EXHIBIT 23(e)(1)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of July 20, 1999 between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ FUNDS (the
"Company"), a Massachusetts business trust having its principal place of
business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, and BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP D/B/A/ BISYS FUND SERVICES
(the "Distributor"), having its principal place of business at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end management investment company
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, it is intended that Distributor act as the distributor of the
shares of beneficial interest ("Shares") of each of the investment portfolios of
the Company (such portfolios being referred to individually as a "Fund" and
collectively as the "Funds").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants
herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. SERVICES AS DISTRIBUTOR.
1.1 Distributor will act as agent for the distribution of the
Shares covered by the registration statement and prospectus of the Company then
in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
As used in this Agreement, the term "registration statement" shall mean Parts A
(the prospectus), B (the Statement of Additional Information) and C of each
registration statement that is filed on Form N-1A, or any successor thereto,
with the Commission, together with any amendments thereto. The term "prospectus"
shall mean each form of prospectus and Statement of Additional Information used
by the Funds for delivery to shareholders and prospective shareholders after the
effective dates of the above referenced registration statements, together with
any amendments and supplements thereto.
1.2 Distributor agrees to use appropriate efforts to solicit
orders for the sale of the Shares and will undertake such advertising and
promotion as it believes reasonable in connection with such solicitation. The
Company understands that Distributor is now and may in the future be the
distributor of the shares of several investment companies or series (together,
"Investment Companies") including Investment Companies having investment
objectives similar to those of the Funds. The Company further understands that
investors and potential investors in the Company may invest in shares of such
other Investment Companies. The Company agrees that Distributor's duties to such
Investment Companies shall not be deemed in conflict with its duties to the
Company under this paragraph 1.2.
Distributor shall, at its own expense, finance appropriate activities
which it deems reasonable, which are primarily intended to result in the sale of
the Shares, including, but not limited to, advertising, compensation of
underwriters, dealers and sales personnel, the printing and mailing of
prospectuses to other than current Shareholders, and the printing and mailing of
sales literature.
1.3 In its capacity as distributor of the Shares, all activities
of Distributor and its partners, agents, and employees shall comply with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940
Act, all rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder and all
rules and regulations adopted by any securities association registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
1.4 Distributor will provide one or more persons, during normal
business hours, to respond to telephone questions with respect to the Company.
1.5 Distributor will transmit any orders received by it for
purchase or redemption of the Shares to the transfer agent and custodian for the
Funds.
1.6 Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by
unusual market, economic or political conditions, or by abnormal circumstances
of any kind, the Company's officers may decline to accept any orders for, or
make any sales of, the Shares until such time as those officers deem it
advisable to accept such orders and to make such sales.
1.7 Distributor will act only on its own behalf as principal if
it chooses to enter into selling agreements with selected dealers or others.
1.8 The Company agrees at its own expense to execute any and all
documents and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all
actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the qualification of
the Shares for sale in such states as Distributor may designate.
1.9 The Company shall furnish from time to time, for use in
connection with the sale of the Shares, such information with respect to the
Funds and the Shares as Distributor may reasonably request; and the Company
warrants that the statements contained in any such information shall fairly show
or represent what they purport to show or represent. The Company shall also
furnish Distributor upon request with: (a) unaudited semi-annual statements of
the Funds' books and accounts prepared by the Company, (b) a monthly itemized
list of the securities in the Funds, (c) monthly balance sheets as soon as
practicable after the end of each month, and (d) from time to time such
additional information regarding the financial condition of the Funds as
Distributor may reasonably request.
1.10 The Company represents to Distributor that, with respect to
the Shares, all registration statements and prospectuses filed by the Company
with the Commission under the Securities Act have been carefully prepared in
conformity with requirements of said Act and rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder. The registration statement and prospectus contain all
statements required to be stated therein in conformity with said Act and the
rules and regulations of said Commission and all statements of fact contained in
any such registration statement and prospectus are true and correct.
Furthermore, neither any registration statement nor any prospectus includes an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
to a purchaser of the Shares. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to,
propose from time to time such amendment or amendments to any registration
statement and such supplement or supplements to any prospectus as, in the light
of future developments, may, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, be
necessary or advisable. If the Company shall not propose such amendment or
amendments and/or supplement or supplements within fifteen days after receipt by
the Company of a written request from Distributor to do so, Distributor may, at
its option, terminate this Agreement. The Company shall not file any amendment
to any registration statement or supplement to any prospectus without giving
Distributor reasonable notice thereof in advance; provided, however, that
nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Company's right
to file at any time such amendments to any registration statement and/or
supplements to any prospectus, of whatever character, as the Company may deem
advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
1.11 The Company authorizes Distributor and dealers to use any
prospectus in the form furnished from time to time in connection with the sale
of the Shares. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Distributor, its
several partners and employees, and any person who controls Distributor within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and
against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the
cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any
counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which Distributor, its partners
and employees, or any such controlling person, may incur under the Securities
Act or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any untrue
statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in any
registration statement or any prospectus or arising out of or based upon any
omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in
either any registration statement or any prospectus or necessary to make the
statements in either thereof not misleading; provided, however, that the
Company's agreement to indemnify Distributor, its partners or employees, and any
such controlling person shall not be deemed to cover any claims, demands,
liabilities or expenses arising out of any statements or representations as are
contained in any prospectus and in such financial and other statements as are
furnished in writing to the Company by Distributor and used in the answers to
the registration statement or in the corresponding statements made in the
prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact in connection with the giving of such information required
to be stated in such answers or necessary to make the answers not misleading;
and further provided that the Company's agreement to indemnify Distributor and
the Company's representations and warranties hereinbefore set forth in paragraph
1.10 shall not be deemed to cover any liability to the Company or its
Shareholders to which Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties,
or by reason of Distributor's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under this Agreement. The Company's agreement to indemnify Distributor, its
partners and employees and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is
expressly conditioned upon the Company being notified of any action brought
against Distributor, its partners or employees, or any such controlling person,
such notification to be given by letter or by telegram addressed to the Company
at its principal office in Columbus, Ohio and sent to the Company by the person
against whom such action is brought, within 10 days after the summons or other
first legal process shall have been served. The failure to so notify the Company
of any such action shall not relieve the Company from any liability which the
Company may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of
any such untrue, or allegedly untrue, statement or omission, or alleged
omission, otherwise than on account of the Company's indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph 1.11. The Company will be entitled to assume the
defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but,
in such case, such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen
by the Company and approved by Distributor, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. In the event the Company elects to assume the defense of
any such suit and retain counsel of good standing approved by Distributor, the
defendant or defendants in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by any of them; but in case the Company does not
elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case Distributor reasonably
does not approve of counsel chosen by the Company, the Company will reimburse
Distributor, its partners and employees, or the controlling person or persons
named as defendant or defendants in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any
counsel retained by Distributor or them. The Company's indemnification agreement
contained in this paragraph 1.11 and the Company's representations and
warranties in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Distributor, its
partners and employees, or any controlling person, and shall survive the
delivery of any Shares.
This Agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to
Distributor's benefit, to the benefit of its several partners and employees, and
their respective estates, and to the benefit of the controlling persons and
their successors. The Company agrees promptly to notify Distributor of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its
officers or Board members in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.
1.12 Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the
Company, its several officers and Board members and any person who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless
from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses
(including the costs of investigating or defending such claims, demands, or
liabilities and any counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which the
Company, its officers or Board members or any such controlling person, may incur
under the Securities Act or under common law or otherwise, but only to the
extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Company, its officers or
Board members or such controlling person resulting from such claims or demands,
shall arise out of or be based upon any untrue, or alleged untrue, statement of
a material fact contained in information furnished in writing by Distributor to
the Company and used in the answers to any of the items of the registration
statement or in the corresponding statements made in the prospectus, or shall
arise out of or be based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a
material fact in connection with such information furnished in writing by
Distributor to the Company required to be stated in such answers or necessary to
make such information not misleading. Distributor's agreement to indemnify the
Company, its officers and Board members, and any such controlling person, as
aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon Distributor being notified of any
action brought against the Company, its officers or Board members, or any such
controlling person, such notification to be given by letter or telegram
addressed to Distributor at its principal office in Columbus, Ohio, and sent to
Distributor by the person against whom such action is brought, within 10 days
after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served.
Distributor shall have the right of first control of the defense of such action,
with counsel of its own choosing, satisfactory to the Company, if such action is
based solely upon such alleged misstatement or omission on Distributor's part,
and in any other event the Company, its officers or Board members or such
controlling person shall each have the right to participate in the defense or
preparation of the defense of any such action. The failure to so notify
Distributor of any such action shall not relieve Distributor from any liability
which Distributor may have to the Company, its officers or Board members, or to
such controlling person by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement, or omission or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of
Distributor's indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph 1.12.
1.13 No Shares shall be offered by either Distributor or the
Company under any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the
purchase or sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Company if and so
long as the effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or any
necessary amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of
the Securities Act or if and so long as a current prospectus as required by
Section 10(b)(2) of said Act is not on file with the Commission; provided,
however, that nothing contained in this paragraph 1.13 shall in any way restrict
or have an application to or bearing upon the Company's obligation to repurchase
Shares from any Shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Company's
prospectus, Agreement and Declaration of Trust, or Bylaws.
1.14 The Company agrees to advise Distributor as soon as
reasonably practical by a notice in writing delivered to Distributor or its
counsel:
(a) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
registration statement or prospectus then in effect or for
additional information;
(b) in the event of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the registration
statement or prospectus then in effect or the initiation by
service of process on the Company of any proceeding for that
purpose;
(c) of the happening of any event that makes untrue any
statement of a material fact made in the registration
statement or prospectus then in effect or which requires the
making of a change in such registration statement or
prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
misleading; and
(d) of all action of the Commission with respect to any
amendment to any registration statement or prospectus which
may from time to time be filed with the Commission.
For purposes of this section, informal requests by or acts of the
Staff of the Commission shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the
Commission.
1.15 Distributor agrees on behalf of itself and its partners and
employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Company
all records and other information relative to the Company and its prior, present
or potential Shareholders, and not to use such records and information for any
purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder,
except, after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Company,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where
Distributor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure
to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities, or when so requested by the Company.
1.16 This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Ohio.
1.17 In the event Distributor purchases the initial shares of the
Company for purposes of satisfying the minimum net worth requirements set forth
in Section 14 (a) of the 1940 Act, and a notice of termination is subsequently
given or this Agreement is otherwise terminated pursuant to Section 6 herein for
any reason prior to the time that organizational expenses incurred by the
Company have been fully amortized, then the Company shall either (i) cause the
successor distributor of the shares (the "Successor Distributor") to pay to
Distributor, within ten (10) days prior to the termination of this Agreement, an
amount of cash that is sufficient to purchase the initial shares that are held
by Distributor or (ii) enable Distributor to redeem the initial shares of the
Company that it holds by causing the Successor Distributor to contribute to the
Company, within ten (10) days prior to the termination of this Agreement, any
unamortized organizational costs in the same proportion as the number of initial
shares being redeemed bears to the number of initial shares outstanding at the
time of such contribution. In the latter case, Distributor shall be entitled to
redeem any or all of the initial shares that it holds and receive redemption
proceeds without any reduction in the amount of such proceeds, prior to the
termination of this Agreement.
2. FEE.
Distributor shall receive from the Funds identified in the
Distribution and Servicing Plan attached as Exhibit A hereto (the "Distribution
Plan Funds") a distribution fee at the rate and upon the terms and conditions
set forth in such Plan. The distribution fee shall be accrued daily and shall be
paid on the first business day of each month, or at such time(s) as the
Distributor shall reasonably request.
3. SALE AND PAYMENT.
Shares of a Fund may be subject to a sales load and may be
subject to the imposition of a distribution fee pursuant to a Distribution and
Servicing Plan referred to above. To the extent that Shares of a Fund are sold
at an offering price which includes a sales load or at net asset value subject
to a contingent deferred sales load with respect to certain redemptions (either
within a single class of Shares or pursuant to two or more classes of Shares),
such Shares shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as "Load Shares" (in
the case of Shares that are sold with a front-end sales load or Shares that are
sold subject to a contingent deferred sales load), "Front-End Load Shares" or
"CDSL Shares" and individually as a "Load Share," a "Front-End Load Share" or a
"CDSL Share." A Fund that contains Front-End Load Shares shall hereinafter be
referred to collectively as "Load Funds" or "Front-End Load Funds" and
individually as a "Load Fund" or a "Front-end Load Fund." A Fund that contains
CDSL Shares shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as "Load Funds" or
"CDSL Funds" and individually as a "Load Fund" or a "CDSL Fund." Under this
Agreement, the following provisions shall apply with respect to the sale of, and
payment for, Load Shares.
3.1 Distributor shall have the right to purchase Load Shares at
their net asset value and to sell such Load Shares to the public against orders
therefor at the applicable public offering price, as defined in Section 4
hereof. Distributor shall also have the right to sell Load Shares to dealers
against orders therefor at the public offering price less a concession
determined by Distributor, which concession shall not exceed the amount of the
sales charge or underwriting discount, if any, referred to in Section 4 below.
3.2 Prior to the time of delivery of any Load Shares by a Load
Fund to, or on the order of, Distributor, Distributor shall pay or cause to be
paid to the Load Fund or to its order an amount in Boston or New York clearing
house funds equal to the applicable net asset value of such Shares. Distributor
may retain so much of any sales charge or underwriting discount as is not
allowed by Distributor as a concession to dealers.
4. PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE.
The public offering price of a Load Share shall be the net asset
value of such Load Share, plus any applicable sales charge, all as set forth in
the current prospectus of the Load Fund. The net asset value of Shares shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of
Trust and Bylaws of the Company and the then-current prospectus of the Load
Fund.
5. ISSUANCE OF SHARES.
The Company reserves the right to issue, transfer or sell Load
Shares at net asset value (a) in connection with the merger or consolidation of
the Company or the Load Fund(s) with any other investment company or the
acquisition by the Company or the Load Fund(s) of all or substantially all of
the assets or of the outstanding Shares of any other investment company; (b) in
connection with a pro rata distribution directly to the holders of Shares in the
nature of a stock dividend or split; (c) upon the exercise of subscription
rights granted to the holders of Shares on a pro rata basis; (d) in connection
with the issuance of Load Shares pursuant to any exchange and reinvestment
privileges described in any then-current prospectus of the Load Fund; and (e)
otherwise in accordance with any then-current prospectus of the Load Fund.
6. TERM, DURATION AND TERMINATION.
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Fund
listed on Schedule A hereto as of the date first written above or, if a
particular Fund is not in existence on such date, on the date an amendment to
Schedule A to this Agreement relating to that Fund is executed and, unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue until July 20, 2001.
Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue with respect to a
particular Fund automatically for successive one-year terms, provided that such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) by the vote of a
majority of those members of the Company's Board who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting
for the purpose of voting on such approval and (b) by the vote of the Company's
Board members or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
such Fund. This Agreement is terminable without penalty, on not less than sixty
days' prior written notice, by the Company's Board, by vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company or by the Distributor. This
Agreement will also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. (As
used in this Agreement, the terms "majority of the outstanding voting
securities," "interested persons" and "assignment" shall have the same meanings
as ascribed to such terms in the 1940 Act.)
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
This Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Fund by the
undersigned officer of the Fund in his capacity as an officer of the Fund. The
obligations of this Agreement shall only be binding upon the assets and property
of the Fund and shall not be binding upon any Board member, officer or
shareholders of the Fund individually.
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 written above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ FUNDS BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP
BY: BISYS FUND SERVICES, INC.
GENERAL PARTNER
By:_______________________ By:________________________
Title:____________________ Title:_____________________
Date:_____________________ Date:______________________
SCHEDULE A
OpenFund
Communications Technology Fund
Media Technology Fund
OpenFund II