DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 7th day of December, 2005, by
and
between XXXXXXX
MICROCAP OPPORTUNITIES FUND, INC.,
a
Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”) and
QUASAR DISTRIBUTORS, LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company (the “Distributor”). XXXXXXX
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.,
an
Illinois corporation and the investment advisor to the Corporation (the
“Advisor”), is a party hereto with respect to Section 5 only.
WHEREAS,
the Corporation is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is
authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) in separate series,
with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of
securities and other assets;
WHEREAS,
the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”);
WHEREAS,
the Corporation desires to retain the Distributor as principal underwriter
in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares of each series of the
Corporation listed on Exhibit
A
hereto
(as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”);
and
WHEREAS,
this Agreement has been approved by a vote of the Corporation’s board of
directors (“Board of Directors” or the “Board”), including its disinterested
directors voting separately, in conformity with Section 15(c) of the 1940
Act.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein
contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which
is
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do
hereby agree as follows:
1. |
Appointment
of Quasar as Distributor
|
The
Corporation hereby appoints the Distributor as its agent for the sale and
distribution of Shares of the Fund in jurisdictions wherein the Shares may
be
legally offered for sale, on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to
perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement. The services and
duties of the Distributor shall be confined to those matters expressly set
forth
herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the
Distributor hereunder.
2. |
Services
and Duties of the
Distributor
|
A. |
The
Distributor agrees to sell Shares on a best efforts basis as agent
for the
Corporation upon the terms and at the current offering price (plus
sales
charge, if any) described in the Prospectus. As used in this Agreement,
the term “Prospectus” shall mean the current prospectus, including the
statement of additional information, as both may be amended or
supplemented, relating to the Fund and included in the currently
effective
registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) of the Corporation
filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and
the 1940 Act. The Corporation shall in all cases receive the net
asset
value per Share on all sales. If a sales charge is in effect, the
Distributor shall remit the sales charge (or portion thereof) to
broker-dealers who have sold Shares, as described in Section 2(G),
below.
In no event shall the Distributor be entitled to all or any portion
of
such sales charge.
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B. |
During
the continuous public offering of Shares, the Distributor will hold
itself
available to receive orders, satisfactory to the Distributor, for
the
purchase of Shares and will accept such orders on behalf of the
Corporation. Such purchase orders shall be deemed effective at the
time
and in the manner set forth in the
Prospectus.
|
C. |
The
Distributor, with the operational assistance of the Corporation’s transfer
agent, shall make Shares available for sale and redemption through
the
National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Fund/SERV
System.
|
D. |
The
Distributor acknowledges and agrees that it is not authorized to
provide
any information or make any representations other than as contained
in the
Prospectus and any sales literature specifically approved by the
Corporation.
|
E. |
The
Distributor agrees to cooperate with the Corporation or its agent
in the
development of all proposed advertisements and sales literature relating
to the Fund. The Distributor agrees to review all proposed advertisements
and sales literature for compliance with applicable laws and regulations,
and shall file with appropriate regulators those advertisements and
sales
literature it believes are in compliance with such laws and regulations.
The Distributor agrees to furnish to the Corporation any comments
provided
by regulators with respect to such materials and to use its best
efforts
to obtain the approval of the regulators to such
materials.
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F. |
The
Distributor, at its sole discretion, may repurchase Shares offered
for
sale by shareholders of the Fund. Repurchase of Shares by the Distributor
shall be at the price determined in accordance with, and in the manner
set
forth in, the Prospectus. At the end of each business day, the Distributor
shall notify the Corporation and its transfer agent, by any appropriate
means, of the orders for repurchase of Shares received by the Distributor
since the last report, the amount to be paid for such Shares and
the
identity of the shareholders offering Shares for repurchase. The
Corporation reserves the right to suspend such repurchase right upon
written notice to the Distributor. The Distributor further agrees
to act
as agent for the Corporation to receive and transmit promptly to
the
Corporation’s transfer agent, shareholder requests for redemption of
Shares.
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G. |
The
Distributor may, in its discretion, enter into agreements with such
qualified broker-dealers as it may select, in order that such
broker-dealers also may sell Shares of the Fund. The form of any
dealer
agreement shall be approved by the Corporation. To the extent there
is a
sales charge in effect, the Distributor shall pay the applicable
sales
charge (or portion thereof), or allow a discount, to the selling
broker-dealer, as described in the
Prospectus.
|
H. |
The
Distributor shall devote its best efforts to effect sales of Shares
of the
Fund but shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of
Shares.
|
I. |
The
Distributor shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities
under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested
by
the Board, including reports regarding the use of any 12b-1 payments
received by the Distributor.
|
J. |
The
Distributor agrees to advise the Corporation promptly in writing
of the
initiation of any proceedings against it by the SEC or its staff,
the NASD
or any state regulatory authority.
|
K. |
The
Distributor shall monitor amounts paid under Rule 12b-1 plans and
pursuant
to sales loads to ensure compliance with applicable NASD
rules.
|
3. |
Representations
and Covenants of the
Corporation
|
A. |
The
Corporation hereby represents and warrants to the Distributor, which
representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout
the term of this Agreement, that:
|
(1) |
It
is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its
organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted,
to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder;
|
(2) |
This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Corporation in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes
a
valid and legally binding obligation of the Corporation, enforceable
in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application
affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors and secured
parties;
|
(3) |
It
is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects
with all
applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has
obtained
all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now
conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment
binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract
binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution
or
performance of this Agreement;
|
(4) |
All
Shares to be sold by it, including those offered under this Agreement,
are
validly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the description
in
the Prospectus, will be fully paid and
nonassessable;
|
3
(5) |
The
Registration Statement, and Prospectus included therein, have been
prepared in conformity with the requirements of the 1933 Act and
the 1940
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; and
|
(6) |
The
Registration Statement (at the time of its effectiveness) and any
advertisements and sales literature prepared by the Corporation or
its
agent (excluding statements relating to the Distributor and the services
it provides that are based upon written information furnished by
the
Distributor expressly for inclusion therein) shall not contain any
untrue
statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and that all statements or information furnished to the
Distributor pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct
in all
material respects.
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B. |
The
Corporation, or its agent, shall take or cause to be taken, all necessary
action to register Shares of the Fund under the 1933 Act, qualify
such
shares for sale in such states as the Corporation and the Distributor
shall approve, and maintain an effective Registration Statement for
such
Shares in order to permit the sale of Shares as herein contemplated.
The
Corporation authorizes the Distributor to use the Prospectus, in
the form
furnished to the Distributor from time to time, in connection with
the
sale of Shares.
|
C. |
The
Corporation agrees to advise the Distributor promptly in writing:
|
(i) of
any
material correspondence or other communication by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) or its staff relating to the Fund, including requests by
the SEC for amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus;
(ii) in
the
event of the issuance by the SEC of any stop-order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement then in effect or the initiation of any proceeding
for that purpose;
(iii) of
the
happening of any event which makes untrue any statement of a material fact
made
in the Prospectus or which requires the making of a change in such Prospectus
in
order to make the statements therein not misleading;
(iv) of
all
actions taken by the SEC with respect to any amendments to any Registration
Statement or Prospectus, which may from time to time be filed with the SEC;
and
(v) in
the
event that it determines to suspend the sale of Shares at any time in response
to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise, or in the event that
it
determines to suspend the redemption of Shares at any time as permitted by
the
1940 Act or the rules of the SEC, including any and all applicable
interpretations of such by the staff of the SEC.
4
D. |
The
Corporation shall notify the Distributor in writing of the states
in which
the Shares may be sold and shall notify the Distributor in writing
of any
changes to such information.
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E. |
The
Corporation agrees to file from time to time such amendments to its
Registration Statement and Prospectus as may be necessary in order
that
its Registration Statement and Prospectus will not contain any untrue
statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
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F. |
The
Corporation shall fully cooperate in the efforts of the Distributor
to
sell and arrange for the sale of Shares and shall make available
to the
Distributor a statement of each computation of net asset value. In
addition, the Corporation shall keep the Distributor fully informed
of its
affairs and shall provide to the Distributor, from time to time,
copies of
all information, financial statements and other papers that the
Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the
distribution of Shares, including without limitation, certified copies
of
any financial statements prepared for the Corporation by its independent
public accountants and such reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus
and annual and interim reports to shareholders as the Distributor
may
request. The Corporation shall forward a copy of any SEC filings,
including the Registration Statement, to the Distributor within one
business day of any such filings. The Corporation represents that
it will
not use or authorize the use of any advertising or sales material
unless
and until such materials have been approved and authorized for use
by the
Distributor. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the sharing
or
provision of materials protected by privilege or limitation of disclosure,
including any applicable attorney-client privilege or trade secret
materials.
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G. |
The
Corporation has reviewed and is familiar with the provisions of NASD
Rule
2830(k) prohibiting directed brokerage. In addition, the Corporation
agrees not to enter into any agreement (whether orally or in writing)
under which the Corporation directs or is expected to direct its
brokerage
transactions (or any commission, markup or other payment from such
transactions) to a broker or dealer for the promotion or sale of
Fund
Shares or the shares of any other investment company. In the event
the
Corporation fails to comply with the provisions of NASD Rule 2830(k),
the
Corporation shall promptly notify the
Distributor.
|
4. |
Additional
Representations and Covenants of the
Distributor
|
The
Distributor hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Corporation, which
representations, warranties and covenants shall be deemed to be continuing
throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
(1) |
It
is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its
organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted,
to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder;
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5
(2) |
This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Distributor in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes
a
valid and legally binding obligation of the Distributor, enforceable
in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application
affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors and secured
parties;
|
(3) |
It
is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects
with all
applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has
obtained
all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now
conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment
binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract
binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution
or
performance of this Agreement;
|
(4) |
It
is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member
in
good standing of the NASD;
|
(5) |
It:
(i) has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program (“AML
Program”) that satisfies the requirements of all applicable laws and
regulations; (ii) undertakes to carry out its AML Program to the
best of
its ability; (iii) will promptly notify the Corporation and the Advisor
if
an inspection by the appropriate regulatory authorities of its AML
Program
identifies any material deficiency; and (vi) will promptly remedy
any
material deficiency of which it learns;
and
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(6) |
In
connection with all matters relating to this Agreement, it will comply
with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act,
the
regulations of the NASD and all other applicable federal or state
laws and
regulations.
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5. |
Compensation
|
The
Distributor shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this
Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit
B
hereto
(as amended from time to time). The Distributor shall also be compensated for
such out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and
delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by the
Distributor in performing its duties hereunder. The Corporation shall pay all
such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt
of
the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith
dispute. The Corporation shall notify the Distributor in writing within 30
calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Corporation is disputing
any amounts in good faith. The Corporation shall pay such disputed amounts
within 10 calendar days of the day on which the parties agree to the amount
to
be paid. With the exception of any fee or expense the Corporation is disputing
in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge
of 1½% per month after the due date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
amounts owed by the Corporation to the Distributor shall only be paid out of
the
assets and property of the particular Fund involved. Such fees and expenses
shall be paid to Distributor by the Corporation from Rule 12b-1 fees payable
by
the appropriate Fund or, if the Fund does not have a Rule 12b-1 plan, or if
Rule
12b-1 fees are not sufficient to pay such fees and expenses, or if the Rule
12b-1 plan is discontinued, or if the Advisor otherwise determines that Rule
12b-1 fees shall not, in whole or in part, be used to pay Distributor, the
Advisor shall be responsible for the payment of the amount of such fees and
expenses not covered by Rule 12b-1 payments.
6
6. |
Expenses
|
A. |
The
Corporation shall bear all costs and expenses in connection with
the
registration of its Shares with the SEC and its related compliance
with
state securities laws, as well as all costs and expenses in connection
with the offering of the Shares and communications with shareholders,
including but not limited to: (i) fees and disbursements of its counsel
and independent public accountants; (ii) costs and expenses of the
preparation, filing, printing and mailing of Registration Statements
and
Prospectuses, as well as related advertising and sales literature;
(iii)
costs and expenses of the preparation, printing and mailing of annual
and
interim reports, proxy materials and other communications to shareholders;
and (iv) fees required in connection with the offer and sale of Shares
in
such jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Corporation pursuant
to
Section 3(D) hereof.
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B. |
The
Distributor shall bear the expenses of registration or qualification
of
the Distributor as a dealer or broker under federal or state laws
and the
expenses of continuing such registration or qualification. The Distributor
does not assume responsibility for any expenses not expressly assumed
hereunder.
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7. |
Indemnification
|
A. |
The
Corporation shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor and
each of
its managers, officers, employees, representatives and any person
who
controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act
(collectively, the “Distributor Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and
against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities
of
any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (collectively,
“Losses”) that the Distributor Indemnitees may sustain or incur or that
may be asserted against a Distributor Indemnitee by any person (i)
arising
out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus,
or in any annual or interim report to shareholders, or in any
advertisements or sales literature prepared by the Corporation or
its
agent, or (ii) arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged
omission, to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii)
based
upon the Corporation’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct
in the
performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however,
that
the Corporation’s obligation to indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees
shall not be deemed to cover any Losses arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made
in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, annual or interim report,
or
any advertisement or sales literature in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information relating to the Distributor and furnished
to the
Corporation or its counsel by the Distributor for the purpose of,
and used
in, the preparation thereof. The Corporation’s agreement to indemnify the
Distributor Indemnitees is expressly conditioned upon the Corporation
being notified of such action or claim of loss brought against the
Distributor Indemnitees within a reasonable time after the summons
or
other first legal process giving information of the nature of the
claim
shall have been served upon the Distributor Indemnitees, unless the
failure to give notice does not prejudice the Corporation; provided,
that
the failure so to notify the Corporation of any such action shall
not
relieve the Corporation from any liability which the Corporation
may have
to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any
such
untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission,
otherwise than on account of the Corporation’s indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 7(A).
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7
B. |
The
Corporation shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in
the
defense, or if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought
to
enforce any such Losses, but if the Corporation elects to assume
the
defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the
Corporation and approved by the Distributor, which approval shall
not be
unreasonably withheld. In the event the Corporation elects to assume
the
defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor
Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by them. If the Corporation does not
elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Distributor does
not,
in the exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen
by the
Corporation, or if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics,
the same
counsel cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Corporation
and the Distributor Indemnitees, the Corporation will reimburse the
Distributor Indemnitees for the reasonable fees and expenses of any
counsel retained by them. The Corporation’s indemnification agreement
contained in Sections 7(A) and 7(B) herein shall remain operative
and in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf
of the Distributor Indemnitees and shall survive the delivery of
any
Shares and the termination of this Agreement. This agreement of indemnity
will inure exclusively to the benefit of the Distributor Indemnitees
and
their successors. The Corporation agrees promptly to notify the
Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against
the Corporation or any of its officers or directors in connection
with the
offer and sale of any of the Shares.
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C. |
The
Corporation shall advance attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by
any Distributor Indemnitee in defending any claim, demand, action
or suit
which is the subject of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this
Section 7 to the maximum extent permissible under applicable
law.
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D. |
The
Distributor shall indemnify, defend and hold the Corporation and
each of
its directors, officers, employees, representatives and any person
who
controls the Corporation within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act
(collectively, the “Corporation Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and
against any and all Losses that the Corporation Indemnitees may sustain
or
incur or that may be asserted against a Corporation Indemnitee by
any
person (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
or
any Prospectus, or in any annual or interim report to shareholders,
or in
any advertisements or sales literature prepared by the Distributor,
or
(ii) arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission,
to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statement not misleading, or (iii) based upon the
Distributor’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement or from its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct
in the
performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however,
that
with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), above, the Distributor’s obligation
to indemnify the Corporation Indemnitees shall only be deemed to
cover
Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or
omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement,
Prospectus, annual or interim report, or any advertisement or sales
literature in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
relating to the Distributor and furnished to the Corporation or its
counsel by the Distributor for the purpose of, and used in, the
preparation thereof. The Distributor’s agreement to indemnify the
Corporation Indemnitees is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor
being notified of any action or claim of loss brought against the
Corporation Indemnitees within a reasonable time after the summons
or
other first legal process giving information of the nature of the
claim
shall have been served upon the Corporation Indemnitees, unless the
failure to give notice does not prejudice the Distributor; provided,
that
the failure so to notify the Distributor of any such action shall
not
relieve the Distributor from any liability which the Distributor
may have
to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any
such
untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, otherwise than
on
account of the Distributor’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section
7(D).
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8
E. |
The
Distributor shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in
the
defense, or if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought
to
enforce any such Losses, but if the Distributor elects to assume
the
defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the
Distributor and approved by the Corporation, which approval shall
not be
unreasonably withheld. In the event the Distributor elects to assume
the
defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Corporation
Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by them. If the Distributor does not
elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Corporation does
not,
in the exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen
by the
Distributor, or if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics,
the same
counsel cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Corporation
Indemnitees and the Distributor, the Distributor will reimburse the
Corporation Indemnitees for the reasonable fees and expenses of any
counsel retained by them. The Distributor’s indemnification agreement
contained in Sections 7(D) and 7(E) herein shall remain operative
and in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf
of the Corporation Indemnitees and shall survive the delivery of
any
Shares and the termination of this Agreement. This agreement of indemnity
will inure exclusively to the benefit of the Corporation Indemnitees
and
their successors. The Distributor agrees promptly to notify the
Corporation of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against
the Distributor or any of its officers or directors in connection
with the
offer and sale of any of the
Shares.
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9
F. |
The
Distributor shall advance attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by
any Corporation Indemnitee in defending any claim, demand, action
or suit
which is the subject of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this
Section 7 to the maximum extent permissible under applicable
law.
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G. |
No
party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other parties for
consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of
this
Agreement.
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H. |
No
person shall be obligated to provide indemnification under this Section
7
if such indemnification would be impermissible under the 1940 Act,
the
1933 Act, the 1934 Act or the rules of the NASD; provided, however,
in
such event indemnification shall be provided under this Section 7 to
the maximum extent so permissible.
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8. |
Proprietary
and Confidential
Information
|
The
Distributor agrees on behalf of itself and its managers, officers, and employees
to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Corporation,
all
records and other information relative to the Corporation and prior, present
or
potential shareholders of the Corporation (and clients of said shareholders),
and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the
performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after
prior
notification to and approval in writing by the Corporation, which approval
shall
not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Distributor
may
be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply,
(ii)
when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities,
or
(iii) when so requested by the Corporation. Records and other information which
have become known to the public through no wrongful act of the Distributor
or
any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was
already in the possession of the Distributor prior to receipt thereof from
the
Corporation or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
Further,
the Distributor will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Corporation
pursuant to Title V of the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act, as may be modified from
time
to time. In this regard, the Distributor shall have in place and maintain
physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect
the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized
access to or use of, records and information relating to the Corporation and
its
shareholders.
9. |
Records
|
The
Distributor shall keep records relating to the services to be performed
hereunder in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem advisable
and is agreeable to the Corporation, but not inconsistent with the rules and
regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31
of
the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. The Distributor agrees that all such
records prepared or maintained by the Distributor relating to the services
to be
performed by the Distributor hereunder are the property of the Corporation
and
will be preserved, maintained, and made available in accordance with such
applicable sections and rules of the 1940 Act and will be promptly surrendered
to the Corporation or its designee on and in accordance with its request.
10
10. |
Compliance
with Laws
|
The
Corporation has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters
relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1940
Act,
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, the USA
Patriot Act of 2002 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to
its
portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and statement of additional
information. The Distributor’s services hereunder shall not relieve the
Corporation of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board
of
Director’s oversight responsibility with respect thereto.
11. |
Term
of Agreement; Amendment;
Assignment
|
A. |
This
Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed
on
Exhibit
A
hereof as of the date hereof and, with respect to each Fund not in
existence on that date, on the date an amendment to Exhibit
A
to
this Agreement relating to that Fund is executed. Unless sooner terminated
as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two
years
from the date hereof. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement
shall
continue in effect automatically as to each Fund for successive one-year
periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually by: (i) the Corporation’s Board, or (ii) the vote of a “majority
of the outstanding voting securities” of a Fund, and provided that in
either event, the continuance is also approved by a majority of the
Corporation’s Board who are not “interested persons” of any party to this
Agreement, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of
voting on such approval.
|
B. |
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated, without the payment
of
any penalty, with respect to a particular Fund: (i) through a failure
to
renew this Agreement at the end of a term, (ii) upon mutual consent
of the
parties, or (iii) upon not less than 60 days’ written notice, by either
the Corporation upon the vote of a majority of the members of its
Board
who are not “interested persons” of the Corporation and have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Agreement, or
by vote
of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of a Fund, or by the
Distributor. The terms of this Agreement shall not be waived, altered,
modified, amended or supplemented in any manner whatsoever except
by a
written instrument signed by the Distributor and the Corporation.
If
required under the 1940 Act, any such amendment must be approved
by the
Corporation’s Board, including a majority of the Corporation’s Board who
are not “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement, by a vote
cast in person at a meeting for the purpose of voting on such amendment.
In the event that such amendment affects the Advisor, the written
instrument shall also be signed by the Advisor. This Agreement will
automatically terminate in the event of its
“assignment.”
|
11
C. |
As
used in this Section, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting
securities,” “interested person,” and “assignment” shall have the same
meaning as such terms have in the 1940
Act.
|
D. |
Sections
7 and 8 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
|
12. |
Duties
in the Event of Termination
|
In
the
event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of the
Distributor’s duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the
Corporation by written notice to the Distributor, the Distributor will promptly,
upon such termination and at the expense of the Corporation, transfer to such
successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data
established or maintained by the Distributor under this Agreement in a form
reasonably acceptable to the Corporation (if such form differs from the form
in
which the Distributor has maintained the same, the Corporation shall pay any
expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate
in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for
assistance from the Distributor’s personnel in the establishment of books,
records, and other data by such successor. If no such successor is designated,
then such books, records and other data shall be returned to the
Corporation.
13. |
Governing
Law
|
This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Wisconsin, without regard to conflicts of law principles. To the extent that
the
applicable laws of the State of Wisconsin, or any of the provisions herein,
conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall
control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with
the
1940 Act or any rule or order of the SEC thereunder.
14. |
No
Agency Relationship
|
Nothing
herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act
as
agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the
name,
or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.
15. |
Services
Not Exclusive
|
Nothing
in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Distributor from providing
services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the
services provided hereunder.
16. |
Invalidity
|
Any
provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority
to be
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. In such case, the
parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent
with
the original intent of the parties.
12
17. |
Notices
|
Any
notice required or permitted to be given by any party to the others shall be
in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally
or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified
mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed
received by facsimile transmission to the other parties’ respective addresses as
set forth below:
Notice
to
the Distributor shall be sent to:
Quasar
Distributors, LLC
Attn:
President
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000
notice
to
the Corporation shall be sent to:
Perrit
Microcap Opportunities Fund, Inc.
Xxxxxxx
Capital Management, Inc.
000
X.
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xx 00000
and
notice to the Advisor shall be sent to:
Xxxxxxx
Capital Management, Inc.
000
X.
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xx 00000
18. |
Multiple
Originals
|
This
Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
13
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by
a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first
above
written.
XXXXXXX
MICROCAP OPPORTUNITIES FUND, INC.
|
QUASAR
DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
|
By:
______________________________
|
By:
______________________________
|
Title:
_____________________________
|
Title:
_____________________________
|
XXXXXXX
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
(with
respect to Section 5 only)
|
|
By:
______________________________
|
|
Title:
_____________________________
|
14
Exhibit
A
to
the
Fund
Name
Separate
Series of Xxxxxxx Microcap Opportunities Fund, Inc.
Name of Series | Date Added | |
Xxxxxxx Microcap Opportunities Fund | October 31, 1997 |
A-1