made to all
shareholders.
(b) Alex. Xxxxx may enter into shareholder processing
and servicing agreements;
(c) Alex. Xxxxx may, and when requested by the Fund
shall, suspend its efforts to effectuate sales of the Shares at any time when in
the opinion of Alex. Xxxxx or of the Fund no sales should be made because of
market or other economic considerations or abnormal circumstances of any kind;
and
(d) the Fund may withdraw the offering of the Shares
(i) at any time with the consent of Alex. Xxxxx, 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.
5. Control by Board of Directors. Any distribution
activities undertaken by Alex. Xxxxx pursuant to this Agreement, as well as any
other activities undertaken by Alex. Xxxxx on behalf of the Fund pursuant
hereto, shall at all times be subject to any directives of the Board of
Directors of the Fund. The Board of Directors may agree, on behalf of the Fund,
to amendments to this Agreement.
6. Compliance with Applicable Requirements. In carrying
out its obligations under this Agreement, Alex. Xxxxx shall at all times conform
to:
(a) all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and any
rules and regulations adopted thereunder as amended;
(b) the provisions of the Registration Statement of
the Fund under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and any amendments and supplements
thereto;
(c) the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of
the Fund and any amendments thereto;
(d) the provisions of the By-Laws of the Fund;
3
(e) the rules and regulations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and all other self-regulatory
organizations applicable to the sale of investment company shares; and
(f) any other applicable provisions of Federal and
State law.
7. Expenses. The expenses connected with the Fund shall
be allocable between the Fund and Alex. Xxxxx as follows:
(a) Alex. Xxxxx shall furnish, at its expense and
without cost to the Fund, the services of personnel to the extent that such
services are required to carry out their obligations under this Agreement;
(b) Alex. Xxxxx shall bear the expenses of any
promotional or sales literature used by Alex. Xxxxx or furnished by Alex. Xxxxx
to purchasers or dealers in connection with the public offering of the Shares,
the expenses of advertising in connection with such public offering and all
legal expenses in connection with the foregoing;
(c) the Fund assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid
all other expenses of the Fund, including, without limitation: the fees of the
Fund's investment advisor; the charges and expenses of any registrar, custodian
or depositary appointed by the Fund for the safekeeping of its cash, portfolio
securities and other property, and any stock transfer, dividend or accounting
agent or agents appointed by the Fund; brokers' commissions chargeable to the
Fund in connection with portfolio securities transactions to which the Fund is a
party; all taxes, including securities issuance and transfer taxes, and
corporate fees payable by the Fund to Federal, State or other governmental
agencies; all costs and expenses in connection with maintenance of registration
of the Fund and the Shares with the SEC and various states and other
jurisdictions (including filing fees and legal fees and disbursements of
counsel) except as provided in subparagraph (a) above, the expenses of printing,
including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses of the Fund and supplements
thereto to the Fund's shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Directors'
meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing of proxy statements and reports
to shareholders; fees and travel expenses of Directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) or members of any advisory
board or committee; all expenses incident to the payment of any dividend,
distribution, withdrawal or redemption, whether in Shares or in cash; charges
and expenses of any outside service used for pricing of the Shares; charges and
expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the Directors who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), and of
independent accountants, in connection with any matter relating to the Fund;
membership dues of industry associations; interest payable on Fund borrowings;
postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel (including officers and
Directors) of the Fund which inure to its benefit; extraordinary expenses
(including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and litigation
costs and any indemnification related thereto); and all other charges and costs
of the Fund's operation unless otherwise explicitly provided herein.
4
8. Delegation of Responsibilities. Alex. Xxxxx may, but
shall be under no duty to, perform services on behalf of the Fund which are not
required by this Agreement upon the request of the Fund's Board of Directors.
Such services will be performed on behalf of the Fund and Alex. Xxxxx'x charge
in rendering such services may be billed monthly to the Fund, subject to
examination by the Fund's independent accountants. Payment or assumption by
Alex. Xxxxx of any Fund expense that Alex. Xxxxx is not required to pay or
assume under this Agreement shall not relieve Alex. Xxxxx of any of its
obligations to the Fund or obligate Alex. Xxxxx to pay or assume any similar
Fund expense on any subsequent occasions.
9. Compensation. Alex. Xxxxx shall receive no
compensation for the services to be rendered and the expenses assumed by it
pursuant to this Agreement.
10. Compensation for Servicing Shareholder Accounts. The
Fund acknowledges that Alex. Xxxxx may, from its own resources, compensate its
investment representatives for opening accounts, processing investor letters of
transmittals and applications and withdrawal and redemption orders, responding
to inquiries from Fund shareholders concerning the status of their accounts and
the operations of the Fund, and communicating with the Fund and its transfer
agent on behalf of the Fund shareholders.
11. Sub-Distribution Agreements. Alex. Xxxxx may enter
into Sub-Distribution Agreements (the "Sub-Distribution Agreements") with any
securities dealer who is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and a member in good standing of the NASD, who may wish to act as a
Participating Dealer in connection with the proposed offering. All
Sub-Distribution Agreements shall be in substantially the form of the agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit "A". For processing Fund shareholders' redemption
orders, responding to the inquiries from Fund shareholders concerning the status
of their accounts and the operations of the Fund and communicating with the
Fund, its transfer agent and Alex. Xxxxx, Xxxx. Xxxxx may, from its own
resources, compensate each such Participating Dealer for such services.
12. Non-Exclusivity. The services of Alex. Xxxxx to the
Fund are not to be deemed exclusive and Alex. Xxxxx shall be free to render
distribution or other services to others (including other investment companies)
and to engage in other activities. It is understood and agreed that directors,
officers or employees of Alex. Xxxxx may serve as directors or officers of the
Fund, and that directors or officers of the Fund may serve as directors,
officers and employees of Alex. Xxxxx to the extent permitted by law; and that
directors, officers and employees of Alex. Xxxxx are not prohibited from
engaging in any other business activity or from rendering services to any other
person, or from serving as partners, directors or officers of any other firm or
corporation, including other investment companies.
13. Term and Approval. This Agreement shall become
effective at the close of business on the date hereof and shall remain in force
and effect for an initial term of two years and from year to year thereafter,
provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually:
5
(a) (i) by the Fund's Board of Directors or (ii) by
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the
1940 Act), and
(b) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 0000
Xxx) and do not have a financial interest in the operation of this Agreement, by
votes cast in person at a meeting specifically called for such purpose.
14. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any
time, on sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party without the payment
of any penalty, (i) by vote of the Fund's Board of Directors, (ii) by vote of a
majority of the directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) and do not have a financial interest in the operation
of this Agreement, (iii) by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) or (iv) by Alex. Xxxxx. The notice
provided for herein may be waived by each party. This Agreement shall
automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as the term is defined
in the 1940 Act).
15. Liability. In the performance of its duties hereunder,
Alex. Xxxxx shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence and to act in good
faith and to use its best efforts within reasonable limits in performing all
services provided for under this Agreement, but shall not be liable for any act
or omission which does not constitute willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence on the part of Alex. Xxxxx or reckless disregard by Alex. Xxxxx of
its duties under this Agreement.
16. Notices. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in
writing, addressed and delivered or mailed postage paid to the other party at
such address as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notice.
Until further notice to the other parties, it is agreed that the address of both
Alex. Xxxxx and the Fund for this purpose shall be 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000.
17. Questions of Interpretation. Any question of
interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart
in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act shall be
resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to
interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or in the absence
of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders
of the SEC issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a
requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is
revised by rule, regulation or order of the SEC, such provision shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order. Otherwise the
provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of
Maryland.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed in duplicate by their respective officers as of the day
and year first above written.
6
[SEAL] FLAG INVESTORS REAL ESTATE SECURITIES
FUND, INC.
Attest:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx By/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------- --------------------------
Title:
[SEAL] ALEX. XXXXX & SONS INCORPORATED
Attest:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------- --------------------------
Title:
7
Exhibit A
FLAG INVESTORS FAMILY OF FUNDS
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
FORM OF
SUB-DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
_____________________, 19__
Gentlemen:
Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated ("Alex. Xxxxx"), a
Maryland corporation, serves as distributor (the "Distributor") of the Flag
Investors Funds (collectively, the "Funds", individually a "Fund"). The Funds
are open-end investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Funds offer their shares
("Shares") to the public in accordance with the terms and conditions contained
in the Prospectus of each Fund. The term "Prospectus" used herein refers to the
prospectus on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission which is part of
the registration statement of each Fund under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities Act"). In connection with the foregoing you may serve as a
participating dealer (and, therefore, accept orders for the purchase or
redemption of Shares, respond to shareholder inquiries and perform other related
functions) on the following terms and conditions:
1. Participating Dealer. You are hereby designated a
Participating Dealer and as such are authorized (i) to accept orders for the
purchase of Shares and to transmit to the Funds such orders and the payment made
therefore, (ii) to accept orders for the redemption of Shares and to transmit to
the Funds such orders and all additional material, including any certificates
for Shares, as may be required to complete the redemption and (iii) to assist
shareholders with the foregoing and other matters relating to their investments
in each Fund, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus of each Fund. You are to review each Share purchase or redemption
order submitted through you or with your assistance for completeness and
accuracy. You further agree to undertake from time to time certain shareholder
servicing activities for customers of yours who have purchased Shares and who
use your facilities to communicate with the Funds or to effect redemptions or
additional purchases of Shares.
2. Limitation of Authority. No person is authorized to
make any representations concerning the Funds or the Shares except those
contained in the
Prospectus of each Fund and in such printed information as the Distributor may
subsequently prepare. No person is authorized to distribute any sales material
relating to any Fund without the prior written approval of the Distributor.
3. Compensation. As compensation for such services, you
will look solely to the Distributor, and you acknowledge that the Funds shall
have no direct responsibility for any compensation. In addition to any sales
charge payable to you by your customer pursuant to a Prospectus, the Distributor
will pay you no less often than annually a shareholder processing and service
fee (as we may determine from time to time in writing) computed as a percentage
of the average daily net assets maintained with each Fund during the preceding
period by shareholders who purchase their shares through you or with your
assistance, provided that said assets are at least $250,000 for each Fund for
which you are to be compensated, and provided that in all cases your name is
transmitted with each shareholder's purchase order.
4. Prospectus and Reports. You agree to comply with the
provisions contained in the Securities Act governing the distribution of
prospectuses to persons to whom you offer Shares. You further agree to deliver,
upon our request, copies of any amended Prospectus of the relevant Fund to
purchasers whose Shares you are holding as record owner and to deliver to such
persons copies of the annual and interim reports and proxy solicitation
materials of the Funds. We agree to furnish to you as many copies of each
Prospectus, annual and interim reports and proxy solicitation materials as you
may reasonably request.
5. Qualification to Act. You represent that you are a
member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(the "NASD"). Your expulsion or suspension from the NASD will automatically
terminate this Agreement on the effective date of such expulsion or suspension.
You agree that you will not offer Shares to persons in any jurisdiction in which
you may not lawfully make such offer due to the fact that you have not
registered under, or are not exempt from, the applicable registration or
licensing requirements of such jurisdiction. You agree that in performing the
services under this Agreement, you at all times will comply with the NASD's
Conduct Rules, including, without limitation, the provisions of Rule 2830. You
agree that you will not combine customer orders to reach breakpoints in
commissions for any purposes whatsoever unless authorized by the then current
Prospectus in respect of Shares of a particular class or by us in writing. You
also agree that you will place orders immediately upon their receipt and will
not withhold any order so as to profit therefrom. In determining the amount
payable to you hereunder, we reserve the right to exclude any sales which we
reasonably determine are not made in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus
and provisions of the Agreement.
6. Blue Sky. The Funds have registered an indefinite
number of Shares under the Securities Act. The Funds intend to register or
qualify in certain states where registration or qualification is required. We
will inform you as to the states or other jurisdictions in which we believe the
Shares have been qualified for sale under, or are exempt from the requirements
of, the respective securities laws of such states. You agree
2
that you will offer Shares to your customers only in those states where such
Shares have been registered, qualified, or an exemption is available. We assume
no responsibility or obligation as to your right to sell Shares in any
jurisdiction. We will file with the Department of State in New York a State
Notice and a Further State Notice with respect to the Shares, if necessary.
7. Authority of Fund. Each of the Funds shall have full
authority to take such action as it deems advisable in respect of all matters
pertaining to the offering of its Shares, including the right not to accept any
order for the purchase of Shares.
8. Record Keeping. You will (i) maintain all records
required by law to be kept by you relating to transactions in Shares and, upon
request by any Fund, promptly make such of these records available to the Fund
as the Fund may reasonably request in connection with its operations and (ii)
promptly notify the Fund if you experience any difficulty in maintaining the
records described in the foregoing clauses in an accurate and complete manner.
9. Liability. The Distributor shall be under no liability
to you except for lack of good faith and for obligations expressly assumed by it
hereunder. In carrying out your obligations, you agree to act in good faith and
without negligence. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to operate
as a waiver by the Distributor or you of compliance with any provision of the
Investment Company Act, the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.
10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by
either party, without penalty, upon ten days' notice to the other party and
shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the
Investment Company Act). This Agreement may also be terminated at any time for
any particular Fund without penalty by the vote of a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors or Trustees of such Fund who are not "interested persons"
(as defined in the Investment Company Act) and who have no direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement between such
Fund and the Distributor or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund.
11. Communications. All communications to us should be
sent to the above address. Any notice to you shall be duly given if mailed or
telegraphed to you at the address specified by you below.
3
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding
of our agreement, please sign and return to us one copy of this agreement.
ALEX. XXXXX & SONS INCORPORATED
-------------------------------
(Authorized Signature)
Confirmed and accepted:
Firm Name: ________________________
By: _______________________________
Address: __________________________
Date:______________________________
4
