1
EXHIBIT 6
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
----------------------
AGREEMENT made this 1st day of APRIL, 1998, between The Coventry Group
(the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust having its principal place of
business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, and BISYS FUND SERVICES
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP d/b/a BISYS FUND SERVICES ("Distributor"), having its
principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000.
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, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, it is intended that Distributor act as the distributor of the
units of beneficial interest ("Shares") of each of the investment portfolios of
the Trust identified on 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. 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.
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
Trust.
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 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.
1.7 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 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.
1.9 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.
1.10 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
2
3
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.
1.11 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 1.10 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
3
4
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 1.11. 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 1.11 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.
1.12 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
4
5
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
1.12.
1.13 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 1.13 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, Agreement and Declaration of Trust, or Bylaws.
1.14 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
5
6
(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
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.
1.16 This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
2. Fee.
----
Distributor shall receive from the Funds identified in
Schedule B hereto (the "Distribution Plan Funds") a distribution fee at the rate
and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Distribution and Shareholder
Service Plan attached as Schedule C hereto, and as amended from time to time.
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.
-----------------
Pursuant to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated as of
January 8, 1992, as amended, 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 pursuant to the
Distribution and Service 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
6
7
provisions shall apply with respect to the sale of, and payment for, Load Shares
of the Funds identified in Schedule D hereto.
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 Trust and the then-current prospectus of
the Load Fund.
5. Issuance of Shares.
-------------------
The Trust reserves the right to issue, transfer or sell Load
Shares at net asset value (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.
6. Term, Duration and Termination.
-------------------------------
This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each
Fund listed on Schedule A hereof 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 April 1, 2000.
Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue with respect to a
particular Fund automatically for
7
8
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.)
7. 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 Agreement and 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.
THE COVENTRY GROUP BISYS FUND SERVICES
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: By: BISYS Fund Services, Inc.,
--------------------------- General Partner
Title:
------------------------ By:
Date: ---------------------------------
------------------------ Title:
-----------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------
Dated:
-------------
9
SCHEDULE A
TO THE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE COVENTRY GROUP
AND
BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NAME OF FUND
---------------------------------------
Stewardship Aggressive Growth Fund
Stewardship Moderate Growth Fund
Stewardship Conservative Growth Fund
(the "Stewardship Portfolios")
THE COVENTRY GROUP
By:
---------------------------------
BISYS FUND SERVICES
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: BISYS Fund Services, Inc.,
General Partner
By:
---------------------------------
A-1
10
Dated:
-----------
SCHEDULE B
TO THE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE COVENTRY GROUP
AND
BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NAME OF DISTRIBUTION PLAN FUND
---------------------------------------
Stewardship Aggressive Growth Fund
Stewardship Moderate Growth Fund
Stewardship Conservative Growth Fund
(the "Stewardship Portfolios")
THE COVENTRY GROUP
By:
------------------------------------
BISYS FUND SERVICES
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: BISYS Fund Services, Inc.,
General Partner
By:
-----------------------------------
B-1
11
Dated:
-----------
SCHEDULE C
TO THE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE COVENTRY GROUP
AND
BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE PLAN
C-1
12
Dated:
-----------
SCHEDULE D
TO THE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE COVENTRY GROUP
AND
BISYS FUND SERVICES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NAME OF LOAD FUND
-----------------
Stewardship Aggressive Growth Fund
Stewardship Moderate Growth Fund
Stewardship Conservative Fund
(the "Stewardship Portfolios")
THE COVENTRY GROUP
By:
-------------------------------
BISYS FUND SERVICES
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: BISYS Fund Services, Inc.,
General Partner
By:
-------------------------------
D-1
