EXHIBIT 99B.6(b)
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX FUND, INC.
Distribution Agreement
(Class B Shares)
----------------
Agreement made as of June 10, 1991 and amended and restated as of
August 1, 1994, between Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Fund, Inc., a Maryland Corporation
(the Fund) and Prudential Securities Incorporated, a Delaware Corporation (the
Distributor).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act), as a diversified, open-end,
management investment company and it is in the interest of the Fund to offer its
Class B shares for sale continuously;
WHEREAS, the Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is engaged in the business of
selling shares of registered investment companies either directly or through
other broker-dealers;
WHEREAS, the Fund and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement
with each other, with respect to the continuous offering of the Fund's Class B
shares from and after the date hereof in order to promote the growth of the Fund
and facilitate the distribution of its Class B shares; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has adopted a distribution and service plan pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act (the Plan) authorizing payments
by the Fund to the Distributor with respect to the distribution of Class B
shares of the Fund and the maintenance of Class B shareholder accounts.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment of the Distributor
------------------------------
The Fund hereby appoints the Distributor as the principal underwriter
and distributor of the Class B shares of the Fund to sell Class B shares to the
public and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act
hereunder. The Fund hereby agrees during the term of this Agreement to sell
Class B shares of the Fund to the Distributor on the terms and conditions set
forth below.
Section 2. Exclusive Nature of Duties
--------------------------
The Distributor shall be the exclusive representative of the Fund to
act as principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund's Class B shares,
except that:
2.1 The exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to purchase Class
B shares from the Fund shall not apply to Class B shares of the Fund issued in
connection with the merger or consolidation of any other investment company or
personal holding company with the Fund or the acquisition by purchase or
otherwise of all (or substantially all) the assets or the outstanding shares of
any such company by the Fund.
2.2 Such exclusive rights shall not apply to Class B shares issued by
the Fund pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.
2.3 Such exclusive rights shall not apply to Class B shares issued by
the Fund pursuant to the reinstatement privilege afforded redeeming
shareholders.
2.4 Such exclusive rights shall not apply to purchases made through
the Fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent in the manner set forth in the
currently effective Prospectus of the Fund. The term "Prospectus" shall mean the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information included as part of the
Fund's Registration Statement, as such Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and the term
"Registration Statement" shall mean the Registration Statement filed by the Fund
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and effective under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and the Investment Company Act, as
such Registration Statement is amended from time to time.
Section 3. Purchase of Class B Shares from the Fund
----------------------------------------
3.1 The Distributor shall have the right to buy from the Fund the
Class B shares needed, but not more than the Class B shares needed (except for
clerical errors in transmission) to fill unconditional orders for Class B shares
placed with the Distributor by investors or registered and qualified securities
dealers and other financial institutions (selected dealers). The price which the
Distributor shall pay for the Clams B shares so purchased from the Fund shall be
the net asset value, determined as set forth in the Prospectus.
3.2 The Class B shares are to be resold by the Distributor or
selected dealers, as described in Section 6.4 hereof, to investors at the
offering price as set forth in the Prospectus.
2
3.3 The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of its Class B
shares at times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions in
Section 4.3 hereof or at such other times as may be determined by the Board of
Directors. The Fund shall also have the right to suspend the sale of its Class B
shares if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York
authorities.
3.4 The Fund, or any agent of the Fund designated in writing by the
Fund, shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for Class B shares
received by the Distributor. Any order may be rejected by the Fund; provided,
however, that the Fund will not arbitrarily or without reasonable cause refuse
to accept or confirm orders for the purchase of Class B shares. The Fund (or its
agent) will confirm orders upon their receipt, will make appropriate book
entries and upon receipt by the Fund (or its agent) of payment therefor, will
deliver deposit receipts for such Class B shares pursuant to the instructions of
the Distributor. Payment shall be made to the Fund in New York Clearing House
funds or federal funds. The Distributor agrees to cause such payment and such
instructions to be delivered promptly to the Fund (or its agent).
Section 4. Repurchase or Redemption of Class B Shares by the Fund
------------------------------------------------------
4.1 Any of the outstanding Class B shares may be tendered for
redemption at any time, and the Fund agrees to repurchase or redeem the Class B
shares so tendered in accordance with its Articles of Incorporation as amended
from time to time, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem or repurchase the Class B shares
shall be equal to the net asset value determined as set forth in the Prospectus.
All payments by the Fund hereunder shall be made in the manner set forth in
Section 4.2 below.
4.2 The Fund shall pay the total amount of the redemption price as
defined in the above paragraph pursuant to the instructions of the Distributor
on or before the seventh day subsequent to its having received the notice of
redemption in proper form. The proceeds of any redemption of Class B shares
shall be paid by the Fund as follows: (a) any applicable contingent deferred
sales charge shall be paid to the Distributor and (b) the balance shall be paid
to or for the account of the redeeming shareholder, in each case in accordance
with applicable provisions of the Prospectus.
4.3 Redemption of Class B shares or payment may be suspended at times
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends and
holidays, when trading on said Exchange is restricted, when an emergency exists
as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not
reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the
3
Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets, or during any other period
when the Securities and Exchange Commission, by order, so permits.
Section 5. Duties of the Fund
------------------
5.1 Subject to the possible suspension of the sale of Class B
shares as provided herein, the Fund agrees to sell its Class B shares so long as
it has Class B shares available.
5.2 The Fund shall furnish the Distributor copies of all
information, financial statements and other papers which the Distributor may
reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Class B
shares, and this shall include one certified copy, upon request by the
Distributor, of all financial statements prepared for the Fund by independent
public accountants. The Fund shall make available to the Distributor such number
of copies of its Prospectus and annual and interim reports as the Distributor
shall reasonably request.
5.3 The Fund shall take, from time to time, but subject to the
necessary approval of the Board of Directors and the shareholders, all necessary
action to fix the number of authorized Class B shares and such steps as may be
necessary to register the same under the Securities Act, to the end that there
will be available for sale such number of Class B shares as the Distributor
reasonably may expect to sell. The Fund agrees to file from time to time such
amendments, reports and other documents as may be necessary in order that there
will be no untrue statement of a material fact in the Registration Statement,
or necessary in order that there will be no omission to state a material fact in
the Registration Statement which omission would make the statements therein
misleading.
5.4 The Fund shall use its best efforts to qualify and maintain the
qualification of any appropriate number of its Class B shares for sales under
the securities laws of such states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve;
provided that the Fund shall not be required to amend its Articles of
Incorporation or By-Laws to comply with the laws of any state, to maintain an
office in any state, to change the terms of the offering of its Class B shares
in any state from the terms set forth in its Registration Statement, to qualify
as a foreign corporation in any state or to consent to service of process in any
state other than with respect to claims arising out of the offering of its Class
B shares. Any such qualification may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the
Fund at any time in its discretion. As provided in Section 9.1 hereof, the
expense of qualification and maintenance of qualification shall be borne by the
Fund. The Distributor shall furnish such information and other material relating
to its affairs and activities as may be required by the Fund in connection with
such qualifications.
4
Section 6. Duties of the Distributor
-------------------------
6.1 The Distributor shall devote reasonable time and effort to effect
sales of Class B shares of the Fund, but shall not be obligated to sell any
specific number of Class B shares. Sales of the Class B shares shall be on the
terms described in the Prospectus. The Distributor may enter into like
arrangements with other investment companies. The Distributor shall compensate
the selected dealers as set forth in the Prospectus.
6.2 In selling the Class B shares, the Distributor shall use its best
efforts in all respects duly to conform with the requirements of all federal and
state laws relating to the sale of such securities. Neither the Distributor nor
any selected dealer nor any other person is authorized by the Fund to give any
information or to make any representations, other than those contained in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus and any sales literature approved by
appropriate officers of the Fund.
6.3 The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures for the
confirmation of sales to investors and selected dealers, the collection of
amounts payable by investors and selected dealers on such sales and the
cancellation of unsettled transactions, as may be necessary to comply with the
requirements of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD).
6.4 The Distributor shall have the right to enter into selected dealer
agreements with registered and qualified securities dealers and other financial
institutions of its choice for the sale of Class B shares, provided that the
Fund shall approve the forms of such agreements. Within the United States, the
Distributor shall offer and sell Class B shares only to such selected dealers as
are members in good standing of the NASD. Class B shares sold to selected
dealers shall be for resale by such dealers only at the offering price
determined as set forth in the Prospectus.
Section 7. Payments to the Distributor
---------------------------
The Distributor shall receive and may retain any contingent deferred
sales charge which is imposed with respect to repurchases and redemptions of
Class B shares as set forth in the Prospectus, subject to the limitations of
Article III, Section 26 of the NASD Rules of Fair Practice. Payment of these
amounts to the Distributor is not contingent upon the adoption or continuation
of the Plan.
Section 8. Payment of the Distributor under the Plan
-----------------------------------------
8.1 The Fund shall pay to the Distributor as compensation for services
under the Distribution and Service Plan and this Agreement a fee of 1%
(including an asset-based sales
5
charge of .75 of 1% and a service fee of .25 of 1%) per annum of the average
daily net assets of the Class B shares of the Fund. Amounts payable under the
Plan shall be accrued daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals as
Directors may determine. Amounts payable under the Plan shall be subject to the
limitations of Article III, Section 26 of the NASD Rules of Fair Practice.
8.2 So long as the Plan or any amendment thereto is in effect, the
Distributor shall inform the Board of Directors of the commissions (including
trailer commissions) and account servicing fees to be paid by the Distributor to
account executives of the Distributor and to broker-dealers and financial
institutions which have selected dealer agreements with the Distributor. So long
as the Plan (or any amendment thereto) is in effect, at the request of the Board
of Directors or any agent or representative of the Fund, the Distributor shall
provide such additional information as may reasonably be requested concerning
the activities of the Distributor hereunder and the costs incurred in performing
such activities.
8.3 Expenses of distribution with respect to the Class B shares of
the Fund include, among others:
(a) sales commissions (including trailer commissions) paid to, or on
account of, account executives of the Distributor;
(b) indirect and overhead costs of the Distributor associated with
performance of distribution activities, including central office and
branch expenses;
(c) amounts paid to Prusec for performing services under a selected
dealer agreement between Prusec and the Distributor for sale of Class
B shares of the Fund, including sales commissions and trailer
commissions paid to, or on account of, agents and indirect and
overhead costs associated with distribution activities;
(d) sales commissions (including trailer commissions) paid to, or on
account of, broker-dealers and financial institutions (other than
Prusec) which have entered into selected dealer agreements which the
Distributor with respect to Class B shares of the Fund;
(e) amounts paid to, or an account of, account executives of the
Distributor or of other broker-dealers or financial institutions for
6
personal service and/or the maintenance of
shareholder accounts; and
(f) advertising for the Fund in various forms
through any available medium, including the
cost of printing and mailing Fund
Prospectuses, and periodic financial reports
and sales literature to persons other than
current shareholders of the Fund.
Indirect and overhead costs referred to in clauses (b) and (c) of the
foregoing sentence include (i) lease expenses, (ii) salaries and benefits of
personnel including operations and sales support personnel, (iii) utility
expenses, (iv) communications expenses, (v) sales promotion expenses,
(vi) expenses of postage, stationery and supplies and (vii) general overhead.
Section 9. Allocation of Expenses
----------------------
9.1 The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the continuous
offering of its Class B shares, including fees and disbursements of its counsel
and auditors, in connection with the preparation and filing of any required
Registration Statements and/or Prospectuses under the Investment Company Act or
the Securities Act, and preparing and mailing annual and periodic reports and
proxy materials to shareholders (including but not limited to the expense of
setting in type any such Registration Statements, Prospectuses, annual or
periodic reports or proxy materials). The Fund shall also bear the cost of
expenses of qualification of the Class B shares for sale, and, if necessary or
advisable in connection therewith, of qualifying the Fund as a broker or dealer,
in such states of the United States or other jurisdictions as shall be selected
by the Fund and the Distributor pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof and the cost and
expense payable to each such state for continuing qualification therein until
the Fund decides to discontinue such qualification pursuant to Section 5.4
hereof. As set forth in Section 8 above, the Fund shall also bear the expenses
it assumes pursuant to the Plan with respect to Class B shares, so long as the
Plan is in effect.
Section 10. Indemnification
---------------
10.1 The Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor,
its officers and Directors and any person who controls the Distributor within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities 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
counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Distributor, its
officers, Directors or any such controlling person may incur under the
Securities Act, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon
any untrue statement of a
7
material fact contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or arising
out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be stated in either thereof or necessary to make the statements in either
thereof not misleading, except insofar as such claims, demands, liabilities or
expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing by the Distributor to the Fund for use in
the Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided, however, that this indemnity
agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any such officer, Director or
controlling person unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine in a
final decision on the merits, that the person to be indemnified was not liable
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its
obligations under this Agreement (disabling conduct), or, in the absence of such
a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that
the indemnified person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct, by (a) a
vote of a majority of a quorum of Directors who are neither "interested persons"
of the Fund as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act nor
parties to the proceeding, or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written
opinion. The Fund's agreement to indemnify the Distributor, its officers and
Directors and any such controlling person as aforesaid is expressly conditioned
upon the Fund's being promptly notified of any action brought against the
Distributor, its officers or Directors, or any such controlling person, such
notification to be given in writing addressed to the Fund at its principal
business office. The Fund agrees promptly to notify the Distributor of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or Directors in connection with the issue and sale of any Class B shares.
10.2 The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Fund,
its officers and Directors and any person who controls the Fund, if any, within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, free and harmless from and
against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the
cost of investigating or defending against such claims, demands or liabilities
and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Fund, its
officers and Directors or any such controlling person may incur under the
Securities Act or under common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that
such liability or expense incurred by the Fund, its Directors or officers or
such controlling person resulting from such claims or demands shall arise out of
or be based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
information furnished in writing by the Distributor to the Fund for use in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or shall arise out of or be based upon any
alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information
required to be stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary
to
8
make such information not misleading. The Distributor's agreement to indemnify
the Fund, its officers and Directors and any such controlling person as
aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor's being promptly
notified of any action brought against the Fund, its officers and Directors or
any such controlling person, such notification to be given to the Distributor in
writing at its principal business office.
Section 11. Duration and Termination of this Agreement
------------------------------------------
11.1 This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above
written and shall remain in force for two years from the date hereof and
thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually by (a) the Board of Directors of the Fund, or by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class B shares of the Fund,
and (b) by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such parties and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in the operation of the Fund's
Plan or in any agreement related thereto (Rule 12b-1 Directors), cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of voting upon such approval.
11.2 This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment
of any penalty, by a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Directors or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class B shares of the Fund,
or by the Distributor, on sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party.
This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
11.3 The terms "affiliated person," "assignment," "interested person"
and "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities," when used in this
Agreement, shall have the respective meanings specified in the Investment
Company Act.
Section 12. Amendments to this Agreement
----------------------------
This Agreement may be amended by the parties only if such amendment is
specifically approved by (a) the Board of Directors of the Fund, or by the vote
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class B shares of the
Fund, and (b) by the vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Board of Directors
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such amendment.
Section 13. Governing Law
-------------
The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York as at the time in effect and
the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. To the extent that the
applicable law of the State of New York, or any of the provisions herein,
conflict
9
with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall
control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year above written.
Prudential Securities Incorporated
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Senior Vice President
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Fund, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
President
10
