Exhibit 99.B(h)(i)
AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
(25 MILLION SHARES)
Parties: ING Prime Rate Trust (the "Trust")
ING Funds Distributor, LLC (the "Distributor")
Date: June 15, 2004
WHEREAS, ING Prime Rate Trust is a Massachusetts business trust operating
as a closed-end management investment company;
WHEREAS, the Trust has filed a registration statement (the "Registration
Statement") on Form N-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act") (File No. 333-61831) and under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act") (File No. 811-5410) to register shares of the Trust
which may be issued and sold from time to time;
WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the
provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member in good
standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.;
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Distributor have previously entered into a
Distribution Agreement dated September 1, 2000, as amended, pursuant to which
the Trust appointed the Distributor (and its predecessors) to distribute the
Trust's shares under the Registration Statement;
WHEREAS, the parties wish to amend and restate the above referenced
Distribution Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Trust's Board of Trustees (the "Trustees") has adopted a
resolution approving this Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement (the
"Agreement"), and such resolution was adopted at a meeting of the Trustees, at
which a majority of Trustees, including a majority of the Trust's Trustees who
are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust's
investment manager or its affiliates, were present and voted in favor of the
said resolution approving this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR; ACCEPTANCE. The Trust hereby appoints the
Distributor as the principal underwriter and distributor for shares of the Trust
to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement (the "Shares") and the
Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to serve as the principal
underwriter and distributor for the Shares.
2. SALE OF SHARES. The Distributor will use reasonable efforts to promote
the sale of the Shares, but the Distributor is not obligated to sell any
specific number of Shares. The Shares will only be sold on such days as shall be
agreed to between the Distributor and the Trust. The Trust will deliver to the
Distributor such Shares as the Distributor may sell.
3. OFFERING PRICE. The public offering price per Share shall be
determined in accordance with the then current prospectus of the Trust under the
Registration Statement. In no
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event shall the public offering price be less than the current net asset value
per Share (the "Minimum Price"). The Distributor shall suspend the sale of
Shares if the per share price of the Shares is less than the Minimum Price.
4. SALES COMMISSIONS AND DISCOUNTS. The Distributor shall not be entitled
to receive any sales commission or discount from the Trust for its services
hereunder.
5. FURNISHING OF INFORMATION. The Trust will furnish the Distributor with
such number of copies of the Registration Statement as the Distributor shall
reasonably request, and the Trust warrants to the Distributor that the
statements therein contained are true and correct as of the date of the
Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
The Trust will also furnish the Distributor with such other information that the
Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution
of the Shares, including, at least annually, audited financial statements of the
Trust's books and accounts certified by independent public accountants.
6. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Other than the currently effective Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, the Distributor will not use any sales
materials or statements except literature or advertising which conforms to the
requirements of federal and state securities laws and regulations and which have
been filed, where necessary, with the appropriate regulatory authorities. The
Distributor will furnish to the Trust copies of all material prior to its use
and no such material shall be published if the Trust shall reasonably and
promptly object.
7. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. The Distributor shall comply with applicable
federal and state laws and regulations where the Trust's Shares are offered for
sale and conduct its affairs with the Trust and with dealers, brokers or
investors in accordance with the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
8. OTHER ACTIVITIES. The Distributor's services pursuant to this
Agreement shall not be deemed to be exclusive, and the Distributor may render
similar services and act as an underwriter, distributor or dealer for other
investment companies in the offering of their shares.
9. SUSPENSION OF SALES. The Trust reserves the right at all times to
suspend or limit the public offering of the Shares upon written notice to the
Distributor, and to reject any order in whole or in part.
10. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Distributor shall bear all expenses incurred
by it in connection with its duties and activities under this Agreement. The
Trust shall bear all costs and expenses of the Trust, including expenses
(including legal fees) pertaining to the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto,
and expenses pertaining to the preparation, printing and distribution of any
reports or communications to shareholders, including Prospectuses and Statements
of Additional Information, annual or interim reports or proxy materials.
11. AGENT OF TRUST. Any person, even though also an officer, employee or
agent of the Distributor, who may be or become an officer, Trustee, employee or
agent of the Trust, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the Trust or
acting in any business of the Trust, to be rendering such services to or acting
solely for the Trust and not as an officer, partner, employee or agent or one
under the control or direction of the Distributor even though paid by the
Distributor.
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12. RECORDS. All records maintained by the Distributor in connection with
this Agreement shall be the property of the Trust and shall be returned to the
Trust upon termination of this Agreement, free from any claims or retention of
rights by the Distributor. The Distributor shall keep confidential any
information obtained pursuant to this Agreement and shall disclose such
information only if the Trust has authorized such disclosure or if such
disclosure is expressly required by applicable federal or state regulatory
authorities.
13. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement shall take effect on the date
of its execution and shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated as
provided herein, for two years from such date and shall continue from year to
year thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least
annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not "interested
persons," cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval, and (b) either by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust or by a
majority vote (as defined in the Prospectus) of the shareholders of the Trust;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust or by a
majority vote of the shareholders of the Trust on 60 days' written notice to the
Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time on 60 days' written notice to the
Trust, in all cases without the payment of any penalty. This Agreement will
automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (as
described in the 1940 Act).
14. LIABILITY OF DISTRIBUTOR. The Distributor shall not be liable to the
Trust for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by
the Trust in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except
a loss resulting from the Distributor's willful misfeasance, bad faith or
negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
15. AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. A copy
of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby
given that this Agreement is executed by an officer of the Trust on behalf of
the Trustees of the Trust, as Trustees and not individually, and that the
obligations of this Agreement with respect to the Trust shall be binding upon
the assets and properties of the Trust only and shall not be binding upon the
assets or properties of the Trustees, officers, employees, agents or
shareholders of the Trust individually.
16. NOTICES. Notices of any kind to be given to the Distributor by the
Trust shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed, first class postage
prepaid, or delivered to the Distributor at its principal place of business or
at such other address or to such individual as shall be specified by the
Distributor to the Trust. Notices of any kind to be given to the Trust shall be
in writing and shall be duly given if mailed, first class postage prepaid, or
delivered to the Trust at its principal place of business or at such other
address or to such individual as shall be specified by the Trust.
17. REPORTS. The Distributor shall prepare reports to the Trustees of the
Trust showing such information as from time to time shall be reasonably
requested by the Trustees or as are required of the Distributor by applicable
laws and regulations.
18. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS. The Distributor shall for all purposes
herein provided be deemed to be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise
expressly provided or authorized, shall have no authority to act for or
represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be
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deemed an agent of the Trust. It is understood and agreed that the Distributor,
by separate agreement with the Trust, may also serve the Trust in other
capacities.
19. MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original. This Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, provided that nothing
herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any rule or order of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the
remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent,
the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
ING PRIME RATE TRUST ING FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Naka By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Naka Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Senior Vice President Executive Vice President
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