▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LIQUID ASSET FUND INC.
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of this 31st day of May, 1997 between ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Liquid
Asset Fund Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Distributors Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Distributor");
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a diversified open-end investment company and
it is in the interest of the Fund to offer its shares for sale continuously,
and
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
transferable shares of beneficial interest, of $.01 par value (the "Shares"),
in order to promote the growth of the Fund and facilitate the distribution of
its Shares.
Now, Therefore, the parties agree as follows:
SECTION 1. APPOINTMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. (a) The Fund hereby appoints
the Distributor as the principal underwriter of the Fund to sell Shares to
the public on the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Fund's prospectus
and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act
hereunder. The Fund, during the term of this Agreement, shall sell Shares to
the Distributor upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(b) The Distributor agrees to purchase Shares, as principal for its own
account, from the Fund and to sell Shares as principal to investors and
securities dealers, including ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate
of the Distributor, upon the terms described herein and in the Fund's
prospectus (the "Prospectus") and statement of additional information
included in the Fund's registration statement (the "Registration Statement")
most recently filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act") and 1940 Act or as said Prospectus may be otherwise
amended or supplemented and filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 497 under the
1933 Act.
SECTION 2. EXCLUSIVE NATURE OF DUTIES. The Distributor shall be the
exclusive principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund, except that the
exclusive rights granted to the Distributor to sell the Shares shall not
apply to Shares issued by the Fund: (i) 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; or (ii) pursuant to reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions; or (iii) pursuant to the reinstatement privilege afforded
redeeming shareholders.
SECTION 3. PURCHASE OF SHARES FROM THE FUND. (a) The Distributor shall
have the right to buy from the Fund the Shares needed, but not more than the
Shares needed (except for clerical errors in transmission), to fill
unconditional orders for Shares placed with the Distributor by investors and
securities dealers. The price which the Distributor shall pay for the Shares
so purchased from the Fund shall be the net asset value, determined as set
forth in the Prospectus, used in determining the public offering price on
which such orders were based.
(b) The Shares are to be resold by the Distributor at the public offering
price, as set forth in the Prospectus, to investors or to securities dealers,
including DWR, having selected dealer agreements with the Distributor
pursuant to Section 7 ("Selected Dealers").
(c) The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of the Shares at
times when redemption is suspended pursuant to the conditions set forth in
Section 4(e) hereof. The Fund shall also have the right to suspend the sale
of the Shares if trading on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been
suspended, if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New
York authorities, or if there shall have been some other extraordinary event
which, in the judgment of the Fund, makes it impracticable to sell the
Shares.
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(d) The Fund, or any agent of the Fund designated in writing by the Fund,
shall be promptly advised of all purchase orders for 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
orders for the purchase of Shares. The Distributor will confirm orders upon
their receipt, and the Fund (or its agent) upon receipt of payment therefor
and instructions will deliver share certificates for such Shares or a
statement confirming the issuance of Shares. Payment shall be made to the
Fund in New York Clearing House funds. The Distributor agrees to cause such
payment and such instructions to be delivered promptly to the Fund (or its
agent).
(e) With respect to Shares sold by any Selected Dealer, the Distributor is
authorized to direct the Fund's transfer agent to receive instructions
directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor as to
registration of Shares in the names of investors and to confirm issuance of
the Shares to such investors. The Distributor is also authorized to instruct
the transfer agent to receive payment directly from the Selected Dealer on
behalf of the Distributor, for prompt transmittal to the Fund's custodian, of
the purchase price of the Shares. In such event the Distributor shall obtain
from the Selected Dealer and maintain a record of such registration
instructions and payments.
SECTION 4. REPURCHASE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES. (a) Any of the outstanding
Shares may be tendered for redemption at any time, and the Fund agrees to
redeem the Shares so tendered in accordance with the applicable provisions
set forth in the Prospectus. The price to be paid to redeem the 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
below.
The proceeds of any redemption of Shares shall be paid by the Fund to the
redeeming shareholders, in each case in accordance with applicable provisions
of the Prospectus in New York Clearing House funds.
(b) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares, represented by a share certificate which is delivered to any office
of the Distributor in accordance with applicable provisions set forth in the
Prospectus. The Distributor shall promptly transmit to the transfer agent of
the Fund for redemption all Shares so delivered. The Distributor shall be
responsible for the accuracy of instructions transmitted to the Fund's
transfer agent in connection with all such repurchases.
(c) The Distributor is authorized, as agent for the Fund, to repurchase
Shares held in a shareholder's account with the Fund for which no share
certificate has been issued, upon the telephonic or telegraphic request of
the shareholder, or at the discretion of the Distributor. The Distributor
shall promptly transmit to the transfer agent of the Fund, for redemption,
all such orders for repurchase of Shares. Payment for Shares repurchased may
be made by the Fund to the Distributor for the account of the shareholder.
The Distributor shall be responsible for the accuracy of instructions
transmitted to the Fund's transfer agent in connection with all such
repurchases.
(d) With respect to Shares tendered for redemption or repurchase by any
Selected Dealer on behalf of its customers, the Distributor is authorized to
instruct the transfer agent of the Fund to accept orders for redemption or
repurchase directly from the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor and
to instruct the Fund to transmit payments for such redemptions and
repurchases directly to the Selected Dealer on behalf of the Distributor for
the account of the shareholder. The Distributor shall obtain from the
Selected Dealer, and shall maintain, a record of such orders. The Distributor
is further authorized to obtain from the Fund, and shall maintain, a record
of payments made directly to the Selected Dealer on behalf of the
Distributor.
(e) Redemption of Shares or payment by the Fund may be suspended at times
when the New York Stock Exchange is closed, 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 Fund fairly to determine the value of its net
assets, or during any other period when the SEC, by order, so permits.
SECTION 5. DUTIES OF THE FUND. (a) The Fund shall furnish to the
Distributor copies of all information, financial statements and other papers
which the Distributor may reasonably request for use
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in connection with the distribution of the Shares, including one certified
copy, upon request by the Distributor, of all financial statements prepared
by the Fund and examined by independent accountants. The Fund shall, at the
expense of the Distributor, make available to the Distributor such number of
copies of the prospectus as the Distributor shall reasonably request.
(b) The Fund shall take, from time to time, but subject to the necessary
approval of its shareholders, all necessary action to register Shares under
the 1933 Act, to the end that there will be available for sale such number of
Shares as investors may reasonably be expected to purchase.
(c) The Fund shall use its best efforts to pay the filing fees for an
appropriate number of the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such
states as the Distributor and the Fund may approve. Any qualification to sell
its Shares in a state may be withheld, terminated or withdrawn by the Fund at
any time in its discretion. As provided in Section 8(c) hereof, such filing
fees shall be borne by the Fund. The Distributor shall furnish any
information and other material relating to its affairs and activities as may
be required by the Fund in connection with the sale of its Shares in any
state.
(d) The Fund shall, at the expense of the Distributor, furnish, in
reasonable quantities upon request by the Distributor, copies of annual and
interim reports of the Fund.
SECTION 6. DUTIES OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. (a) The Distributor shall sell
Shares of the Fund through DWR and may sell Shares through other securities
dealers and its own Account Executives and shall devote reasonable time and
effort to promote sales of Shares, but shall not be obligated to sell any
specific number of Shares. The services of the Distributor hereunder are not
exclusive and it is understood that the Distributor may act as principal
underwriter for other registered investment companies, so long as the
performance of its obligations hereunder is not impaired thereby. It is also
understood that Selected Dealers, including DWR, may also sell shares for
other registered investment companies.
(b) Neither the Distributor nor any Selected Dealers shall give any
information or make any representations, other than those contained in the
Registration Statement or related Prospectus and any sales literature
specifically approved by the Fund.
(c) The Distributor agrees that it will comply with the applicable terms
and limitations of the Rules of the Association of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").
SECTION 7. SELECTED DEALERS AGREEMENTS. The Distributor shall have the
right to enter into selected dealers agreements with Selected Dealers for the
sale of Shares. In making agreements with Selected Dealers, the Distributor
shall act only as principal and not as agent for the Fund. Shares sold to
Selected Dealers shall be for resale by such dealers only at the public
offering price set forth in the Prospectus.
(b) Within the United States, the Distributor shall offer and sell Shares
only to Selected Dealers that are members in good standing of the NASD.
(c) The Distributor shall adopt and follow procedures, as approved by the
Fund, for the confirmation of sales of Shares 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 NASD, as such requirements
may from time to time exist.
SECTION 8. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. (a) The Distributor shall bear all
expenses incurred by it in connection with its duties and activities under
this Agreement, including the payment to Selected Dealers of any service fees
and other expenses for sales of the Fund's Shares (except such expenses as
are specifically undertaken herein by the Fund) incurred or paid by Selected
Dealers, including DWR. The Distributor shall bear the costs and expenses of
preparing, printing and distributing any supplementary sales literature used
by the Distributor or furnished by it for use by Selected Dealers in
connection with the offering of the Shares for sale. Any expenses of
advertising incurred in connection with such offering will also be the
obligation of the Distributor. It is understood and agreed that, so long as
the Fund's Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule 12b-1
Plan") continues in effect, any expenses incurred by the Distributor
hereunder may be paid in accordance with the terms of such Rule 12b-1 Plan.
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(b) The Fund shall bear all costs and expenses of the Fund, including fees
and disbursements of legal counsel including counsel to the Directors of the
Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Fund
or the Distributor, and independent accountants, in connection with the
preparation and filing of any required Registration Statements and
Prospectuses and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the expenses of
preparing, printing, mailing and otherwise distributing prospectuses and
statements of additional information, annual or interim reports or proxy
materials to shareholders.
(c) The Fund shall pay the filing fees and, if necessary or advisable in
connection therewith, bear the cost and expense 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(c)
hereof and the cost and expenses payable to each such state for continuing to
offer Shares therein until the Fund decides to discontinue selling Shares
pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.
SECTION 9. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Fund shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Distributor and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor against
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including the reasonable cost
of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith),
arising by reason of any person acquiring any Shares, which may be based upon
the 1933 Act, or on any other statute or at common law, on the ground that
the Registration Statement or related Prospectus as from time to time may be
amended and supplemented, or the annual or interim reports to shareholders of
the Fund, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made
in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Fund
in connection therewith by or on behalf of the Distributor; provided,
however, that in no case (i) is the indemnity of the Fund in favor of the
Distributor and any such controlling persons to be deemed to protect the
Distributor or any such controlling persons thereof against any liability to
the Fund or its security holders to which the Distributor or any such
controlling persons would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties
or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement; or (ii) is the Fund to be liable under its indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against the
Distributor or any such controlling persons, unless the Distributor or such
controlling persons, as the case may be, shall have notified the Fund in
writing 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 or such controlling persons (or after the Distributor or
such controlling persons shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any such claim shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to the person against whom
such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph. The Fund will 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 liability, but if the Fund elects to assume
the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and
satisfactory to the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund elects to assume
the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor or such
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them, but,
in case the Fund does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, it
will reimburse the Distributor or such controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of
any counsel retained by them. The Fund shall promptly notify the Distributor
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
officers or trustees in connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares.
(b) (i) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Fund against any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense described in the
foregoing indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, but only
with respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, information furnished to the Fund in writing by or on behalf
of the Distributor for use in connection with the Registration Statement or
related Prospectus, as from time to time may be amended, or the annual or
interim reports to shareholders.
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(ii) The Distributor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the
Fund's transfer agent, individually and in its capacity as the Fund's
transfer agent, from and against any claims, damages and liabilities which
arise as a result of actions taken pursuant to instructions from, or on
behalf of the Distributor to: (1) redeem all or a part of shareholder
accounts in the Fund pursuant to Section 4 hereof and pay the proceeds to the
Distributor for the account of each shareholder whose Shares are so redeemed;
and (2) register Shares in the names of investors, confirm the issuance
thereof and receive payment therefor pursuant to Section 3(e).
(iii) In case any action shall be brought against the Fund or any person
so indemnified by this subsection 9(b) in respect of which indemnity may be
sought against the Distributor, the Distributor shall have the rights and
duties given to the Fund, and the Fund and each person so indemnified shall
have the rights and duties given to the Distributor by the provisions of
subsection (a) of this Section 9.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) referred to herein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the
Distributor on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Fund on the one hand and the Distributor on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Fund on the one hand and the Distributor on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund bear to the total
compensation received by the Distributor, in each case as set forth in the
Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Fund or the Distributor and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Fund and the Distributor agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (c), the Distributor
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Shares distributed by it to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which it has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
SECTION 10. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement
shall become effective as of the date first above written and shall remain in
force until April 30, 1998 and thereafter, but only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Directors
of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, cast in person or by proxy, and (ii) a majority of
those Directors who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons
of any such party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
this Agreement or in the operation of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan or in any
agreement related thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting upon such approval.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any
penalty, by the Directors of the Fund, by a majority of the Directors of the
Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund and
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who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or by
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or by
the Distributor, on sixty days' written notice to the other party. This
Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
The terms "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities,"
"assignment" and "interested person", when used in this Agreement, shall have
the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act.
SECTION 11. AMENDMENTS OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be amended by
the parties only if such amendment is specifically approved by (i) the
Directors of the Fund, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, and (ii) a majority of those Directors of the Fund
who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party
and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in
any Agreement related to the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the law of the State of New York and the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable law of the State of New York, or
any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act, the latter shall control.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written in New York, New York.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LIQUID ASSET FUND INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ DISTRIBUTORS INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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