DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 23(e)(1)
AGREEMENT made as of August 1, 2007 between The Coventry Funds Trust (the “Company”), having
an office at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000, and Foreside Distribution Services, LP
(“Distributor”), having an office at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end management investment company, organized as a Ohio
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 shares of beneficial
interest (“Shares”) of EM Capital India Gateway Fund, a series of the Company managed by EM Capital
Management, LLC (“EM”) as now in existence and listed on Schedule A to this Agreement or such other
series of the Company as hereafter may from time to time be created and managed by EM so long as
agreed to by the Distributor in writing (all of the foregoing series individually referred to
herein 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 of Company on behalf of each Fund for the distribution of
the Shares covered by the registration statement of Company then in effect under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the 1940 Act. As used in this Agreement, the term
“registration statement” shall mean the registration statement of the Company and any amendments
thereto, then in effect, including Parts A (the Prospectus), B (the Statement of Additional
Information) and C of each registration statement, as filed on Form N-1A, or any successor thereto,
with the Commission, together with any amendments thereto. The term “Prospectus” shall mean the
then-current form of Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information used by the Funds, in
accordance with the rules of the Commission, for delivery to shareholders and prospective
shareholders after the effective dates of the above-referenced registration statements, together
with any amendments and supplements thereto. The Company will notify Distributor in advance of any
proposed changes to Schedule A to this Agreement.
1.2 Consistent with the understanding between the Funds and the Distributor, Distributor may
solicit orders for the sale of the Shares and may 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 many other investment companies or
series, including investment companies having investment objectives similar to those of the
Company. The Company further understands that shareholders and potential shareholders in the
Company may invest in shares of such other investment companies. The Company agrees that
Distributor’s obligations to other investment companies shall not be deemed in conflict with its
obligations to the Company under this Section 1.2.
1.3 Consistent with the understanding between the Funds and the Distributor, and subject to
the last sentence of this Section 1.3, Distributor may engage in such activities as it deems
appropriate in connection with the promotion and sale of the Shares, including without limitation
entering into dealer agreements and other selling agreements with broker-dealers and other
intermediaries; advertising; compensation of underwriters, dealers and sales personnel; the
printing and mailing of Prospectuses to prospective shareholders other than current shareholders;
and the printing and mailing of sales literature. Distributor shall have no obligation to make any
payments to any third parties, whether as financing of commissions, sales concessions or similar
payments; finder’s fees; compensation; or otherwise, unless: (i) Distributor has received a
corresponding payment from the applicable Fund’s Distribution Plan (as defined in Section 2 of this
Agreement), the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”) or from another source as may be
permitted by applicable law, and (ii) such corresponding payment has been approved by the Company’s
Board of Trustees (the “Board”).
1.4 In its capacity as distributor of the Shares, all activities of the Distributor and its
partners, agents, and employees shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations,
including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by
the Commission thereunder, and all applicable rules and regulations adopted by any securities
association registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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 Company’s officers may upon
reasonable notice instruct the Distributor to 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 The Company agrees to inform the Distributor from time to time of the states in which the
Fund or its administrator has registered or otherwise qualified Shares for sale, and 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 the Distributor may designate.
1.7 The Company shall furnish from time to time, for use in connection with the sale of the
Shares, such supplemental 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 supplemental
information will 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, and (b) from time to time such additional
information regarding the Funds as the Distributor may reasonably request.
1.8 The Company represents and warrants to Distributor that: (a) all registration statements,
and each Prospectus, filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act and the 1940
Act shall be prepared in conformity with requirements of said Acts and rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; (b) all Company-related advertisement or sales literature shall be prepared
in conformity with requirements of applicable laws and regulations; (c) the registration statement,
Prospectus and advertisement or sales literature shall contain all statements required to be stated
therein in conformity with said Acts, laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder or other applicable
regulatory authority, and all statements of fact contained in any such registration statement,
Prospectus and advertisement or sales literature are true and correct in all material respects; (d)
neither any registration statement nor any Prospectus nor any advertisement or sales literature
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; (e) no portfolio securities transactions of the Funds, or commissions in connection
therewith, shall be directed to any dealer by the Funds, the Adviser, or any of their respective
affiliates, in connection with any fees that are not permitted by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act
(“Non-Rule 12b-1 Fees”) payable to any dealer; (f) each Fund or the Adviser has implemented
policies and procedures required by Rule 12b-1(h)(2)(ii) under the 1940 Act and has determined that
the criteria used to select broker-dealers that both execute Fund portfolio transactions and
promote or sell the Shares is reasonable; and (g) each Fund’s Prospectus contains such disclosure
with respect to fees paid and charges imposed in connection with the sale of the Shares as is
necessary to comply with all laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, disclosure
of all Non-Rule 12b-1 Fees as required by Rule 2830(l) of the FINRA Conduct Rules, as well as the
nature and extent of the Non-Rule 12b-1 Fees, or such Non-Rule 12b-1 fees and charges will be in
compliance with the rules and regulations of the FINRA, including, without limitation, Rule 2830 of
the FINRA Conduct Rules.
The foregoing representations and warranties shall continue throughout the term of this Agreement
and be deemed to be of a continuing nature, applicable to all Shares distributed hereunder. 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 any amendment or amendments and/or supplement or supplements
within 15 days after receipt by the Company of a written request from Distributor to do so,
Distributor may, at its option, terminate this Agreement. In such case, the Distributor will be
held harmless from, and indemnified by Company for, any liability or loss resulting from the
failure to implement such amendment. 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.
1.9 The Company authorizes the Distributor and dealers to use any Prospectus in the form
furnished by the Company from time to time in connection with the sale of the Shares.
1.10 The Distributor may utilize agents in its performance of its services and, with prior
notice to the Company, appoint in writing other parties qualified to perform specific
administration services reasonably acceptable to the Company (individually, a “Sub-Agent”) to carry
out some or all of its responsibilities under this Agreement; provided, however, that a Sub-Agent
shall be the agent of the Distributor and not the agent of the Company, and that the Distributor
shall be fully responsible for the acts of such Sub-Agent and shall not be relieved of any of its
responsibilities hereunder by the appointment of a Sub-Agent.
1.11 The Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for
any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the matters to which this Agreement
relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on
the Distributor’s part in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, from reckless
disregard by the Distributor of its obligations under this Agreement, or from the Distributor’s
failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with its
activities hereunder. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Distributor,
its officers, partners, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, and any person who controls the
Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, (collectively, “Distributor
Indemnitees”), from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including
the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any
reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, “Claims”) which the
Distributor Indemnitees may incur under the Securities Act, or under common law, or otherwise,
arising out of or based upon: (a) the Distributor acting as distributor of the Funds; (b) the
Distributor or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Distributor acting as a member of the National
Securities Clearing Corporation (or any successor or other entity performing similar functions)
(“NSCC”) on behalf of the Company; (c) the Distributor or any subsidiary or affiliate of the
Distributor entering into selling agreements, dealer agreements, participation agreements, NSCC
Trust SERV or Networking agreements or similar agreements (collectively, “Dealer Agreements”) with
financial intermediaries on behalf of the Company; (d) any of the following: (i) any untrue
statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in any registration statement
or any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be
stated in any registration statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, or (iii) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact in
any Company-related advertisement or sales literature, or any omission, or alleged omission, to
state a material fact required to be stated therein to make the statements therein not misleading,
in either case notwithstanding the exercise of reasonable care in the preparation or review thereof
by the Distributor; (e) the breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement, including
without limitation a breach by the Company of its obligations with respect to any Fund’s transfer
agent as set forth in Section 1.15 of this Agreement, to the extent applicable; or (f) the
electronic processing of orders over the internet at the Company’s request; provided, however, that
the Company’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees pursuant to this Section 1.11
shall not be construed to cover any Claims (A) pursuant to subsection (d) above to the extent such
untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission, or alleged omission, was furnished in
writing, or omitted from the relevant writing furnished, as the case may be, to the Company by the
Distributor for use in the registration statement or in corresponding statements made in the
Prospectus, advertisement or sales literature; (B) arising out of or based upon the willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Distributor in the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement or the Distributor’s reckless disregard of its obligations under this
Agreement; or (C) arising out of or based upon the Distributor’s failure to comply with laws, rules
and regulations applicable to it in connection with its activities hereunder.
In the event of a Claim for which the Distributor Indemnitees may be entitled to
indemnification hereunder, the Distributor shall fully and promptly advise the Company in writing
of all pertinent facts concerning such Claim, but failure to do so in good faith shall not affect
the Company’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement except to the extent that the
Company is materially prejudiced thereby. The Company will be entitled to assume the defense of
any suit brought to enforce any such Claim if such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good
standing chosen by the Company and approved by the Distributor, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event any such suit is not based solely
on an alleged untrue statement, omission, or wrongful act on the Company’s part, the Distributor
shall have the right to participate in the defense. In the event the Company elects to assume the
defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing so approved by the Distributor, the
Distributor Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by any of them, but in any case where the Company does not elect to assume the defense of
any such suit or in case the Distributor reasonably withholds approval of counsel chosen by the
Company, the Company will reimburse the Distributor Indemnitees named as defendants in such suit,
for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them to the extent related to a
Claim covered under this Section 1.11. The Company’s indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 1.11 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Distributor Indemnitees, and shall survive the delivery of any Shares.
1.12 The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its officers,
trustees, directors, employees, and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, “Company Indemnitees”), from and against any and
all Claims which the Company Indemnitees may incur under the Securities Act or under common law or
otherwise, arising out of or based upon (a) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a
material fact contained in any registration statement, Prospectus, or Company-related advertisement
or sales literature, or upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in such
materials that would be necessary to make the information therein not misleading, which untrue
statement, alleged untrue statement, omission, or alleged omission, was furnished in writing, or
omitted from the relevant writing furnished, as the case may be, to the Company by the Distributor
for use in the registration statement or in corresponding statements made in the Prospectus, or
advertisement or sales literature; (b) the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of
the Distributor in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, or the Distributor’s
reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement, or (c) the Distributor’s failure to
comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with its activities
hereunder (other than in respect of Fund-related advertisements or sales literature that fail to
comply with applicable laws despite the Distributor’s exercise of reasonable care in the
preparation and review thereof); provided, however, that the Distributor’s agreement to indemnify
the Company Indemnitees pursuant to this Section 1.12 shall not be construed to cover any Claims
(A) arising out of or based upon the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the
Company in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the Company’s reckless
disregard of its obligations under this Agreement; or (B) arising out of or based upon the
Company’s failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with
its activities hereunder.
In the event of a Claim for which the Company Indemnitees may be entitled to indemnification
hereunder, the Company shall fully and promptly advise the Distributor in writing of all pertinent
facts concerning such Claim, but failure to do so in good faith shall not affect the Distributor’s
indemnification obligations under this Agreement except to the extent that the Distributor is
materially prejudiced thereby. The Distributor will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such Claim if such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing
chosen by the Distributor and approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In the event any such suit is not based solely on an
alleged untrue statement, omission, or wrongful act on the Distributor’s part, the Company
shall have the right to participate in the defense. In the event the Distributor elects to assume
the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing so approved by the Company, the
Company Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by any of them, but in any case where the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense
of any such suit or in case the Company reasonably withholds approval of counsel chosen by the
Distributor, the Distributor will reimburse the Company Indemnitees named as defendants in such
suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them to the extent related to
a Claim covered under this Section 1.12. The Distributor’s indemnification agreement contained in
this Section 1.12 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Company Indemnitees, and shall survive the delivery of
any Shares.
1.13 No Shares shall be offered by either the 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
Securities Act is not on file with the Commission; provided, however, that: (a) the Distributor
will not be obligated to cease offering shares until it has received from the Company written
notice of such events, and (b) nothing contained in this Section 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, Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trus, or By-laws.
1.14 The Company agrees to advise the Distributor as soon as reasonably practical by a notice
in writing delivered to the Distributor:
(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 any other event which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact upon the offering of Shares or the Distributor’s provision of services under this Agreement. |
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 unless they would reasonably be
expected to have a material negative impact upon the offering of Shares.
1.15 During any period for which a party other than Distributor or one of its affiliates acts
as any Fund’s transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”), the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The Company shall ensure that the Transfer Agent complies with all requirements of law and
all provisions of Dealer Agreements that are applicable to the Transfer Agent or the services
provided by Transfer Agent, or that are within the control of the Transfer Agent, including without
limitation laws and Dealer Agreement provisions with respect to: (i) providing shareholder account
data to the dealer or other third parties; (ii) facilitating the transfer of Shares held directly
with the Transfer Agent; (iii) indemnifying a dealer against claims to which the dealer may become
subject insofar as any Claim arises out of or is based on any error or alleged error made in the
calculation of any Fund’s net asset value per Share, to the extent that the Transfer Agent is
responsible for such error or alleged error; (iv) providing to Distributor such information
required by Distributor to facilitate payment of Rule 12b-1 fees to dealers in a timely and
accurate manner; (v) transmitting purchase and redemption orders for Shares through the NSCC
Fund/SERV system (“Fund/SERV”) or in certain circumstances through such other means; (vi) making
payment for purchases and redemptions of Shares on the settlement date and as otherwise required by
the dealer through Fund/SERV; (vii) notifying the dealer whenever an error is made in the
calculation of any Fund’s net asset value; (viii) rejecting transactions in Shares originating in
states or jurisdictions in which the Fund shares are not qualified for sale; and (ix) complying
with applicable escheatment requirements.
(b) The Company will ensure that the Transfer Agent provides to Distributor at least quarterly
(or more frequently to the extent required by law applicable to the Distributor) certifications of
the Transfer Agent in a form reasonably acceptable to the Distributor with respect to the Funds’
compliance with anti-money laundering laws, sales caps, breakpoints, and such other certifications
as Distributor shall reasonably request from time to time.
1.16 The Company will ensure that any service provider to the Company and/or the Funds other
than Distributor or one of its affiliates provides to Distributor such cooperation and information
as the Distributor shall reasonably request from time to time, including, without limitation,
information to facilitate the Distributor’s compliance with federal securities laws, as defined
within Rule 38a-1(e)(1) under the 1940 Act..
1.17 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE,
CONSEQUENTIAL OR SIMILAR DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST REVENUE, LOST PROFITS OR LOST OR DAMAGED DATA,
EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES.
2. Fees.
2.1 Attached as Schedule B to this Agreement are all plans of distribution under Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act approved by the Funds and in effect (collectively, the “Distribution Plan”).
The Funds will deliver to Distributor promptly after any changes thereto updated copies of the
Distribution Plan. For its services under this Agreement, the Distributor shall be compensated and
reimbursed for its expenses as set forth on Schedules C and D to this
Agreement. If the Funds have a Distribution Plan that permits and authorizes them to
compensate and reimburse the Distributor and required Board approvals have been given, then the
Funds shall be responsible for all such compensation and reimbursements or such portions of it as
have been permitted and authorized under the Distribution Plan. It is contemplated by the
Distributor that the Adviser shall compensate and reimburse the Distributor for its provision to
the Funds of any distribution services for which the Funds are not authorized to compensate and
reimburse the Distributor. The fees set forth on Schedules C and D are subject to change by
Distributor upon 30 days advance notice.
2.2 In the event that the Distributor is requested or authorized by the Company or is required
by governmental regulation, summons, subpoena, investigation, examination or other legal or
regulatory process to produce documents or personnel with respect to services provided by the
Distributor to the Company or any Fund, the Company will, so long as the Distributor is not the
subject of the investigation or proceeding in which the information is sought, pay the Distributor
for its professional time (at its standard billing rates) and reimburse the Distributor for its
out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred in responding to such
requests or requirements.
3. Sale and Payment.
3.1 Shares of a Fund may be subject to a sales load and may be subject to the imposition of a
distribution fee pursuant to the Distribution Plan referred to above. To the extent that Shares of
a Fund are sold at an offering price which includes a sales load or 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” (and in the case of Shares that are sold with a front-end sales load,
“Front-end Load Shares”, or Shares that are sold subject to a contingent deferred sales load, “CDSL
Shares”). Funds that issue Front-End Load Shares shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as
“Front-End Load Funds.” Funds that issue CDSL Shares shall hereinafter be referred to collectively
as “CDSL Funds.” Front-end Load Funds and CDSL Funds may individually or collectively be referred
as “Load Funds.” Under this Agreement, the following provisions shall apply with respect to the
sale of, and payment for, Load Shares.
3.2 The Distributor shall have the right to offer 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. The 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 the Distributor, which concession shall not exceed the amount of the sales charge or
underwriting discount, if any, referred to in Section 4 below.
3.3 Prior to the time of delivery of any Load Shares by a Load Fund to, or on the order of,
the Distributor, the Distributor shall pay or cause to be paid to the Load Fund or to its order an
amount in same-day funds equal to the applicable net asset value of such Shares. The Distributor
may retain so much of any sales charge or underwriting discount as is not allowed by the
Distributor as a concession to dealers.
3.4 With respect to CDSL Funds, the following provisions shall be applicable:
(a) The Distributor shall be entitled to receive all contingent deferred sales load
charges, 12b-1 payments and all distribution and service fees set forth in the Distribution
Plan adopted by a CDSL Fund (collectively, the “CDSL Payments”) with respect to CDSL Shares.
The Distributor may assign or sell to a third party (a “CDSL Financing Entity”) all or a
part of the CDSL Payments on CDSL Shares that the Distributor is entitled to receive under
this Agreement. The Distributor’s right to the CDSL Payments on such CDSL Shares, if
assigned or sold to a CDSL Financing Entity, shall continue after termination of this
Agreement.
(b) Unless the Distributor is legally entitled to receive such fees as the financing
entity, the right to receive all CDSL Payments in respect of periods subsequent to the
termination of this Agreement shall terminate upon termination of this Agreement. In the
event Distributor assigns or sells all or a part of the CDSL Payments to a CDSL Financing
Entity and this Agreement is subsequently terminated, Distributor shall have no obligation
to assist the CDSL Financing Entity in connection with such CDSL Financing Entity’s right to
receive such CDSL Payments subsequent to such termination.
(c) The Distributor shall not be required to offer or sell CDSL Shares of a CDSL Fund
unless and until it has received a binding commitment (a “Commitment”) from the Company or a
CDSL Financing Entity satisfactory to the Distributor, which Commitment shall cover all
initial and ongoing expenses and fees related to the offer and sale of such CDSL Shares
including, but not limited to, dealer reallowances, financing commitment fees, and legal
fees. If at any time during the term of this Agreement the then-current CDSL financing is
terminated through no fault of the Distributor, the Distributor shall have the right to
immediately cease offering or selling CDSL Shares until substitute financing becomes
effective.
(d) The Distributor and the Company hereby agree that the terms and conditions set
forth herein regarding the offer and sale of CDSL Shares may be amended upon approval of
both parties in order to comply with the terms and conditions of any agreement with a CDSL
Financing Entity to finance the costs for the offer and sale of CDSL Shares so long as such
terms and conditions are in compliance with the Distribution Plan.
4. Public Offering Price.
The public offering price of a Load Share shall be the net asset value of such Load Share next
determined, plus any applicable sales charge, all as set forth in the current Prospectus of the
Load Fund. The net asset value of Load Shares shall be determined in accordance with 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 values (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 as of the date first written
above (the “Effective Date”) (or, if a particular Fund is not in existence on such date, on the
earlier of the date an amendment to Schedule A to this Agreement relating to that Fund is executed
or the Distributor begins providing services under this Agreement with respect to such Fund) and,
unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue through February 29, 2008. 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 (a) by the vote of a majority of those members of the 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 Board or the vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of such Fund. This Agreement is terminable without penalty with 60
days’ prior written notice, by the 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 meaning as ascribed
to such terms in the 1940 Act.)
7. Privacy.
Nonpublic personal financial information relating to consumers or customers of the Funds
provided by, or at the direction of, the Company to the Distributor, or collected or retained by
the Distributor to perform its obligations as distributor, shall be considered confidential
information. The Distributor shall not disclose or otherwise use any nonpublic personal financial
information relating to present or former shareholders of the Funds other than for the purposes for
which that information was disclosed to the Distributor, including use under an exception in Rules
13, 14 or 15 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P in the ordinary course of
business to carry out those purposes. The Distributor shall have in place and maintain physical,
electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality
and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating
to consumers and customers of the Funds. The Company represents to the Distributor that it has
adopted a Statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by Securities and Exchange
Commission Regulation S-P and agrees to provide the Distributor with a copy of that statement
annually.
8. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance.
8.1 Each of Distributor and the Company acknowledges that it is a financial institution
subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the “AML Acts”),
which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard
against money laundering. Each represents and warrants to the other that it is
in compliance with and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable regulations in
all relevant respects. The Distributor shall also provide written notice to each person or entity
with which it entered an agreement prior to the date hereof with respect to sale of the Company’s
Shares, such notice informing such person of anti-money laundering compliance obligations
applicable to financial institutions under applicable laws and, consequently, under applicable
contractual provisions requiring compliance with laws.
8.2 The Distributor shall include specific contractual provisions regarding anti-money
laundering compliance obligations in agreements entered into by the Distributor with any dealer
that is authorized to effect transactions in Shares of the Company.
8.3 Each of Distributor and the Company agrees that it will take such further steps, and
cooperate with the other as may be reasonably necessary, to facilitate compliance with the AML
Acts, including but not limited to the provision of copies of its written procedures, policies and
controls related thereto (“AML Operations”). Distributor undertakes that it will grant to the
Company, the Company’s anti-money laundering compliance officer and regulatory agencies, reasonable
access to copies of Distributor’s AML Operations, books and records pertaining to the Company only.
It is expressly understood and agreed that the Company and the Company’s compliance officer shall
have no access to any of Distributor’s AML Operations, books or records pertaining to other clients
of Distributor.
9. Notices.
Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail, or by nationally recognized overnight courier, to the party required to be served with such
notice at the following address: if to the Company, to it at [funds to insert name and address];
and if to Distributor, to it at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Broker
Dealer Chief Compliance Officer, or at such other address as such party may from time to time
specify in writing to the other party pursuant to this Section.
10. Confidentiality.
During the term of this Agreement, the Distributor and the Company may have access to
confidential information relating to such matters as either party’s business, trade secrets,
systems, procedures, manuals, products, contracts, personnel, and clients. As used in this
Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information belonging to the Distributor or the Company
which is of value to such party and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other
disadvantage to either party, including, without limitation, financial information, business
practices and policies, know-how, trade secrets, market or sales information or plans, customer
lists, business plans, and all provisions of this Agreement. Confidential Information includes
information developed by either party in the course of engaging in the activities provided for in
this Agreement, unless: (i) the information is or becomes publicly known without breach of this
Agreement, (ii) the information is disclosed to the other party by a third party not under an
obligation of confidentiality to the party whose Confidential Information is at issue of which the
party receiving the information should reasonably be aware, or (iii) the information is
independently developed by a party without reference to the other’s Confidential Information. Each
party will protect the other’s Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it
uses with respect to its own
Confidential Information, and will not use the other party’s Confidential Information other
than in connection with its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may
disclose the other’s Confidential Information if (i) required by law, regulation or legal process
or if requested by any Agency; (ii) it is advised by counsel that it may incur liability for
failure to make such disclosure; (iii) requested to by the other party; provided that in the event
of (i) or (ii) the disclosing party shall give the other party reasonable prior notice of such
disclosure to the extent reasonably practicably and cooperate with the other party (at such other
party’s expense) in any efforts to prevent such disclosure.
10. Governing Law .
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,
without regard to New York’s conflicts of laws principles, and the applicable provisions of the
1940 Act.
11. Prior Agreements.
This Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties as to the subject matter
covered by this Agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements
bearing upon the subject matter covered by this Agreement.
12. Amendments.
No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and executed by both
parties hereto.
13. Matters Relating to the Company as an Ohio Business Trust
It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Company hereunder shall not be binding upon
any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Company
personally, but shall bind only the property of the Company. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement have been authorized by the board, and this Agreement has been signed and delivered by an
authorized officer of the Company, acting as such, and neither such authorization by the Board 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 them personally, but shall bind only the property of the
Company.
* * * * * *
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 FUNDS TRUST |
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By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President |
FORESIDE DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, LP |
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By: | Xxxxx X Xxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxx | |||
Title: | President |
SCHEDULE A
FUNDS
EM Capital India Gateway Fund
SCHEDULE B
EM Capital India Gateway Fund
(the “Fund”)
(the “Fund”)
a series of The Coventry Funds
Trust (the “Trust”)
Trust (the “Trust”)
SERVICE AND DISTRIBUTION PLAN
FOR CLASS A AND CLASS C SHARES
FOR CLASS A AND CLASS C SHARES
Introduction: It has been determined that the Fund, which is a series of The Coventry
Funds Trust, will pay for certain costs and expenses incurred in connection with the distribution
of certain classes of its shares and servicing of shareholders of certain classes, and adopts this
Service and Distribution Plan for Class A and Class C Shares (the “Plan”) as set forth herein
pursuant to Rule 12b-l under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”).
The Board of Trustees, in considering whether the Fund should implement the Plan, has requested and
evaluated such information as it deemed necessary to make an informed determination as to whether
the Plan should be implemented and has considered such pertinent factors as it deemed necessary to
form the basis for a decision to use assets of the Fund for such purposes.
In voting to approve the implementation of the Plan, the Trustees have concluded, in the exercise
of their reasonable business judgment and in light of their respective fiduciary duties, that there
is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and the shareholders of each of its
classes of shares.
The Plan: The material aspects of the financing by the Fund of distribution expenses to be
incurred in connection with securities of which it is the issuer are as follows:
1. The Fund will compensate the distributor for services provided and expenses incurred in
connection with the distribution and marketing of shares of Class A and Class C of the Fund and
servicing of shareholders of each such class. Distribution and servicing costs and expenses may
include: (1) printing and advertising expenses; (2) payments to employees or agents of the
distributor who engage in or support distribution of the Fund’s shares, including salary,
commissions, travel and related expenses; (3) the costs of preparing, printing and distributing
prospectuses and reports to prospective investors; (4) expenses of organizing and conducting sales
seminars; (5) expenses related to selling and servicing efforts, including processing new account
applications, transmitting customer transaction information to the Fund’s transfer agent and
answering questions of shareholders; (6) payments of fees to one or more broker-dealers (which may
include the distributor itself), financial institutions or other industry professionals, such as
investment advisers, accountants and estate planning firms (severally, a “Service Organization”),
based on the average daily value of the Fund’s shares owned by shareholders for whom the Service
Organization is the dealer of record or holder of record, or owned by shareholders with whom the
Service Organization has a servicing relationship; (7) costs and
expenses incurred in implementing and operating the Plan; and (8) such other similar services as
the Board of Trustees determines to be reasonably calculated to result in the sale of the Fund’s
shares. Subject to the limitations of applicable law and regulation, including rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”), the distributor will be compensated monthly
for such costs, expenses or payments at an annual rate of up to but not more than 0.50% of the
average daily net assets of Class A shares of the Fund and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of
Class C shares of the Fund, provided however, that up to 0.25% of each such amount may be used as a
“service fee” as defined in applicable rules of the NASD.
2. The distributor may periodically pay to one or more Service Organizations (which may include the
distributor itself) a fee in respect of the Fund’s shares owned by shareholders for whom the
Service Organizations are the dealers of record or holders of record, or owned by shareholders with
whom the Service Organizations have servicing relationships. Such fees will be computed daily and
paid quarterly by the distributor at an annual rate not exceeding 0.75% of the average net asset
value of shares of each class of the Fund owned by shareholders for whom the Service Organizations
are the dealers of record or holders of record, or owned by shareholders with whom the Service
Organizations have servicing relationships. Subject to the limits herein and the requirements of
applicable law and regulations, including rules of the NASD, the distributor may designate as
“service fees,” as that term is defined by applicable rules and regulatory interpretations
applicable to payments under a plan such as the Plan, some or all of any payments made to Service
Organizations (including the distributor itself) for services that may be covered by “service
fees,” as so defined. The payment to a Service Organization is subject to compliance by the
Service Organization with the terms of a Service Agreement or Dealer Agreement between the Service
Organization and the distributor (the “Agreement”). If a shareholder of a Fund ceases to be a
client of a Service Organization that has entered into an Agreement with the distributor, but
continues to hold shares of the Fund, the distributor will be entitled to receive a similar payment
in respect of the servicing provided to such investors. For the purposes of determining the fees
payable under the Plan, the average daily net asset value of the Fund’s shares shall be computed in
the manner specified in the Declaration of Trust of The Coventry Group and current prospectus for
the computation of the value of the Fund’s net asset value per share.
3. The Plan will become effective immediately upon approval by a majority of the Board of Trustees,
including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Act) of
the Funds and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any
agreements entered into in connection with the Plan (the “Plan Trustees”), pursuant to a vote cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the approval of the Plan, or upon such
later date as the Trustees determine.
4. The Plan shall continue with respect to each applicable class of shares of the Fund for a period
of one year from its effective date, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its terms, and
thereafter shall continue automatically with respect to each applicable class of shares of the Fund
for successive annual periods, provided such continuance is approved by a majority of the Board of
Trustees, including a majority of the Plan Trustees pursuant to a vote cast in person at a meeting
called for the purpose of voting on the continuance of the Plan.
5. | The Plan may be amended at any time by the Board of Trustees provided that (a) any amendment to increase materially the costs which a class may bear for distribution pursuant to the Plan shall be effective only upon approval by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that class and (b) any material amendments of the terms of the Plan shall become effective only upon approval as provided in paragraph 3 hereof. | |
6. | The Plan is terminable without penalty at any time by (a) vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees, or (b) vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. | |
7. | Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund pursuant to the Plan or any agreement entered into in connection with the Plan shall provide to the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. | |
8. | While the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Act) of the Funds shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees who are not “interested persons”. The Fund shall preserve copies of the Plan, any agreement in connection with the Plan, and any report made pursuant to paragraph 7 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of the Plan or such agreement or report, the first two years in an easily accessible place. |
Date: January 16, 2007 |
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SCHEDULE C
COMPENSATION OF THE DISTRIBUTOR
1. BASIC DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. For providing the distribution entity and related
infrastructure and platform, including requisite registrations and qualifications, premises,
personnel, compliance, ordinary Board meeting preparation, maintenance of selling agreements,
clearance of advertising and sales literature with regulators, ordinary supervisory services,
overhead, the Distributor shall receive an annual fee of $25,000.00, billed monthly.
2. SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. For special distribution services, including those set
forth on Schedule D to this Agreement, such as filing appropriate documentation for advisory
representatives to qualify as registered representatives of the Distributor (provided that the
Adviser is solely responsible for its representative’s meeting examination requirements) and their
related registrations and fees, additional personnel, registrations, printing and fulfillment,
website services, proprietary distribution expertise for particular circumstances, and any other
services in addition to the basic distribution services covered by Paragraph 1 above, the
Distributor shall be reimbursed promptly upon invoicing its expenses for such services, including:
(a) all costs to support additional personnel; (b) regulatory fees including FINRA CRD costs
associated with marketing materials; and (c) printing, postage and fulfillment costs, and (d)
amounts payable under additional agreements to which Distributor is a party.
3. SPECIAL CONDUIT SITUATIONS. If the Distribution Plan, or any other Fund plans of
distribution under Rule 12b-1 that contemplate up front and/or recurring commission and/or service
payments to broker dealers, retirement plan administrators or others by the Distributor with
respect to back-end loads, level loads, or otherwise, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing
between the parties, all such payments shall be made to the Distributor, which shall act as a
conduit for making such payments to such broker-dealers, retirement plan administrators or others.
4. OTHER PAYMENTS BY THE DISTRIBUTOR. If the Distributor is required to make any payments
to third parties in respect of distribution, which payments are contemplated by the parties to this
Agreement or otherwise arise in the ordinary course of business, the Distributor shall be promptly
reimbursed for such payments upon invoicing them.
5. FEE ADJUSTMENTS. The fixed fees and other fees expressed as stated dollar amounts in
this Schedule C and in this Agreement are subject to annual increases, commencing on the one-year
anniversary date of the date of this Agreement, in an amount equal to the percentage increase in
consumer prices for services as measured by the United States Consumer Price Index entitled “All
Services Less Rent of Shelter,” or a similar index should such index no longer be published, since
such one-year anniversary or since the date of the last fee increase, as applicable.
6. FEES AND EXPENSES. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, out-of-pocket fees
and expenses incurred by Distributor in the performance of its services under this Agreement are
not included in the fees set forth in this Agreement. Such out-of-pocket fees and expenses may
include, without limitation:
• | reasonable travel and entertainment costs; | |
• | expenses incurred by the Distributor in qualifying, registering and maintaining the registration of the Distributor and each individual comprising Wholesaling Personnel as a registered representative of the Distributor under applicable federal and state laws and rules of the FINRA, e.g., CRD fees and state fees; | |
• | Sponsorships, Promotions, Sales Incentives; | |
• | any and all compensation to be paid to a third party as paying agent for distribution activities (platform fees, finders fees, sub-TA fees, 12b-1 pass thru, commissions, etc.); | |
• | costs and expenses incurred for telephone service, photocopying and office supplies; | |
• | advertising costs; | |
• | costs for printing, paper stock and costs of other materials, electronic transmission, courier, talent utilized in sales materials (e.g. models), design output, photostats, photography, and illustrations; | |
• | packaging, shipping, postage, and photocopies; | |
• | taxes that are paid or payable by the Distributor or its affiliates in connection with its services hereunder, other than taxes customarily and actually imposed upon the income that the Distributor receives hereunder; and | |
• | amounts paid to the FINRA based on Distributor’s revenue and/or the number of Distributor’s registered representatives. |
SCHEDULE D
SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES
Services | Fees | |||||
1. Wholesaling Personnel Services | Wholesaling Personnel Services Fees | |||||
Wholesaling Personnel may be external wholesalers and/or internal wholesalers. | For each individual constituting the Wholesaling Personnel employed by the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement, the Distributor shall receive annually an amount equal to the sum of: | |||||
Services include soliciting support of the Funds with selling broker dealers; participating in promotional meetings, presentations, conferences and other forums; identifying high potential personnel of the Adviser and selling broker dealers; and assisting with mail solicitations and literature fulfillment. | (i) all compensation paid annually by the Distributor
to the employee attributable to services rendered to
the Trust; plus (ii) a management oversight fee equal to: |
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(a) | if one to four Wholesaling Personnel are employed, 30% of the salary compensation and 5% of the bonus or commission compensation, or | |||||
(b) | if five or more Wholesaling Personnel are employed, 25% of the salary compensation and 5% of the bonus or commission compensation; | |||||
plus | ||||||
(iii) 18% of the total compensation (covering costs of the Distributor’s employee benefits that are provided by the Distributor) to the extent related directly to services rendered to the Trust. | ||||||
In addition, the Distributor shall be reimbursed for all related costs to support, educate and train and maintain compliance oversight of Wholesaling Personnel and other personnel such as sales management, marketing and performance reporting personnel (including time and expenses, continuing education, seminars, rent, supplies, phone, computers, firm element, license, registration) | ||||||
Upon any termination of Wholesaling Personnel at the request of the Funds or upon termination of this Agreement by the Funds for any reason other than cause, the Distributor will be reimbursed its severance costs with respect to such terminated Wholesaling Personnel. |
Services | Fees | |||||
2. Registration of Personnel: | Registration of Personnel Fees: | |||||
Services include filing appropriate documentation for advisory representatives to qualify as registered representatives of the Distributor (provided that the Adviser is solely responsible for its representatives’ meeting examination requirements) and their related registrations and fees. | $5,000 per registration per year, plus out-of-pocket
expenses. $5,000 per Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction per year. |