EXHIBIT 99.6(A)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of October, 1996, between Republic Advisor
Funds Trust (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust having its principal
place of business at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and
BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership, d/b/a BISYS Fund Services
("Distributor"), having its principal place of business at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company,
organized as a Massachusetts business trust and registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, it is intended that Distributor act as the distributor of the
units of beneficial interest ("Shares") of each class of the currently
constituted investment portfolios and any additional investment portfolios of
the Trust identified in Schedule A hereto as such Schedule may be amended from
time to time (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 Trust 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. Distributor's
promotional activities may include (a) calling upon and providing assistance to
third-party broker-dealers (including sales training), (b) calling upon and
providing assistance to institutional investors, (c) assisting in the
development and implementation of marketing plans for the Trust's Funds and (d)
providing such additional assistance relating to the marketing of the Trust's
Funds that the Trust and Distributor may, from time to time, deem to be
appropriate. The Trust understands that Distributor is now and may in the future
be the distributor of the shares of several investment companies or series
(together, "Companies") including Companies having investment objectives similar
to those of the Trust. The Trust further understands that investors and
potential investors in the Trust may invest in shares of such other Companies.
The Trust agrees that Distributor's duties to such Companies shall not be deemed
in conflict with its duties to the Trust under this paragraph 1.2.
Distributor may 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, and the compensation of
underwriters, dealers and sales personnel.
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 transmit any orders received by it for purchase or
redemption of the Shares to the transfer agent and custodian for the Funds.
1.5 Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by unusual
market, economic or political conditions, or by abnormal circumstances of any
kind, the Trust'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.
1.6 Distributor will act only on its own behalf as principal if it
chooses to enter into selling agreements with selected dealers or others.
1.7 The Trust 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.
1.8 The Trust 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 Trust warrants that the
statements contained in any such information shall fairly show or represent what
they purport to show or represent. The Trust shall also furnish Distributor upon
request with: (a) unaudited semi-annual statements of the Funds' books and
accounts prepared by the Trust, (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.
1.9 The Trust represents to Distributor that, with respect to the
Shares, all registration statements and prospectuses filed by the Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust's counsel, be necessary or advisable. If the Trust
shall not propose such amendment or amendments and/or supplement or supplements
within fifteen days after receipt by the Trust of a written request from
Distributor to do so, Distributor may, at its option, terminate this Agreement.
The Trust 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 Trust's right to file at any time such amendments to
any registration statement and/or supplements to any prospectus, of whatever
character, as the Trust may deem advisable, such right being in all respects
absolute and unconditional.
1.10 The Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust'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 Trust 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 Trust's agreement to indemnify Distributor and the Trust's
representations and warranties hereinbefore set forth in paragraph 1.9 shall not
be deemed to cover any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which
Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of
Distributor's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. The Trust's agreement to indemnify Distributor, its partners and
employees and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly
conditioned upon the Trust 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 Trust at its
principal office in Columbus, Ohio and sent to the Trust 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 Trust of any
such action shall not relieve the Trust from any liability which the Trust 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 Trust's indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph 1.10. The Trust 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 Trust and
approved by Distributor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In
the event the Trust 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 Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any
such suit, or in case Distributor reasonably does not approve of counsel chosen
by the Trust, the Trust 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 Trust's indemnification agreement contained in this paragraph 1.10 and the
Trust'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 Trust agrees promptly to notify Distributor of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its
officers or Trustees in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.
1.11 Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its
several officers and Trustees and any person who controls the Trust 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 Trust, its officers or Trustees
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 Trust, its officers or Trustees 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 Trust 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 Trust required to be stated in such
answers or necessary to make such information not misleading. Distributor's
agreement to indemnify the Trust, its officers and Trustees, and any such
controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon Distributor
being notified of any action brought against the Trust, its officers or
Trustees, 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 Trust, if such
action is based solely upon such alleged misstatement or omission on
Distributor's part, and in any other event the Trust, its officers or Trustees
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 Trust, its officers or Trustees, 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 1.11.
1.12 No Shares shall be offered by either Distributor or the Trust
under any of the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or
sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust 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 1.12 shall in any way restrict or have an
application to or bearing upon the Trust's obligation to repurchase Shares from
any Shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Trust's prospectus,
Declaration of Trust, or Bylaws.
1.13 The Trust 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 Trust 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.
1.14 Distributor agrees on behalf of itself and its partners and
employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust
all records and other information relative to the Trust 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 Trust, 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 Trust.
1.15 This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
2. Fees.
2.1 As reimbursement for the services set forth in Section 1 of this
Agreement, Distributor shall be entitled to receive from the Funds identified in
Schedule A hereto, with respect to such Funds' Shares, a distribution fee and/or
service fee at the rate and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Trust's Distribution Plan, as amended from time to time. The fees described
above 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.
Pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time,
each Fund may be divided into separate classes of Shares in which case the
Shares of one or more classes may be subject to a sales load and may be subject
to the imposition of a distribution fee and/or a service fee. 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 of the
Funds identified in Schedule A attached hereto.
3.1 Distributor shall have the right, as principal, to purchase
Front-End Load Shares at their net asset value and to sell such 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, as
principal, to sell Front-End 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, described in the current prospectus of the applicable
Front-End Load Fund.
3.2 Distributor shall have the right, as principal, to purchase CDSL
Shares at the applicable net asset value and to sell such Shares to the public
against orders therefor at the applicable net asset value subject to the right
to receive from each CDSL Fund certain contingent deferred sales load payments
that are made to the Fund when such Shares are redeemed. Distributor shall also
have the right, as principal, to sell CDSL Shares to dealers against orders
therefor at the applicable net asset value subject to the right to receive the
aforementioned contingent deferred sales load payments.
3.3 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 federal funds equal to the applicable
net asset value of such Shares. The Distributor may retain so much of any
front-end sales load or underwriting discount as is not allowed by the
Distributor as a concession to dealers.
4. Public Offering Price.
The public offering price of a Front-End Load Share shall be the net
asset value of such Share, plus any applicable sales charge, all as set forth in
the current prospectus of the Front-End Load Fund.
5. Net Asset Value.
The net asset value of all Shares shall be determined in accordance
with the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws of the Trust and the
then-current prospectus of each Fund.
6. Issuance of Shares.
The Trust reserves the right to issue, transfer or sell Load Shares at
net asset value, without the imposition of a front-end sales load or a
contingent deferred sales load, (a) in connection with the merger or
consolidation of the Trust or the Load Fund(s) with any other investment company
or the acquisition by the Trust 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.
7. Term, Duration and Termination.
This Agreement shall become effective on October 1, 1996 and, unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue until September 30, 1998.
Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue 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 Trust's Board of Trustees 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 Trust's Board of
Trustees 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 Trust's Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Trust 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.)
8. Limitation of Liability of the Trustees and Shareholders.
It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder
shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers,
agents or employees of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the trust
property of the Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the Trustees, and this Agreement has been signed and delivered by
an authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such
authorization by the Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer
shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any
liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of
the Trust as provided in the Trust's Declaration of Trust.
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.
REPUBLIC ADVISOR FUNDS BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED
TRUST PARTNERSHIP
By: BISYS Fund Services, Inc.,
General Partner
By: By:
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Title: Title:
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Date: Date:
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Dated: October 1, 1996
Schedule A
to the
Distribution Agreement
between Republic Advisor Funds Trust and
BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership
Name of Fund
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Fixed Income
International Equity
Small Cap Equity
REPUBLIC ADVISOR FUNDS TRUST
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: BISYS Fund Services, Inc.,
General Partner
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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