Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan and Agreement
Lord Abbett U.S. Government Securities Money Market Fund, Inc.
Class B Shares
RULE 12b-1 DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND AGREEMENT dated as of July 12, 1996 by
and between LORD ABBETT U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES MONEY MARKET FUND, INC., a
Maryland Corporation (the "Fund"), and LORD ABBETT DISTRIBUTOR LLC, a New York
limited liability company (the "Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
the Distributor is the exclusive selling agent of the Fund's shares of capital
stock including the Fund's Class B shares (the "Shares") pursuant to the
Distribution Agreement between the Fund and the Distributor, dated as of the
date hereof, and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to adopt a Distribution Plan and Agreement
(the "Plan") with the Distributor, as permitted by Rule 12b-1 under the Act,
pursuant to which the Fund may make certain payments to the Distributor to help
reimburse the Distributor for the payment of sales commissions to institutions
and persons permitted by applicable law and/or rules to receive such payments
("Authorized Institutions") in connection with sales of Shares as provided in
paragraph 3 of this Plan, and
WHEREAS, the Fund's Board of Directors has determined that there is a
reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and the holders of the
Shares.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and of other
good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it is
agreed as follows:
1. The Fund hereby authorizes the Distributor to enter into agreements
with Authorized Institutions (the "Agreements") which may provide for the
payment to such Authorized Institutions of sales commissions (particularly those
paid or financed with payments received hereunder) in order to provide
incentives to such Authorized Institutions to sell Shares and otherwise to
encourage their accounts to remain invested in the Shares. The Distributor may,
from time to time, waive or defer payment of some fees payable at the time of
the sale of Shares provided for under paragraph 2 hereof.
2. Subject to possible reductions as provided below in this paragraph
2, the Fund periodically, as determined by the Fund's Board of Directors (in the
manner contemplated in paragraph 11), shall pay to the Distributor fees for
distribution, at an annual rate not to exceed .75 of 1% of the average annual
net asset value of Shares outstanding. Payments will be based on Shares
outstanding during any such period. Shares outstanding include Shares issued for
reinvested dividends and distributions. The Board of Directors of the Fund shall
from time to time determine the amounts, within the foregoing maximum amounts,
that the Fund may pay the Distributor hereunder. Such determinations by the
Board of Directors shall be made by votes of the kind referred to in paragraph
11 of this Plan. The distribution fees mentioned in this paragraph are for the
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purposes mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Plan. The Distributor will monitor the
payments hereunder and shall reduce such payments or take such other steps as
may be necessary to assure that the payments pursuant to this Plan shall be
consistent with Article III, Section 26, subparagraphs (d)(2) and (5) of the
Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
with respect to investment companies with asset-based sales charges as the same
may be in effect from time to time.
3. The Distributor may use amounts received as distribution fees
hereunder from the Fund to engage directly or indirectly in financing any
activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares including,
but not limited to: (a) paying and financing the payment of commissions or other
payments relating to selling and (b) paying interest, carrying, or any other
financing charges on any unreimbursed distribution or other expense incurred in
a prior fiscal year of the Fund whether or not such charges and unreimbursed
distribution or other expense are determined to be a legal obligation of the
Fund, in whole or in part, by the Fund's Board of Directors. The Fund's Board of
Directors (in the manner contemplated in paragraph 11 of this Plan) shall
approve the timing, categories and calculation of any payments under this
paragraph 3.
4.1. The Fund will pay each person which has acted as Distributor of
Shares its Allocable Portion (as such term is defined in paragraphs 13.1 through
13.3) of the distribution fees with respect to Shares of the Fund in
consideration of its services as principal underwriter for the Shares of the
Fund. The distribution agreement pursuant to which a person acts or acted as
principal underwriter of the Shares is referred to as the "Applicable
Distribution Agreement". Such person shall be paid its Allocable Portion of such
distribution fees notwithstanding such person's termination as Distributor of
the Shares, such payments to be changed or terminated only (i) as required by a
change in applicable law or a change in accounting policy adopted by the
Investment Companies Committee of the AICPA and approved by FASB that results in
a determination by the Fund's independent accountants that any sales charges in
respect of such Fund, which are not contingent deferred sales charges and which
are not yet due and payable, must be accounted for by such Fund as a liability
in accordance with GAAP, each after the effective date of this Plan and
restatement; (ii) if in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, after due
consideration of such factors as they considered relevant, including the
transactions contemplated in any purchase and sale agreement entered into
between the Fund's Distributor and any commission financing entity, the Board of
Directors determines (in the manner contemplated in paragraph 12), in the
exercise of its fiduciary duty, that this Plan and the payments thereunder must
be changed or terminated, notwithstanding the effect this action might have on
the Fund's ability to offer and sell Shares; or (iii) in connection with a
Complete Termination of this Plan, it being understood that for this purpose a
Complete Termination of this Plan occurs only if this Plan is terminated and the
Fund has discontinued the distribution of Shares or other back-end load or
substantially similar classes of shares; it being understood that such does not
include Class C shares, i.e., those sold with a level load. The services
rendered by a Distributor for which that Distributor is entitled to receive its
Allocable Portion of the distribution fee shall be deemed to have been completed
at the time of the initial purchase of the Shares (as defined in the Applicable
Distribution Agreement) (whether of that Fund or another fund) taken into
account in computing that Distributor's Allocable Portion of the distribution
fee.
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4.2. The obligation of the Fund to pay the distribution fee shall
terminate upon the termination of this Plan in accordance with the terms hereof.
4.3. The right of a Distributor to receive payments hereunder may be
transferred by that Distributor (but not the distribution agreement itself or
that Distributor's obligations thereunder) in order to raise funds which may be
useful or necessary to perform its duties as principal underwriter, and any such
transfer shall be effective upon written notice from that Distributor to the
Fund. In connection with the foregoing, the Fund is authorized to pay all or
part of the distribution fee and/or contingent deferred sales charges with
respect to Shares (upon the terms and conditions set forth in the then current
Fund prospectus) directly to such transferee as directed by that Distributor.
4.4. As long as this Plan is in effect, the Fund shall not change the
manner in which the distribution fee is computed (except as may be required by a
change in applicable law or a change in accounting policy adopted by the
Investment Companies Committee of the AICPA and approved by FASB that results in
a determination by the Fund's independent accountants that any distribution fees
which are not yet due and payable, must be accounted for by such Fund as a
liability in accordance with GAAP).
5. The net asset value of the Shares shall be determined as provided in
the Articles of Incorporation of the Fund. If the Distributor waives all or a
portion of fees which are to be paid by the Fund hereunder, the Distributor
shall not be deemed to have waived its rights under this Agreement to have the
Fund pay such fees in the future.
6. The Secretary of the Fund, or in his absence the Chief Financial
Officer, is hereby authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or
payable by the Fund hereunder and shall provide to the Fund's Board of
Directors, and the Board of Directors shall review, at least quarterly, a
written report of the amounts so expended pursuant to this Plan and the purposes
for which such expenditures were made. Over the long-term the expenses incurred
by the Distributor for engaging directly or indirectly in financing any activity
which is primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares are likely to be
greater then the distribution fees receivable by the Distributor hereunder.
Nevertheless, there exists the possibility that for a short-term period the
Distributor may not have a sufficient amount of such expenses to warrant
reimbursement by receipt of such distribution fees. Although the Distributor
undertakes not to make a profit under this Plan, the Plan will be considered a
compensation plan (i.e. distribution fees will be paid regardless of expenses
incurred) in order to avoid the possibility of the Distributor not being able to
receive such distribution fees because of a temporary timing difference between
its incurring such expenses and the receipt of such distribution fees.
7. Neither this Plan nor any other transaction between the Fund and the
Distributor, or any successor or assignee thereof, pursuant to this Plan shall
be invalidated or in any way affected by the fact that any or all of the
directors, officers, shareholders, or other representatives of the Fund are or
may be "interested persons" of the Distributor, or any successor or assignee
thereof, or that any or all of the directors, officers, partners, members or
other representatives of the Distributor are or may be "interested persons" of
the Fund, except as otherwise may be provided in the Act.
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8. The Distributor shall give the Fund the benefit of the Distributor's
best judgment and good faith efforts in rendering services under this Plan.
Other than to abide by the provisions hereof and render the services called for
hereunder in good faith, the Distributor assumes no responsibility under this
Plan and, having so acted, the Distributor shall not be held liable or held
accountable for any mistake of law or fact, or for any loss or damage arising or
resulting therefrom suffered by the Fund or any of its shareholders, creditors,
directors or officers; provided however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to
protect the Distributor against any liability to the Fund or the Fund's
shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in
the performance of its duties hereunder, or by reason of the reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties hereunder.
9. This Plan shall become effective on the date hereof, and shall
continue in effect for a period of more than one year from such date only so
long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of
the Board of Directors of the Fund, including the vote of a majority of the
directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement
related to this Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such renewal.
10. This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to
be spent by the Fund hereunder without the vote of a majority of its outstanding
voting securities and each material amendment must be approved by a vote of the
Board of Directors of the Fund, including the vote of a majority of the
directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement
related to this Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such amendment.
11. Amendments to this Plan other than material amendments of the kind
referred to in the foregoing paragraph 10 of this Plan may be adopted by a vote
of the Board of Directors of the Fund, including the vote of a majority of the
directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund and who have no direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement
related to this Plan. The Board of Directors of the Fund may, by such a vote,
interpret this Plan and make all determinations necessary or advisable for its
administration.
12. This Plan may be terminated at any time without the payment of any
penalty by (a) the vote of a majority of the directors of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund and have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement related to this Plan,
or (b) by a shareholder vote in compliance with Rule 12b-1 and Rule 18f-3 under
the Act as in effect at such time. This Plan shall automatically terminate in
the event of its assignment.
13.1. For purposes of this Plan, the Distributor's "Allocable Portion"
of the distribution fee shall be 100% of such distribution fees unless or until
the Fund uses a principal underwriter other than the Distributor. Thereafter the
Allocable Portion shall be the portion of the distribution fee attributable to
(i) Shares of the Fund sold by the Distributor before there is a new principal
underwriter, plus (ii) Shares of the Fund issued in connection with the exchange
of Shares of another Fund in the Lord, Abbett Family of Funds, plus (iii) Shares
of the Fund issued in connection with the reinvestment of dividends and capital
gains.
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13.2. The Distributor's Allocable Portion of the distribution fees and
the contingent deferred sales charges arising with respect to Shares taken into
account in computing the Distributor's Allocable Portion shall be limited under
Article III, Sections 26(b) and (d) or other applicable regulations of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") as if the Shares
taken into account in computing the Distributor's Allocable Portion themselves
constituted a separate class of shares of the Fund.
13.3. The services rendered by the Distributor for which the
Distributor is entitled to receive the Distributor's Allocable Portion of the
distribution fees shall be deemed to have been completed at the time of the
initial purchase of the Shares (or shares of another Fund in the Lord Abbett
Family of Funds) taken into account in computing the Distributor's Allocable
Portion. In addition, the Fund will pay to the Distributor any contingent
deferred sales charges imposed on redemption of Shares (upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the then current Fund prospectus) taken into account in
computing the Distributor's Allocable Portion of the distribution fees.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the Distributor shall be
paid its Allocable Portion of the distribution fees regardless of the
Distributor's termination as principal underwriter of the Shares of the Fund, or
any termination of this Agreement other than in connection with a Complete
Termination (as defined in paragraph 4.1) of the Plan as in effect on the date
of execution of Distribution Agreement with the new Distributor. Except as
provided in paragraph 4.1 and in the preceding sentence, the Fund's obligation
to pay the distribution fees to the Distributor shall be absolute and
unconditional and shall not be subject to any dispute, offset, counterclaim or
defense whatsoever (it being understood that nothing in this sentence shall be
deemed a waiver by the Fund of its right separately to pursue any claims it may
have against the Distributor and to enforce such claims against any assets of
the Distributor (other than the assets represented by the Distributor's rights
to be paid its Allocable Portion of the distribution fees and to be paid the
contingent deferred sales charges).
14. So long as this Plan shall remain in effect, the selection and
nomination of those directors of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of
the Fund are committed to the discretion of such disinterested directors. The
terms "interested persons," "assignment" and "vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities" shall have the same meaning as those terms are
defined in the Act.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to
be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative
as of the date first above written.
LORD ABBETT U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES MONEY MARKET FUND, INC.
By: /s/ ROBERT S. DOW
----------------------
President
ATTEST:
/s/ PAUL A. HILSTAD
Assistant General Counsel
LORD ABBETT DISTRIBUTOR LLC
By: /s/ KENNETH B. CUTLER
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General Counsel
