EXHIBIT 99(E)(1)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This Distribution Agreement is made as of this 7th day of November, 1996
by and between ST. CLAIR FUNDS, INC., a Maryland Corporation (the "Fund"), and
FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC., a Massachusetts corporation ("Funds Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company and is so
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain Funds Distributor as Distributor for
the Fund's investment portfolio--Liquidity Plus Money Market Fund (the
"Portfolio"), to provide for the sale and distribution of shares of the
Portfolio (the "Shares"), and Funds Distributor is willing to render such
services;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants set
forth herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
I. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS
The Fund has delivered to Funds Distributor copies of each of the
following documents and will deliver to it all future amendments and supplements
thereto, if any:
(a) Resolutions of the Fund's Board of Directors authorizing the
execution and delivery of this Agreement;
(b) The Fund's Articles of Incorporation as filed with the State of
Maryland;
(c) The Fund's By-Laws;
(d) The Fund's Notification of Registration on Form N-8A under the 1940
Act as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC");
(e) The Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") and
the 1940 Act, as filed with the SEC, and all amendments thereto; and
(f) The Fund's most recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information and all amendments and supplements thereto
(collectively, the "Prospectus").
II. DISTRIBUTION
1. APPOINTMENT OF DISTRIBUTOR. The Fund hereby appoints Funds Distributor
as Distributor of the Portfolio's Shares and Funds Distributor hereby accepts
such appointment and agrees to render the services and duties set forth in this
Section II. In the event that the Fund establishes one or more additional
portfolios or classes of shares other than the Portfolio and the
Shares with respect to which it decides to retain Funds Distributor to act as
distributor hereunder, the Fund shall notify Funds Distributor in writing. If
Funds Distributor is willing to render such services, it shall so notify the
Fund in writing whereupon such portfolio and such shares shall become a
Portfolio and Shares hereunder and shall be subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, except to the extent that said provision is modified with respect to
such portfolio or shares in writing by the Fund and Funds Distributor at the
time.
2. SERVICES AND DUTIES.
(a) The Fund agrees to sell through Funds Distributor, as agent, from time
to time during the term of this Agreement, Shares (whether authorized but
unissued or treasury shares, in the Fund's sole discretion) upon the terms and
at the current offering price as described in the applicable Prospectus. Funds
Distributor will act only in its own behalf as principal in making agreements
with selected dealers or others for the sale and redemption of Shares, and shall
sell Shares only at the offering price thereof as set forth in the applicable
Prospectus. Funds Distributor shall devote appropriate efforts to effect sales
of Shares of the Portfolio, but shall not be obligated to sell any certain
number of Shares.
(b) In all matters relating to the sale and redemption of Shares, Funds
Distributor will act in conformity with the Fund's Articles of Incorporation,
By-Laws and applicable Prospectuses and with the instructions and directions of
the Board of Directors of the Fund and will conform to and comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the regulations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and all other applicable Federal or
state laws and regulations.
(c) Funds Distributor will bear the cost of printing and distributing any
Prospectus (including any supplement or amendment thereto), PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that Funds Distributor shall not be obligated to bear the expenses incurred by
the Fund in connection with (i) the preparation and printing of any supplement
or amendment to a Registration Statement or Prospectus necessary for the
continued effective registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act or state
securities laws; and (ii) the printing and distribution of any Prospectus,
supplement or amendment thereto for existing shareholders of the Shares
described therein.
3. SALES AND REDEMPTIONS.
(a) The Fund shall pay all costs and expenses in connection with the
registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act, and all expenses in connection
with maintaining facilities for the issue and transfer of the Shares and for
supplying information, prices and other data to be furnished by the Fund
hereunder, and all expenses in connection with preparing, printing and
distributing the Prospectuses except as set forth in subsection 2(c) of
Section II hereof.
(b) The Fund shall execute all documents, furnish all information and
otherwise take all actions which may be reasonably necessary in the discretion
of the Fund's officers in connection with the sale of the Shares in such states
as Funds Distributor may designate to the Fund and the Fund may approve, and the
Fund shall pay all filing fees which may be incurred in
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connection with such sale. Funds Distributor shall pay all other expenses
incurred by Funds Distributor in connection with the sale of the Shares, except
as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement.
(c) The Fund shall have the right to suspend the sale of Shares at any
time in response to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise, and to
suspend the redemption of Shares of any Portfolio at any time permitted by the
1940 Act or the rules of the SEC ("Rules").
(d) The Fund reserves the right to reject any order for Shares, but will
not do so arbitrarily or without reasonable cause.
III. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
Funds Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake
of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund or any Portfolio in connection with
the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the
performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations
and duties under this Agreement.
IV. CONFIDENTIALITY
Funds Distributor will treat confidentially and as proprietary information
of the Fund all records and other information relative to the Fund, to the
Fund's prior or current shareholders and to those persons or entities who
respond to Funds Distributor's inquiries concerning investment in the Fund, and,
except as provided below, will not use such records and information for any
purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder.
Any other use by Funds Distributor of the information and records referred to
above may be made only after prior notification to and approval in writing by
the Fund. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where: (i) Funds Distributor may be exposed to civil or criminal
contempt proceedings for failure to divulge such information; (ii) Funds
Distributor is requested to divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities; or (iii) Funds Distributor is so requested by the Fund.
V. INDEMNIFICATION
1. FUND REPRESENTATION. The Fund represents and warrants to Funds
Distributor that at all times the Registration Statement and Prospectuses will
in all material respects conform to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act
and the Rules thereunder and will not include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading, except that no representation or warranty
in this subsection shall apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf
of and with respect to Funds Distributor expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or Prospectuses.
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2. FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR REPRESENTATION. Funds Distributor represents and
warrants to the Fund that it is duly organized as a Massachusetts corporation
and is and at all times will remain duly authorized and licensed to carry out
its services as contemplated herein.
3. FUND INDEMNIFICATION. The Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio, agrees that
the Portfolio will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Funds Distributor, its
several officers and directors, and any person who controls Funds Distributor
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from and against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any of them may
become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out
of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any
application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Portfolio, or
arise out of or based upon, information furnished by or on behalf of the
Portfolio, filed in any state in order to sell the Shares under the securities
or blue sky laws thereof ("Blue Sky Application"), or arise out of, or are based
upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and will reimburse Funds Distributor, its several officers and directors, and
any person who controls Funds Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them
in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding
or claim; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that neither the Fund nor the Portfolio shall be
liable in any case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement, alleged untrue statement,
or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any Blue Sky Application or any application or other document
executed by or on behalf of the Fund in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of Funds Distributor
specifically for inclusion therein.
The Portfolio shall not indemnify any person pursuant to this subsection 3
unless the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought has
rendered a final decision on the merits that such person was not liable by
reason of his willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of his duties, or his reckless disregard of his obligations and
duties, under this Agreement ("disabling conduct") or, in the absence of such a
decision, a reasonable determination (based upon a review of the facts) that
such person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct has been made by the
vote of a majority of a quorum of Directors of the Fund who are neither
"interested parties" of the Fund (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) nor parties to the
proceeding, or by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
The Portfolio shall advance attorneys' fees and other expenses incurred
by any person in defending any claim, demand, action or suit which is the
subject of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this subsection 3, so long
as: (i) such person shall undertake to repay all such advances unless it is
ultimately determined that he or she is entitled to indemnification
hereunder; and (ii) such person shall provide security for such undertaking,
or the Portfolio shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any
lawful advances, or a majority of a quorum of the disinterested, non-party
directors of the Fund (or an independent legal counsel in written opinion)
shall determine based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a
full trial-
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type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately will
be found entitled to indemnification hereunder.
The obligations of the Portfolio under this subsection 3 shall be the
several (and not joint or joint and several) obligation of the Portfolio.
4. FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR INDEMNIFICATION. Funds Distributor will indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Fund, the Portfolio, the Fund's several officers
and Directors and any person who controls the Fund or the Portfolio within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from and against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any of them may become
subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect hereof) arise out of, or
are based upon, any breach of its representations, warranties and agreements
herein, or which arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectuses, any Blue Sky Application or any application or
other documents executed by or on behalf of the Fund or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, which statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
in writing to the Fund or any of its several officers and Directors by or on
behalf of Funds Distributor specifically for inclusion therein, and will
reimburse the Fund, the Portfolio, the Fund's several officers and trustees, and
any person who controls the Fund or the Portfolio within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any
of them in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action,
proceeding or claim.
5. GENERAL INDEMNITY PROVISION. No indemnifying party shall be liable
under its indemnity agreement contained in subsection 3 or 4 hereof with respect
to any claim made against such indemnifying party unless the indemnified party
shall have notified the indemnifying party 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 indemnified party (or after the
indemnified party shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying party of any such claim shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may otherwise have to the indemnified
party. The indemnifying party 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, and if the indemnifying party elects to assume the
defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party. In the event the indemnifying party
elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the
indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by the indemnified party.
VI. DURATION AND TERMINATION
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first above written,
and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue until November
7, 1998. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue
automatically for successive terms of one year,
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provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a
vote of the majority of the Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority
of the Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund and have no direct
or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan, this Agreement, by
vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this Agreement may be terminated with respect
to any Portfolio by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by
vote of a majority of the Directors or by a vote of a "majority of the
outstanding voting securities" of such Portfolio on 60 days' written notice to
Funds Distributor, or by Funds Distributor at any time, without the payment of
any penalty, on 60 days' written notice to the Fund. This Agreement will
automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment." (As
used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting
securities," "interested person" and "assignment" shall have the same meanings
as such terms have in the 1940 Act.)
VII. AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or
terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which
an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
VIII. NOTICES
Notices of any kind to be given to the Fund hereunder by Funds Distributor
shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to the Fund
at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxx
Xxxxxx, with a copy to Xxxx X. Xxxx, Esq., Dechert Price & Xxxxxx, 0000 X Xxxxxx
X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000-0000, or at such other address or to such
individual as shall be so specified by the Fund to Funds Distributor. Notices of
any kind to be given to Funds Distributor hereunder by the Fund shall be in
writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to Funds Distributor at
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx or at such other address or to such individual as shall be so specified
by Funds Distributor to the Fund.
IX. MISCELLANEOUS
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference
only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect. 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. Subject to the
provisions of Section VI hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
shall be governed by Massachusetts law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing herein
shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or
regulation of the SEC thereunder.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above
written.
ST. CLAIR FUNDS, INC.
By: /S/ XXX X. XXXXXX
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Name: Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President
Attest:
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FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By: /S/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: President
Attest:
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