DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 18th
day of
December, 2006, by and among FAIRHOLME
FUNDS, INC.,
a
Maryland corporation (the “Company”),
QUASAR DISTRIBUTORS, LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company (the “Distributor”) and FAIRHOLME
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.,
a
Delaware limited liability company, the investment advisor to the Fund (the
“Advisor”), is a party hereto with respect to Section 5 only.
WHEREAS,
the Company 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 common stock (“Shares”) in separate series, with
each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities
and other assets;
WHEREAS,
the Advisor is the investment advisor to the Company pursuant to an investment
advisory agreement with the Company and an operating services agreement with
the
Company, which obligates the Advisor to provide, or to arrange for other
companies to provide, certain services to the Company, including the services
set forth in this Agreement, and to pay the companies for the provision of
the
services;
WHEREAS,
the Advisor or its designated affiliate or agent, on behalf of the Company,
will
maintain a call center to respond to information and transaction requests
from
existing and potential shareholders of the Fund;
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 Company desires to retain the Distributor as principal underwriter in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares of each series of the Company
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 Company’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 Distributor
|
The
Company 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
Company 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 Company filed
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940
Act. The Company 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 Company.
Such purchase orders shall be deemed effective at the time and in
the
manner set forth in the Prospectus.
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C. |
The
Distributor, with the operational assistance of the Company’s transfer
agent, shall make Shares available for sale and redemption through
the
National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Fund/SERV
System.
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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
Company.
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E. |
The
Distributor agrees to cooperate with the Company 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 Company 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 agrees to act as agent for the Company to receive and
transmit
promptly to the Company’s transfer agent, shareholder requests for
redemption of Shares or, alternatively, the Distributor 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 Company 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 Company reserves the right to suspend such repurchase
right upon written notice to the Distributor.
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2
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. Upon Company’s request,
the Distributor shall enter into agreements with qualified broker-dealers
identified to the Distributor by the Company in order that such
broker-dealers also may sell Shares of the Fund. The form of any
dealer
agreement shall be approved by the Company. 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.
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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.
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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 (if applicable) reports regarding the use of
any
12b-1 payments received by the
Distributor.
|
J. |
The
Distributor agrees to advise the Company 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. |
Upon
prior approval of the Distributor, employees of the Advisor or its
affiliates may have certain Securities Licenses (“Licenses”). Distributor
reserves the right to establish and maintain all policies and procedures
involving the sponsorship of such
Licenses.
|
L. |
The
Distributor shall provide the services set forth in this Section
2 in
accordance with the applicable service standards set forth in Exhibit
B.
|
3. |
Representations
and Covenants of the Company
|
A. |
The
Company 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
Company
in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and
legally binding obligation of the Company, 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;
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3
(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;
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(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;
|
(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
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(6) |
The
Registration Statement (at the time of its effectiveness) and any
advertisements and sales literature prepared by the Company 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
Company, 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 Company 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
Company
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.
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C. |
The
Company 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;
4
(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.
D. |
The
Company or its designated service provider 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
Company 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
Company 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 Company 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 Company 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 Company shall forward a copy of any SEC filings, including
the Registration Statement, to the Distributor within one business
day of
any such filings. The Company 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. |
In
accordance with Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act, the Company agrees
not
to enter into any agreement (whether orally or in writing) under
which the
Company 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.
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5
4. |
Representations
and Covenants of the Distributor
|
The
Distributor hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Company, 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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(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;
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(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;
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(4) |
It
is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member
in
good standing of the NASD;
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(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 Company 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;
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(6) |
It
(i) has compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to
ensure
compliance with the Federal Securities Laws as that term is defined
in
Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, (ii) will upon request provide reports
and
certifications in a mutually agreed upon form to the Company’s Chief
Compliance Officer regarding the foregoing, and (iii) will maintain
appropriate records in accordance with Rule
38a-1;
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(7) |
To
the extent it has access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings prior to their
public dissemination, it will comply with the Fund’s portfolio holdings
disclosure policy;
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(8) |
It
will maintain a disaster recovery and business continuity plan and
adequate and reliable computer and other telecommunications equipment
as
are required by regulations applicable to broker-dealers registered
with
the SEC and to members of the NASD and as are necessary and appropriate
for the Distributor to carry out its obligations under this Agreement
and,
upon the Company’s reasonable request, will provide supplemental
information concerning the aspects of the Distributor’s disaster recovery
and business continuity plan that are relevant to the services provided
by
the Distributor hereunder; and
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(9) |
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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6
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
C
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 Advisor, or its designated
affiliate or agent, 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 Advisor, or its designated
affiliate or agent, shall notify the Distributor in writing within 30 calendar
days following receipt of each invoice if the Advisor, or its designated
affiliate or agent, is disputing any amounts in good faith. The Advisor,
or its
designated affiliate or agent, 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 Company is disputing in good
faith
as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per
month after the due date. Such fees and expenses shall be paid to Distributor
by
the Advisor, or its designated affiliate or agent, unless the Company has
adopted and implemented a Rule 12b-1 plan. If the Company has adopted and
implemented a Rule 12b-1 plan, such fees and expenses shall be paid to
Distributor 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. |
Expenses
|
A. |
The
Company, or the Advisor acting pursuant to its operating services
agreement with the Company, 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 Company pursuant to Section 3(D) hereof.
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7
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
Company 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 Company 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
Company’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 Company’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 Company
or
its counsel by the Distributor for the purpose of, and used in, the
preparation thereof. The Company’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor
Indemnitees is expressly conditioned upon the Company 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 Company; provided, that the failure so to notify the
Company
of any such action shall not relieve the Company from any liability
which
the Company 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 Company’s indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 7(A).
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8
B. |
The
Company 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 Company elects to assume the
defense,
such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Company
and
approved by the Distributor, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In the event the Company 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 Company 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 Company, or if under prevailing
law or legal codes of ethics, the same counsel cannot effectively
represent the interests of both the Company and the Distributor
Indemnitees, the Company will reimburse the Distributor Indemnitees
for
the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.
The
Company’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
Company
agrees promptly to notify the Distributor of the commencement of
any
litigation or proceedings against the Company 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
Company 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 Company and each
of its
directors, officers, employees, representatives and any person who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act
(collectively, the “Company Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and
against any and all Losses that the Company Indemnitees may sustain
or
incur or that may be asserted against a Company 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
Company 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 Company or its counsel by the Distributor for the
purpose
of, and used in, the preparation thereof. The Distributor’s agreement to
indemnify the Company Indemnitees is expressly conditioned upon the
Distributor being notified of any action or claim of loss brought
against
the Company 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 Company 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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9
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 Company, 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 Company 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 Company 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 Company Indemnitees
and
the Distributor, the Distributor will reimburse the Company 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 Company 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 Company Indemnitees and their successors. The Distributor
agrees promptly to notify the Company 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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F. |
The
Distributor shall advance attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by
any Company 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 Company, all
records and other information relative to the Company and prior, present
or
potential shareholders of the Company (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 Company, 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 Company. 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 Company
or
its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
Further,
the Distributor will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Company
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 Company 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 Company, 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 Company 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
Company or its designee on and in accordance with its request.
10. |
Compliance
with Laws
|
The
Company 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 Company
of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board of Director’s
oversight responsibility with respect thereto.
11
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 Company’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 Company’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 Company upon the vote of a majority of the members of its Board
who
are not “interested persons” of the Company 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 Company. If
required
under the 1940 Act, any such amendment must be approved by the Company’s
Board, including a majority of the Company’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” and upon the termination of the Distributor’s
membership in the NASD.
|
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 Company
by written notice to the Distributor, the Distributor will promptly, upon
such
termination and at the expense of the Company, 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 Company (if such form differs from the form in which the
Distributor has maintained the same, the Company 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 Company.
12
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.
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:
13
Quasar
Distriburs, LLC
Attn:
President
000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Notice
(via mail, e-mail & fax) to the Company shall be sent to:
Fairholme
Funds, Inc.
c/o
FCM
Services, Inc.
00
XXX
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Phone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Notice
(via mail, e-mail & fax) to the Advisor shall be sent to:
Fairholme
Capital Management, LLC
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxx,
XX
00000
Phone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
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.
14
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.
The
parties hereby agree that the Distribution Services provided by Quasar
Distributors, LLC will commence on or after January 1,
2007.
FAIRHOLME FUNDS, INC. | QUASAR DISTRIBUTORS, LLC | |
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | By:/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
Title: Secretary/Treasurer | Title: President_ |
FAIRHOLME
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
(with
respect to section 5 only)
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxx
Title:
Managing Member
15
Exhibit
A
to
the
Fund
Names
Separate
Series of Fairholme Funds, Inc.
Name of Series |
Date
Added
|
The Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx |
on
or after January 1,
2007
|
16
Exhibit
B
Service
Standards - Distribution Services - Fairholme Funds, Inc.
Quasar
|
|
Item
|
Standard
|
5
Day Feedback Turnaround - Mkting & Ad Material
Requests
|
100.0%
|
17
Exhibit
C
to
the
Distribution
Agreement - Fairholme Funds, Inc.
QUASAR
DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
REGULATORY
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
ANNUAL
FEE SCHEDULE
|
Basic
Distribution Services per fund
· Annual
fee: $12,000
Advertising
Compliance Review/NASD Filings
· $175
per job for the first 10 pages (minutes if tape or video); $20
per page
(minute if tape or video)
thereafter,
2 day turnaround
· Non-NASD
filed materials, e.g. Internal Use Only
Materials
$
75 per job for the first 10 pages (minutes if tape or video); $10
per page
(minutes if tape or video)
thereafter,
2 day turnaround
· NASD
Expedited Service for 3 Day Turnaround from the NASD after Quasar’s
same-day review
$1,000
for the first 10 pages (minutes if audio or video); $25 per page
(minute
if audio or video)
thereafter.
(Comments are faxed. The NASD may not accept an expedited
request.)
Licensing
of Investment Advisor’s Staff (if desired)
· $1,500
per year per registered representative.
· Quasar
is limited to these licenses for sponsorship: Series, 6, 7, 24,
26, 27,
63, 66
· Plus
all associated NASD and State fees for Registered Representatives,
including license and renewal fees.
Fund
Fact Sheets
· Design
- $1,000 per fact sheet, includes first production
· Production
- $500.00 per fact sheet per production period
· All
printing costs are out-of-pocket expenses, and in addition to the
design
fee and production fee.
Out-of-Pocket
Expenses
Reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Distributor in connection
with
activities primarily intended
to
result in the sale of Shares, including, without limitation:
· typesetting,
printing and distribution of Prospectuses and shareholder reports
· production,
printing, distribution and placement of advertising and sales literature
and materials
· engagement
of designers, free-xxxxx writers and public relations firms
· long-distance
telephone lines, services and charges
· postage
· overnight
delivery charges
· NASD
registration fees
(NASD
advertising filing fees are included in Advertising Compliance
Review
section above)
· record
retention
· travel,
lodging and meals
Fees
are billed monthly.
|
18