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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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SIGNATURE THOMAS F. MCDONOUGH
TITLE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Japan
Fund Annual Report for the year ended 12/31/98 and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> JAPAN FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 340,377,058
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 347,236,276
<RECEIVABLES> 2,403,507
<ASSETS-OTHER> 511,741
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 350,151,524
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,025,883
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3,025,883
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 404,799,498
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 41,668,266
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 39,174,523
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (256,142)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (64,292,005)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6,874,290
<NET-ASSETS> 347,125,641
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,229,115
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,183,844
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3,840,364
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (427,405)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (22,778,794)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 93,971,345
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 70,765,146
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3,176,155)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
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<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,709,032
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 81,943,710
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<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (44,950,757)
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<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3,840,364
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.77
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.01)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.33
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</TABLE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors of The Japan Fund, Inc.:
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements and financial
highlights (hereinafter referred to as "financial statements") of The Japan
Fund, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1998, we considered its internal
control, including control activities for safeguarding securities, in order to
determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on
the financial statements and to comply with the requirements of Form N-SAR, not
to provide assurance on internal control.
The management of The Japan Fund, Inc. is responsible for establishing and
maintaining internal control. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates and
judgments by management are required to assess the expected benefits and related
costs of controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit pertain to
the entity's objective of preparing financial statements for external purposes
that are fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles. Those controls include the safeguarding of assets against
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal control, error or fraud may occur
and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of internal control to
future periods is subject to the risk that it may become inadequate because of
changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and operation may
deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily disclose all matters
in internal control that might be material weaknesses under standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more
of the internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low level the
risk that misstatements caused by error or fraud in amounts that would be
material in relation to the financial statements being audited may occur and not
be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of
performing their assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving
internal control and its operation, including controls for safeguarding
securities, that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined above as of
December 31, 1998.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of management, the
Board of Directors of The Japan Fund, Inc. and the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 17, 1999
The Japan Fund, Inc.
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
September 7, 1998
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
Investment Management Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Japan Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation") has been established as a
Maryland corporation to engage in the business of an investment company.
Pursuant to the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, as amended from
time-to-time (the "Articles"), the Board of Directors may divide the
Corporation's shares of capital stock, par value $.33 1/3 per share, (the
"Shares") into separate series, or funds. Series may be abolished and dissolved,
and additional series established, from time to time by action of the Directors.
The Corporation, on behalf of the Fund, has selected you to act as the
sole investment manager of the Fund and to provide certain other services, as
more fully set forth below, and you have indicated that you are willing to act
as such investment manager and to perform such services under the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. Accordingly, the Corporation on behalf of the
Fund agrees with you as follows:
1. Delivery of Documents. The Corporation engages in the business of
investing and reinvesting the assets of the Fund in the manner and in accordance
with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions specified in the
currently effective Prospectus (the "Prospectus") and Statement of Additional
Information (the "SAI") relating to the Fund included in the Corporation's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as amended from time to time, (the
"Registration Statement") filed by the Corporation under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. Copies of the documents referred to in the preceding sentence have been
furnished to you by the Corporation. The Corporation has also furnished you with
copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the following additional
documents related to the Corporation and the Fund:
(a) The Articles dated January 10, 1992, as amended to date.
(b) By-Laws of the Corporation as in effect on the date hereof (the
"By-Laws").
<PAGE>
(c) Resolutions of the Directors of the Corporation and the shareholders of
the Fund selecting you as investment manager and approving the form of
this Agreement.
The Corporation will furnish you from time to time with copies,
properly certified or authenticated, of all amendments of or supplements, if
any, to the foregoing, including the Prospectus, the SAI and the Registration
Statement.
2. Portfolio Management Services. As manager of the assets of the Fund,
you shall provide continuing investment management of the assets of the Fund in
accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions set forth
in the Prospectus and SAI; the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code") relating to regulated
investment companies and all rules and regulations thereunder; and all other
applicable federal and state laws and regulations of which you have knowledge;
subject always to policies and instructions adopted by the Corporation's Board
of Directors. In connection therewith, you shall use reasonable efforts to
manage the Fund so that it will qualify as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Code and regulations issued thereunder. The Fund shall have
the benefit of the investment analysis and research, the review of current
economic conditions and trends and the consideration of long-range investment
policy generally available to your investment advisory clients. In managing the
Fund in accordance with the requirements set forth in this section 2, you shall
be entitled to receive and act upon advice of counsel to the Corporation or
counsel to you. You shall also make available to the Corporation promptly upon
request all of the Fund's investment records and ledgers as are necessary to
assist the Corporation in complying with the requirements of the 1940 Act and
other applicable laws. To the extent required by law, you shall furnish to
regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports
in connection with the services provided pursuant to this Agreement which may be
requested in order to ascertain whether the operations of the Corporation are
being conducted in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
You shall determine the securities, instruments, investments,
currencies, repurchase agreements, futures, options and other contracts relating
to investments to be purchased, sold or entered into by the Fund and place
orders with broker-dealers, foreign currency dealers, futures commission
merchants or others pursuant to your determinations and all in accordance with
Fund policies as expressed in the Registration Statement. You shall determine
what portion of the Fund's portfolio shall be invested in securities and other
assets and what portion, if any, should be held uninvested.
You shall furnish to the Corporation's Board of Directors periodic
reports on the investment performance of the Fund and on the performance of your
obligations pursuant to this Agreement, and you shall supply such additional
reports and information as the Corporation's officers or Board of Directors
shall reasonably request.
3. Administrative Services. In addition to the portfolio management
services specified above in section 2, you shall furnish at your expense for the
use of the Fund such office
2
<PAGE>
space and facilities in the United States as the Fund may require for its
reasonable needs, and you (or one or more of your affiliates designated by you)
shall render to the Corporation administrative services on behalf of the Fund
necessary for operating as an open-end investment company and not provided by
persons not parties to this Agreement including, but not limited to, preparing
reports to and meeting materials for the Corporation's Board of Directors and
reports and notices to Fund shareholders; supervising, negotiating contractual
arrangements with, to the extent appropriate, and monitoring the performance of,
accounting agents, custodians, depositories, transfer agents and pricing agents,
accountants, attorneys, printers, underwriters, brokers and dealers, insurers
and other persons in any capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable to Fund
operations; preparing and making filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") and other regulatory and self-regulatory organizations,
including, but not limited to, preliminary and definitive proxy materials,
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, semi-annual reports on
Form N-SAR and notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the 1940 Act; overseeing the
tabulation of proxies by the Fund's transfer agent; assisting in the preparation
and filing of the Fund's federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and
filing the Fund's federal excise tax return pursuant to Section 4982 of the
Code; providing assistance with investor and public relations matters;
monitoring the valuation of portfolio securities and the calculation of net
asset value; monitoring the registration of Shares of the Fund under applicable
federal and state securities laws; maintaining or causing to be maintained for
the Fund all books, records and reports and any other information required under
the 1940 Act, to the extent that such books, records and reports and other
information are not maintained by the Fund's custodian or other agents of the
Fund; assisting in establishing the accounting policies of the Fund; assisting
in the resolution of accounting issues that may arise with respect to the Fund's
operations and consulting with the Fund's independent accountants, legal counsel
and the Fund's other agents as necessary in connection therewith; establishing
and monitoring the Fund's operating expense budgets; reviewing the Fund's bills;
processing the payment of bills that have been approved by an authorized person;
assisting the Fund in determining the amount of dividends and distributions
available to be paid by the Fund to its shareholders, preparing and arranging
for the printing of dividend notices to shareholders, and providing the transfer
and dividend paying agent, the custodian, and the accounting agent with such
information as is required for such parties to effect the payment of dividends
and distributions; and otherwise assisting the Corporation as it may reasonably
request in the conduct of the Fund's business, subject to the direction and
control of the Corporation's Board of Directors. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be deemed to shift to you or to diminish the obligations of any agent of the
Fund or any other person not a party to this Agreement which is obligated to
provide services to the Fund.
4. Allocation of Charges and Expenses. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in this section 4, you shall pay the compensation and expenses of all
Directors, officers and executive employees of the Corporation (including the
Fund's share of payroll taxes) who are affiliated persons of you, and you shall
make available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such of your
directors, officers and employees as may duly be elected officers of the
Corporation, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations
imposed by law. You shall provide at your expense the portfolio management
services described in section 2 hereof and the administrative services described
in section 3 hereof.
3
<PAGE>
You shall not be required to pay any expenses of the Fund other than
those specifically allocated to you in this section 4. In particular, but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you shall not be responsible,
except to the extent of the reasonable compensation of such of the Fund's
Directors and officers as are directors, officers or employees of you whose
services may be involved, for the following expenses of the Fund: organization
expenses of the Fund (including out-of-pocket expenses, but not including your
overhead or employee costs); fees payable to you and to any other Fund advisors
or consultants; legal expenses; auditing and accounting expenses; maintenance of
books and records which are required to be maintained by the Fund's custodian or
other agents of the Corporation; telephone, telex, facsimile, postage and other
communications expenses; taxes and governmental fees; fees, dues and expenses
incurred by the Fund in connection with membership in investment company trade
organizations; fees and expenses of the Fund's accounting agent, custodians,
subcustodians, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and registrars;
payment for portfolio pricing or valuation services to pricing agents,
accountants, bankers and other specialists, if any; expenses of preparing share
certificates and, except as provided below in this section 4, other expenses in
connection with the issuance, offering, distribution, sale, redemption or
repurchase of securities issued by the Fund; expenses relating to investor and
public relations; expenses and fees of registering or qualifying Shares of the
Fund for sale; interest charges, bond premiums and other insurance expense;
freight, insurance and other charges in connection with the shipment of the
Fund's portfolio securities; the compensation and all expenses (specifically
including travel expenses relating to Corporation business) of Directors,
officers and employees of the Corporation who are not affiliated persons of you;
brokerage commissions or other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio
securities of the Fund; expenses of printing and distributing reports, notices
and dividends to shareholders; expenses of printing and mailing Prospectuses and
SAIs of the Fund and supplements thereto; costs of stationery; any litigation
expenses; indemnification of Directors and officers of the Corporation; costs of
shareholders' and other meetings; and travel expenses (or an appropriate portion
thereof) of Directors and officers of the Corporation who are directors,
officers or employees of you to the extent that such expenses relate to
attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any
committees thereof or advisors thereto held outside of Boston, Massachusetts or
New York, New York.
You shall not be required to pay expenses of any activity which is
primarily intended to result in sales of Shares of the Fund if and to the extent
that (i) such expenses are required to be borne by a principal underwriter which
acts as the distributor of the Fund's Shares pursuant to an underwriting
agreement which provides that the underwriter shall assume some or all of such
expenses, or (ii) the Corporation on behalf of the Fund shall have adopted a
plan in conformity with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act providing that the Fund
(or some other party) shall assume some or all of such expenses. You shall be
required to pay such of the foregoing sales expenses as are not required to be
paid by the principal underwriter pursuant to the underwriting agreement or are
not permitted to be paid by the Fund (or some other party) pursuant to such a
plan.
5. Management Fee. For all services to be rendered, payments to be made
and costs to be assumed by you as provided in sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof, the
Corporation on behalf of the Fund shall pay you in United States Dollars on the
last day of each month the unpaid balance of a fee equal to the excess of 1/12
of 0.85 of 1 percent of the average daily net assets as defined
4
<PAGE>
below of the Fund for such month; provided that, for any calendar month during
which the average of such values exceeds $100 million, the fee payable for that
month based on the portion of the average of such values in excess of $100
million shall be 1/12 of 0.75 of 1 percent of such portion; and provided that,
for any calendar month during which the average of such values exceeds $300
million, the fee payable for that month based on the portion of the average of
such values in excess of $300 million shall be 1/12 of 0.70 of 1 percent of such
portion; and provided that, for any calendar month during which the average of
such values exceeds $600 million, the fee payable for that month based on the
portion of the average of such values in excess of $600 million shall be 1/12 of
0.65 of 1 percent of such portion over any compensation waived by you from time
to time (as more fully described below). You shall be entitled to receive during
any month such interim payments of your fee hereunder as you shall request,
provided that no such payment shall exceed 75 percent of the amount of your fee
then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
The "average daily net assets" of the Fund shall mean the average of
the values placed on the Fund's net assets as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on
each day on which the net asset value of the Fund is determined consistent with
the provisions of Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act or, if the Fund lawfully
determines the value of its net assets as of some other time on each business
day, as of such time. The value of the net assets of the Fund shall always be
determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Articles and the
Registration Statement. If the determination of net asset value does not take
place for any particular day, then for the purposes of this section 5, the value
of the net assets of the Fund as last determined shall be deemed to be the value
of its net assets as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time), or as of such other time as
the value of the net assets of the Fund's portfolio may be lawfully determined
on that day. If the Fund determines the value of the net assets of its portfolio
more than once on any day, then the last such determination thereof on that day
shall be deemed to be the sole determination thereof on that day for the
purposes of this section 5.
You may waive all or a portion of your fees provided for hereunder and
such waiver shall be treated as a reduction in purchase price of your services.
You shall be contractually bound hereunder by the terms of any publicly
announced waiver of your fee, or any limitation of the Fund's expenses, as if
such waiver or limitation were fully set forth herein.
6. Avoidance of Inconsistent Position; Services Not Exclusive. In
connection with purchases or sales of portfolio securities and other investments
for the account of the Fund, neither you nor any of your directors, officers or
employees shall act as a principal or agent or receive any commission. You or
your agent shall arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale
of portfolio securities and other investments for the Fund's account with
brokers or dealers selected by you in accordance with Fund policies as expressed
in the Registration Statement. If any occasion should arise in which you give
any advice to clients of yours concerning the Shares of the Fund, you shall act
solely as investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of
the Fund.
5
<PAGE>
Your services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement are not to be
deemed to be exclusive and it is understood that you may render investment
advice, management and services to others. In acting under this Agreement, you
shall be an independent contractor and not an agent of the Corporation.
Whenever the Fund and one or more other accounts or investment
companies advised by the Manager have available funds for investment,
investments suitable and appropriate for each shall be allocated in accordance
with procedures believed by the Manager to be equitable to each entity.
Similarly, opportunities to sell securities shall be allocated in a manner
believed by the Manager to be equitable. The Fund recognizes that in some cases
this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position that may be
acquired or disposed of for the Fund.
7. Limitation of Liability of Manager. As an inducement to your
undertaking to render services pursuant to this Agreement, the Corporation
agrees that you shall not be liable under this Agreement for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection
with the matters to which this Agreement relates, provided that nothing in this
Agreement shall be deemed to protect or purport to protect you against any
liability to the Corporation, the Fund or its shareholders to which you would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of your duties, or by reason of your reckless
disregard of your obligations and duties hereunder. Any person, even though also
employed by you, who may be or become an employee of and paid by the Fund shall
be deemed, when acting within the scope of his or her employment by the Fund, to
be acting in such employment solely for the Fund and not as your employee or
agent.
8. Duration and Termination of This Agreement. This Agreement shall
remain in force until October 31, 1999, and continue in force from year to year
thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of the Directors who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any party to this Agreement,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval,
and (b) by the Directors of the Corporation, or by the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The aforesaid requirement that
continuance of this Agreement be "specifically approved at least annually" shall
be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder and any applicable SEC exemptive order therefrom.
This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Fund at any time,
without the payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund or by the Corporation's Board of Directors on 60
days' written notice to you, or by you on 60 days' written notice to the
Corporation. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment.
9. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the change, waiver,
discharge or termination is sought, and no
6
<PAGE>
amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved in a manner
consistent with the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder and any
applicable SEC exemptive order therefrom.
10. Miscellaneous. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
In interpreting the provisions of this Agreement, the definitions
contained in Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act (particularly the definitions of
"affiliated person," "assignment" and "majority of the outstanding voting
securities"), as from time to time amended, shall be applied, subject, however,
to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC by any rule, regulation or
order.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Maryland, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act, or in a manner which would cause the Fund to
fail to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code.
This Agreement shall supersede all prior investment advisory or
management agreements entered into between you and the Corporation on behalf of
the Fund.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please execute the form of
acceptance on the accompanying counterpart of this letter and return such
counterpart to the Corporation, whereupon this letter shall become a binding
contract effective as of the date of this Agreement.
Yours very truly,
THE JAPAN FUND, INC
By: ______________________________
Vice President
The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted as of the date hereof.
SCUDDER KEMPER INVESTMENTS, INC.
By: ______________________________
Managing Director
7
THE JAPAN FUND, INC.
STOCKHOLDER MEETING RESULTS
A Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of The Japan Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund") was held on December 11, 1998, at the offices of Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc., Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. At the
Meeting the following matters were voted upon by the stockholders (the resulting
votes for each matter are presented below).
1. To elect Directors of the Fund.
Number of Votes:
----------------
Director For Withheld
-------- --- --------
Peter Booth 21,642,873 1,184,699
William L. Givens 21,638,643 1,188,929
William H. Gleysteen, Jr. 21,608,638 1,218,934
Thomas M. Hout 21,670,706 1,156,866
John F. Loughran 21,670,218 1,157,354
Yoshihiko Miyauchi 21,490,110 1,337,462
William V. Rapp 21,652,136 1,175,436
Henry Rosovsky 21,634,052 1,193,520
Takeo Shiina 21,672,774 1,154,798
O. Robert Theurkauf 21,682,704 1,144,868
Hiroshi Yamanaka 21,608,041 1,219,531
2. To approve a new Investment Management Agreement for the Fund with Scudder
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Number of Votes:
----------------
For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes*
--- ------- ------- -----------------
21,312,849 789,542 725,181 0
25
<PAGE>
THE JAPAN FUND, INC.
STOCKHOLDER MEETING RESULTS
3. To approve the revision of the Fund's fundamental lending policy.
Number of Votes:
----------------
For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes*
--- ------- ------- -----------------
15,803,504 1,534,953 976,070 4,513,045
4. To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent
accountants for the Fund for the Fund's current fiscal year.
Number of Votes:
----------------
For Against Abstain
--- ------- -------
21,703,970 451,329 672,273
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Broker non-votes are proxies received by the Fund from brokers or nominees
when the broker or nominee neither has received instructions from the
beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote nor has discretionary
power to vote on a particular matter.
26
THE JAPAN FUND, INC.
345 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10154
September 7, 1998
Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Underwriting Agreement
----------------------
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Japan Fund, Inc. (hereinafter called the "Fund") is a corporation
organized under the laws of Maryland and is engaged in the business of an
investment company. The authorized capital of the Fund consists of shares of
capital stock, with a par value of $0.33 1/3 per share ("Shares"). The Fund has
selected you to act as principal underwriter (as such term is defined in Section
2(a)(29) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of
the Shares and you are willing to act as such principal underwriter and to
perform the duties and functions of underwriter in the manner and on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth. Accordingly, the Fund hereby agrees with
you as follows:
1. Delivery of Documents. The Fund has furnished you with copies
properly certified or authenticated of each of the following:
(a) Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Fund, dated
January 10, 1992, as amended to date.
(b) By-Laws of the Fund as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) Resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Fund selecting
you as principal underwriter and approving this form of
Agreement.
<PAGE>
The Fund will furnish you from time to time with copies, properly
certified or authenticated, of all amendments of or supplements to the
foregoing, if any.
The Fund will furnish you promptly with properly certified or
authenticated copies of any registration statement filed by it with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
(the "1933 Act") or the 1940 Act, together with any financial statements and
exhibits included therein, and all amendments or supplements thereto hereafter
filed.
2. Registration and Sale of Additional Shares. The Fund will from time
to time use its best efforts to register under the 1933 Act such number of
Shares not already so registered as you may reasonably be expected to sell on
behalf of the Fund. You and the Fund will cooperate in taking such action as may
be necessary from time to time to comply with requirements applicable to the
sale of Shares by you or the Fund in any states mutually agreeable to you and
the Fund, and to maintain such compliance. This Agreement relates to the issue
and sale of Shares that are duly authorized and registered under the 1933 Act
and available for sale by the Fund, including redeemed or repurchased Shares if
and to the extent that they may be legally sold and if, but only if, the Fund
sees fit to sell them.
3. Sale of Shares. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 5 and 7
hereof and to such minimum purchase requirements as may from time to time be
currently indicated in the Fund's prospectus or statement of additional
information, you are authorized to sell as agent on behalf of the Fund Shares
authorized for issue and registered under the 1933 Act. You may also purchase as
principal Shares for resale to the public. Such sales will be made by you on
behalf of the Fund by accepting unconditional orders to purchase Shares placed
with you by investors and such purchases will be made by you only after
acceptance by you of such orders. The sales price to the public of Shares shall
be the public offering price as defined in paragraph 6 hereof.
4. Solicitation of Orders. You will use your best efforts (but only in
states in which you may lawfully do so) to obtain from investors unconditional
orders for Shares authorized for issue by the Funds and registered under the
1933 Act, provided that you may in your discretion refuse to accept orders for
Shares from any particular applicant.
2
<PAGE>
5. Sale of Shares by the Fund. Unless you are otherwise notified by the
Fund, any right granted to you to accept orders for Shares or to make sales on
behalf of the Fund or to purchase Shares for resale will not apply to (i) Shares
issued in connection with the merger or consolidation of any other investment
company with the Fund or its acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, of all or
substantially all of the assets of any investment company or substantially all
the outstanding shares of any such company, and (ii) to Shares that may be
offered by the Fund to shareholders of the Fund by virtue of their being such
shareholders.
6. Public Offering Price. All Shares sold to investors by you will be
sold at the public offering price. The public offering price for all accepted
subscriptions will be the net asset value per Share, determined, in the manner
provided in the Fund's registration statements as from time to time in effect
under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, next after the order is accepted by you.
7. Suspension of Sales. If and whenever the determination of net asset
value is suspended and until such suspension is terminated, no further orders
for Shares shall be accepted by you except unconditional orders placed with you
before you had knowledge of the suspension. In addition, the Fund reserves the
right to suspend sales and your authority to accept orders for Shares on behalf
of the Fund if, in the judgment of a majority of the Board of Directors or a
majority of the Executive Committee of such Board, if such body exists, it is in
the best interests of the Fund to do so, such suspension to continue for such
period as may be determined by such majority; and in that event, no Shares will
be sold by you on behalf of the Fund while such suspension remains in effect
except for Shares necessary to cover unconditional orders accepted by you before
you had knowledge of the suspension.
8. Portfolio Securities. Portfolio securities of the Fund may be bought
or sold by or through you and you may participate directly or indirectly in
brokerage commissions or "spread" in respect of transactions in portfolio
securities of the Fund; provided, however, that all sums of money received by
you as a result of such purchases and sales or as a result of such participation
must, after reimbursement of your actual expenses in connection with such
activity, be paid over by you to or for the benefit of the Fund.
3
<PAGE>
9. Expenses. (a) The Fund will pay (or will enter into arrangements
providing that others than you will pay) all fees and expenses:
(1) in connection with the preparation, setting in type and filing
of any registration statement (including a prospectus and
statement of additional information) under the 1933 Act or the
1940 Act, or both, and any amendments or supplements thereto
that may be made from time to time;
(2) in connection with the registration and qualification of
Shares for sale, or compliance with other conditions
applicable to the sale of Shares in the various jurisdictions
in which the Fund shall determine it advisable to sell such
Shares (including registering the Fund as a broker or dealer
or any officer of the Fund or other person as agent or
salesman of the Fund in any such jurisdictions);
(3) of preparing, setting in type, printing and mailing any
notice, proxy statement, report, prospectus or other
communication to shareholders of the Fund in their capacity as
such;
(4) of preparing, setting in type, printing and mailing
prospectuses annually, and any supplements thereto, to
existing shareholders;
(5) in connection with the issue and transfer of Shares resulting
from the acceptance by you of orders to purchase Shares placed
with you by investors, including the expenses of printing and
mailing confirmations of such purchase orders and the expenses
of printing and mailing a prospectus included with the
confirmation of such orders;
(6) of any issue taxes or any initial transfer taxes;
(7) of WATS (or equivalent) telephone lines other than the portion
allocated to you in this paragraph 9;
(8) of wiring funds in payment of Share purchases or in
satisfaction of redemption or repurchase requests, unless such
expenses are paid for by the investor or shareholder who
initiates the transaction;
4
<PAGE>
(9) of the cost of printing and postage of business reply
envelopes sent to Fund shareholders;
(10) of one or more CRT terminals connected with the computer
facilities of the transfer agent other than the portion
allocated to you in this paragraph 9;
(11) permitted to be paid or assumed by the Fund pursuant to a plan
("12b-1 Plan"), if any, adopted by the Fund in conformity with
the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act ("Rule
12b-1") or any successor rule, notwithstanding any other
provision to the contrary herein;
(12) of the expense of setting in type, printing and postage of the
periodic newsletter to shareholders other than the portion
allocated to you in this paragraph 9; and
(13) of the salaries and overhead of persons employed by you as
shareholder representatives other than the portion allocated
to you in this paragraph 9.
b) You shall pay or arrange for the payment of all fees and
expenses:
(1) of printing and distributing any prospectuses or reports
prepared for your use in connection with the offering of
Shares to the public;
(2) of preparing, setting in type, printing and mailing any other
literature used by you in connection with the offering of
Shares to the public;
(3) of advertising in connection with the offering of Shares to
the public;
(4) incurred in connection with your registration as a broker or
dealer or the registration or qualification of your officers,
directors, agents or representatives under Federal and state
laws;
(5) of that portion of WATS (or equivalent) telephone lines,
allocated to you on the basis of use by investors (but not
shareholders) who request information or prospectuses;
(6) of that portion of the expenses of setting in type, printing
and postage of the periodic newsletter to shareholders
attributable to promotional material included in such
newsletter at your request concerning investment companies
other than the Fund or concerning the Fund to the extent you
are required to assume the expense thereof
5
<PAGE>
pursuant to paragraph 9(b)(8), except such material which is
limited to information, such as listings of other investment
companies and their investment objectives, given in connection
with the exchange privilege as from time to time described in
the Fund's prospectus;
(7) of that portion of the salaries and overhead of persons
employed by you as shareholder representatives attributable to
the time spent by such persons in responding to requests from
prospective investors and shareholders for information about
the Fund;
(8) of any activity which is primarily intended to result in the
sale of Shares, unless a 12b-1 Plan shall be in effect which
provides that the Fund shall bear some or all of such
expenses, in which case the Fund shall bear such expenses in
accordance with such Plan; and
(9) of that portion of one or more CRT terminals connected with
the computer facilities of the transfer agent attributable to
your use of such terminal(s) to gain access to such of the
transfer agent's records as also serve as your records.
Expenses which are to be allocated between you and the Fund shall be
allocated pursuant to reasonable procedures or formulae mutually agreed upon
from time to time, which procedures or formulae shall to the extent practicable
reflect studies of relevant empirical data.
10. Conformity with Law. You agree that in selling Shares you will duly
conform in all respects with the laws of the United States and any state in
which Shares may be offered for sale by you pursuant to this Agreement and to
the rules and regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., of which you are a member.
11. Independent Contractor. You shall be an independent contractor and
neither you nor any of your officers or employees is or shall be an employee of
the Fund in the performance of your duties hereunder. You shall be responsible
for your own conduct and the employment, control and conduct of your agents and
employees and for injury to such agents or employees or to others
6
<PAGE>
through your agents or employees. You assume full responsibility for your agents
and employees under applicable statutes and agree to pay all employee taxes
thereunder.
12. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund
and each of its Director and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and other
expenses) to which the Fund or such Directors, officers, or controlling person
may become subject under such Act, under any other statute, at common law or
otherwise, arising out of the acquisition of any Shares by any person which (i)
may be based upon any wrongful act by you or any of your employees or
representatives, or (ii) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement
(including a prospectus or statement of additional information) covering Shares
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statement therein not misleading if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by you, or
(iii) may be incurred or arise by reason of your acting as the Fund's agent
instead of purchasing and reselling Shares as principal in distributing the
Shares to the public, provided, however, that in no case (i) is your indemnity
in favor of a Director or officer or any other person deemed to protect such
Director or officer or other person against any liability to which any such
person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of his duties or by reason of his
reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or (ii) are
you to be liable under your indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph with
respect to any claim made against the Fund or any person indemnified unless the
Fund or such person, as the case may be, shall have notified you in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claims shall have been served upon the Fund or
upon such person (or after the Fund or such person shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify you of any such
claim shall not relieve you from any liability which you may have to the Fund or
any person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of your
7
<PAGE>
indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph. You shall be entitled to
participate, at your own expense, in the defense, or, if you so elect, to assume
the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but if you elect
to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by you
and satisfactory to the Fund, to its officers and Directors, or to any
controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event
that you elect to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel,
the Fund, such officers and Directors or 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 you do not elect to assume the
defense of any such suit, you will reimburse the Fund, such officers and
Directors or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in such suit
for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. You agree
promptly to notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against it in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.
The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless you and each of your
directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls you within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which
you or such directors, officers or controlling person may become subject under
such Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of
the acquisition of any Shares by any person which (i) may be based upon any
wrongful act by the Fund or any of its employees or representatives, or (ii) may
be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in a registration statement (including a prospectus or statement
of additional information) covering Shares or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto 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 if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to you by the Fund; provided, however, that in no case (i)
is the Fund's indemnity in favor of you, a director or officer or any other
person deemed to protect you, such director or officer or other person against
any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of his
8
<PAGE>
duties or by reason of his reckless disregard of 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 claims made against you or any
such director, officer or controlling person unless you or such director,
officer or controlling person, 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 you or upon such director, officer or controlling person (or after you or
such director, officer or controlling person 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 you, your directors, officers, or controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event that the Fund elects to assume
the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, you, your directors,
officers or 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 you or such directors, officers or controlling person or persons,
defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any
counsel retained by them. The Fund agrees promptly to notify you of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or Directors in connection with the issuance or sale of any Shares.
13. Authorized Representations. The Fund is not authorized to give any
information or to make any representations on behalf of you other than the
information and representations contained in a registration statement (including
a prospectus or statement of additional information) covering Shares, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time.
9
<PAGE>
You are not authorized to give any information or to make any
representations on behalf of the Fund or in connection with the sale of Shares
other than the information and representations contained in a registration
statement (including a prospectus or statement of additional information)
covering Shares, as such registration statement may be amended or supplemented
from time to time. No person other than you is authorized to act as principal
underwriter (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) for the Fund.
14. Duration and Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement shall
become effective upon the date first written above and will remain in effect
until October 31, 1999 and from year to year thereafter, but only so long as
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a
majority of the Directors who are not interested persons of you or of the Fund,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval,
and by vote of the Board of Directors or of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. This Agreement may, on 60 days' written notice, be
terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of
Directors of the Fund, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund, or by you. This Agreement will automatically terminate
in the event of its assignment. In interpreting the provisions of this paragraph
14, the definitions contained in Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act (particularly the
definitions of "interested person", "assignment" and "majority of the
outstanding voting securities"), as modified by any applicable order of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, shall be applied.
15. Amendment of this Agreement. No provisions of this Agreement may be
changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in
writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver,
discharge or termination is sought. If the Fund should at any time deem it
necessary or advisable in the best interests of the Fund that any amendment of
this Agreement be made in order to comply with the recommendations or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental
authority or to obtain any advantage under state or federal tax laws and should
notify you of the form of such amendment, and the reasons therefor, and if you
should decline to assent to such amendment, the
10
<PAGE>
Fund may terminate this Agreement forthwith. If you should at any time request
that a change be made in the Fund's Articles of Incorporation or By-laws or in
its methods of doing business, in order to comply with any requirements of
federal law or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or of a
national securities association of which you are or may be a member relating to
the sale of shares of the Fund, and the Fund should not make such necessary
change within a reasonable time, you may terminate this Agreement forthwith.
16. Termination of Prior Agreements. This Agreement upon its
effectiveness terminates and supersedes all prior underwriting contracts between
the parties.
17. 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. This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of
acceptance on the accompanying counterpart of this letter and return such
counterpart to the Fund, whereupon this letter shall become a binding contract.
Very truly yours,
THE JAPAN FUND, INC.
By: _____________________________
Kathryn L. Quirk
Vice President
The foregoing agreement is hereby accepted as of the foregoing date
thereof.
SCUDDER INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
By:________________________________
11
<PAGE>
Dan Pierce
Vice President
12
