Exhibit 6(iii) under Form N-1A
Exhibit 10 under Item 601/Reg. S-K
DISTRIBUTOR'S CONTRACT
AGREEMENT made this 24th day of October, 1997, by and between those
Investment Companies on behalf of the Portfolios and Classes of Shares
listed on Schedule A to Exhibit 1, as may be amended from time to time,
having their principal place of business at Federated Investors Tower,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3779, and who have approved this form of
Agreement, and FEDERATED SECURITIES CORP. ("FSC"), a Pennsylvania
Corporation. Each of the Exhibits hereto is incorporated herein in its
entirety and made a part hereof. In the event of any inconsistency between
the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any applicable Exhibit, the
terms of the applicable Exhibit shall govern.
In consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, it is
hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Each of the Investment Companies hereby appoint FSC as agent to sell and
distribute shares of the Investment Companies which may be offered in
one or more series (the "Funds") consisting of one or more classes (the
"Classes") of shares (the "Shares"), as described and set forth on one
or more exhibits to this Agreement, at the current offering price
thereof as described and set forth in the current Prospectuses of the
Funds. FSC hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to provide such
other services for the Investment Companies, if any, and accept such
compensation from the Investment Companies, if any, as set forth in the
applicable exhibits to this Agreement.
2. The sale of any Shares may be suspended without prior notice whenever in
the judgment of the applicable Investment Company it is in its best
interest to do so.
3. Neither FSC nor any other person is authorized by the Investment Companies
to give any information or to make any representation relative to any
Shares other than those contained in the Registration Statement,
Prospectuses, or Statements of Additional Information ("SAIs") filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same may be amended from
time to time, or in any supplemental information to said Prospectuses or
SAIs approved by the Investment Companies. FSC agrees that any other
information or representations other than those specified above which it or
any dealer or other person who purchases Shares through FSC may make in
connection with the offer or sale of Shares, shall be made entirely without
liability on the part of the Investment Companies. No person or dealer,
other than FSC, is authorized to act as agent for the Investment Companies
for any purpose. FSC agrees that in offering or selling Shares as agent of
the Investment Companies, it will, in all respects, duly conform to all
applicable state and federal laws and the rules and regulations of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., including its Rules of
Fair Practice. FSC will submit to the Investment Companies copies of all
sales literature before using the same and will not use such sales
literature if disapproved by the Investment Companies.
4. This Agreement is effective with respect to each Class as of the date of
execution of the applicable exhibit and shall continue in effect with
respect to each Class presently set forth on an exhibit and any subsequent
Classes added pursuant to an exhibit during the initial term of this
Agreement for one year from the date set forth above, and thereafter for
successive periods of one year if such continuance is approved at least
annually by the Trustees/Directors of the Investment Companies including a
majority of the members of the Board of Trustees/Directors of the
Investment Companies who are not interested persons of the Investment
Companies and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the
operation of any Distribution Plan relating to the Investment Companies or
in any related documents to such Plan ("Disinterested Trustees/Directors")
cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. If a Class is added
after the first annual approval by the Trustees/Directors as described
above, this Agreement will be effective as to that Class upon execution of
the applicable exhibit and will continue in effect until the next annual
approval of this Agreement by the Trustees/Directors and thereafter for
successive periods of one year, subject to approval as described above.
5. This Agreement may be terminated with regard to a particular Fund or
Class at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the vote of a
majority of the Disinterested Trustees/Directors or by a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the particular Fund or Class on not
more than sixty (60) days' written notice to any other party to this
Agreement.
6. This Agreement may not be assigned by FSC and shall automatically
terminate in the event of an assignment by FSC as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, provided, however, that FSC
may employ such other person, persons, corporation or corporations as it
shall determine in order to assist it in carrying out its duties under
this Agreement.
7. FSC shall not be liable to the Investment Companies for anything done or
omitted by it, except acts or omissions involving willful misfeasance,
bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties imposed
by this Agreement.
8. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual agreement in writing
of all the parties hereto, provided that such amendment is approved by
the Trustees/Directors of the Investment Companies including a majority
of the Disinterested Trustees/Directors of the Investment Companies cast
in person at a meeting called for that purpose.
9. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
10. (a) Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Investment
Companies agree to indemnify and hold harmless FSC and each person, if
any, who controls FSC within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 20 of the Securities Act of 1934,
as amended, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all expenses
whatsoever reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any
claim whatsoever) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectuses or SAIs (as from time to time
amended and supplemented) or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Investment Companies about FSC by
or on behalf of FSC expressly for use in the Registration Statement,
any Prospectuses and SAIs or any amendment or supplement thereof.
If any action is brought against FSC or any controlling person
thereof with respect to which indemnity may be sought against any
Investment Company pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, FSC shall
promptly notify the Investment Company in writing of the
institution of such action and the Investment Company shall assume
the defense of such action, including the employment of counsel
selected by the Investment Company and payment of expenses. FSC or
any such controlling person thereof shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of FSC or such controlling
person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been
authorized in writing by the Investment Company in connection with
the defense of such action or the Investment Company shall not
have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such
action, in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be
borne by the Investment Company. Anything in this paragraph to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Investment Companies shall not be
liable for any settlement of any such claim of action effected
without their written consent. The Investment Companies agree
promptly to notify FSC of the commencement of any litigation or
proceedings against the Investment Companies or any of their
officers or Trustees/Directors or controlling persons in
connection with the issue and sale of Shares or in connection with
the Registration Statement, Prospectuses, or SAIs.
(b) FSC agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investment
Companies, each of its Trustees/Directors, each of its officers
who have signed the Registration Statement and each other person,
if any, who controls the Investment Companies within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, but only with
respect to statements or omissions, if any, made in the
Registration Statement or any Prospectus, SAI, or any amendment
or supplement thereof in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
information furnished to the Investment Companies about FSC by or
on behalf of FSC expressly for use in the Registration Statement
or any Prospectus, SAI, or any amendment or supplement thereof.
In case any action shall be brought against any Investment
Company or any other person so indemnified based on the
Registration Statement or any Prospectus, SAI, or any amendment
or supplement thereof, and with respect to which indemnity may be
sought against FSC, FSC shall have the rights and duties given to
the Investment Companies, and the Investment Companies and each
other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties
given to FSC by the provisions of subsection (a) above.
(c) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to protect any person
against liability to the Investment Companies or their
shareholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in
the performance of the duties of such person or by reason of the
reckless disregard by such person of the obligations and duties of
such person under this Agreement.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities may be permitted
pursuant to Section 17 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, for Trustees/Directors, officers, FSC and controlling
persons of the Investment Companies by the Trustees/Directors
pursuant to this Agreement, the Investment Companies are aware of
the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission as set
forth in the Investment Company Act Release No. IC-11330.
Therefore, the Investment Companies undertakes that in addition
to complying with the applicable provisions of this Agreement, in
the absence of a final decision on the merits by a court or other
body before which the proceeding was brought, that an
indemnification payment will not be made unless in the absence of
such a decision, a reasonable determination based upon factual
review has been made (i) by a majority vote of a quorum of
non-party Disinterested Trustees/Directors, or (ii) by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion that the
indemnitee was not liable for an act of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties. The
Investment Companies further undertakes that advancement of
expenses incurred in the defense of a proceeding (upon
undertaking for repayment unless it is ultimately determined that
indemnification is appropriate) against an officer,
Trustees/Directors, FSC or controlling person of the Investment
Companies will not be made absent the fulfillment of at least one
of the following conditions: (i) the indemnitee provides security
for his undertaking; (ii) the Investment Companies is insured
against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances; or (iii)
a majority of a quorum of non-party Disinterested
Trustees/Directors or independent legal counsel in a written
opinion makes a factual determination that there is reason to
believe the indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification.
11.FSC is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of liability as
set forth in the Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations assumed by
the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited "
11. If at any time the Shares of any Fund are offered in two or more
Classes, FSC agrees to adopt compliance standards as to when a class of
shares may be sold to particular investors.
12. This Agreement will become binding on the parties hereto upon the
execution of the attached exhibits to the Agreement.
Exhibit 1
to the
Distributor's Contract
The following provisions are hereby incorporated and made part of the
Distributor's Contract (the "Distributor's Contract") dated October 24, 1997,
between the Investment Companies and Federated Securities Corp. as principal
distributor (the "Principal Distributor") with respect to the Class B Shares of
the portfolios (the "Funds") set forth on the attached Schedule A. References
herein to this Distributor's Contract refer to the Distributor's Contract as
supplemented hereby and made applicable hereby to the Class B Shares of the
Funds. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Exhibit and
the terms of the Distributor's Contract, the terms of this Exhibit will govern.
Once effective in respect of the Class of Shares of any Fund set forth above,
the Distributors Contract as amended by this Exhibit shall be effective in
respect of all shares of such class outstanding whether issued prior to or after
such effectiveness.
1. The Investment Companies hereby appoints the Principal Distributor to
engage in activities principally intended to result in the sale of Class B
Shares ("Class B Shares") of each Fund. Pursuant to this appointment, the
Principal Distributor is authorized to select a group of financial
institutions ("Financial Institutions") to sell Class B Shares of a Fund
at the current offering price thereof as described and set forth in the
respective prospectuses of the Fund.
2. (a) In consideration of the Principal Distributor's services under this
Distributor's Contract in respect of each Fund the Investment Companies
on behalf of the Fund agree: (I) to pay the Principal Distributor or at
its direction its "Allocable Portion" (as hereinafter defined) of a fee
(the "Distribution Fee") equal to 0.75 of 1% per annum of the average
daily net asset value of the Class B Shares of the Fund outstanding
from time to time, and (II) to withhold from redemption proceeds in
respect of Class B Shares of the Fund such Principal Distributor's
Allocable Portion of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charges ("CDSCs")
payable in respect of such redemption as provided in the Prospectus for
the Fund and to pay the same over to such Principal Distributor or at
its direction at the time the redemption proceeds in respect of such
redemption are payable to the holder of the Class B Shares redeemed.
(b)The Principal Distributor will be deemed to have performed all
services required to be performed in order to be entitled to receive
its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fee payable in respect of the
Class B Shares of a Fund upon the settlement of each sale of a
"Commission Share" (as defined in the Allocation Schedule attached
hereto as Schedule B) of the Fund taken into account in determining
such Principal Distributor's Allocable Portion of such Distribution
Fees.
(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Exhibit,
the Distributor's Contract or (to the extent waiver thereof is
permitted thereby) applicable law, the Investment Companies' obligation
to pay the Principal Distributor's Allocable Portion of the
Distribution Fees payable in respect of the Class B Shares of a Fund
shall not be terminated or modified for any reason (including a
termination of this Distributor's Contract as it relates to Class B
Shares of a Fund) except to the extent required by a change in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") or the Conduct Rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., in either case
enacted or promulgated after May 1, 1997, or in connection with a
"Complete Termination" (as hereinafter defined) of the Distribution
Plan in respect of the Class B Shares of a Fund.
(d)The Investment Companies will not take any action to waive or change
any CDSC in respect of the Class B Shares of a Fund, except as provided
in the Investment Companies' prospectus or statement of additional
information as in effect as of the date hereof without the consent of
the Principal Distributor and the permitted assigns of all or any
portion of its right to its Allocable Portion of the CDSCs.
(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Exhibit,
the Distributor's Contract, or (to the extent waiver thereof is
permitted thereby) applicable law, neither the termination of the
Principal Distributor's role as principal distributor of the Class B
Shares of a Fund, nor the termination of this Distributor's Contract
nor the termination of the Distribution Plan will terminate such
Principal Distributor's right to its Allocable Portion of the CDSCs in
respect of the Class B Shares of a Fund.
(f)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Exhibit, the
Distributor's Contract, or (to the extent waiver thereof is permitted
thereby) applicable law, the Principal Distributor may assign, sell or
pledge (collectively, a "Transfer") its rights to its Allocable Portion
of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs earned by it (but not its
obligations to the Investment Companies under this Distributor's
Contract) in respect of the Class B Shares of a Fund to raise funds to
make the expenditures related to the distribution of Class B Shares of
the Fund and in connection therewith upon receipt of notice of such
Transfer, the Investment Companies shall pay, or cause to be paid to
the assignee, purchaser or pledgee (collectively with their subsequent
transferees, "Transferees") such portion of the Principal Distributor's
Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs in respect of the
Class B Shares of the Fund so Transferred. Except as provided in (c)
above and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere
in this Exhibit, the Distributor's Contract, or (to the extent waiver
thereof is permitted thereby) applicable law, to the extent the
Principal Distributor has Transferred its rights thereto to raise funds
as aforesaid, the Investment Companies' obligation to pay to the
Principal Distributor's Transferees the Principal Distributor's
Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees payable in respect of the
Class B Shares of each Fund shall be absolute and unconditional and
shall not be subject to dispute, offset, counterclaim or any defense
whatsoever, including without limitation, any of the foregoing based on
the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Principal Distributor (it being
understood that such provision is not a waiver of the Investment
Companies' right to pursue such Principal Distributor and enforce such
claims against the assets of such Principal Distributor other than the
Distributor's right to the Distribution Fees, CDSCs and servicing fees,
in respect of the Class B Shares of any Fund which have been so
transferred in connection with such Transfer). The Fund agrees that
each such Transferee is a third party beneficiary of the provisions of
this clause (f) but only insofar as those provisions relate to
Distribution Fees and CDSCs transferred to such Transferee.
(g)For purposes of this Distributor's Contract, the term Allocable
Portion of Distribution Fees payable in respect of the Class B Shares
of any Fund shall mean the portion of such Distribution Fees allocated
to such Principal Distributor in accordance with the Allocation
Schedule attached hereto as Schedule B.
(h)For purposes of this Distributor's Contract, the term "Complete
Termination" of the Plan in respect of any Fund means a termination of
the Plan involving the complete cessation of the payment of
Distribution Fees in respect of all Class B Shares of such Fund, and
the termination of the distribution plans and the complete cessation of
the payment of distribution fees pursuant to every other Distribution
Plan pursuant to rule 12b-1 of the Investment Companies in respect of
such Fund and any successor Fund or any Fund acquiring a substantial
portion of the assets of such Fund and for every future class of shares
which has substantially similar characteristics to the Class B Shares
of such Fund including the manner of payment and amount of sales
charge, contingent deferred sales charge or other similar charges borne
directly or indirectly by the holders of such shares.
3. The Principal Distributor may enter into separate written agreements with
various firms to provide certain of the services set forth in Paragraph 1
herein. The Principal Distributor, in its sole discretion, may pay
Financial Institutions a lump sum fee on the settlement date for the sale
of each Class B Share of the Fund to their clients or customers for
distribution of such share. The schedules of fees to be paid such firms or
Financial Institutions and the basis upon which such fees will be paid
shall be determined from time to time by the Principal Distributor in its
sole discretion.
4. The Principal Distributor will prepare reports to the Board of
Trustees/Directors of the Investment Companies on a quarterly basis
showing amounts expended hereunder including amounts paid to Financial
Institutions and the purpose for such expenditures.
In consideration of the mutual covenants set forth in the Distributor's
Contract between the Investment Companies and the Principal Distributor, the
Principal Distributor and the Investment Companies hereby execute and deliver
this Exhibit with respect to the Class B Shares of the Fund.
Witness the due execution hereof this 24th day of October, 1997.
ATTEST: INVESTMENT COMPANIES (listed on Schedule A)
By: /s/ S. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Secretary` Title: Executive Vice President
ATTEST: FEDERATED SECURITIES CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Vice President
Schedule A
Date: 10/24/97 DISTRIBUTOR'S CONTRACT
FEDERATED AMERICAN LEADERS FUND, INC.
Class B Shares
