DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of December 12, 2005, between HSBC Advisor Funds Trust
(the "Trust"), having an office at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000, and
BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership ("Distributor"), having an office at 000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 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
shares of beneficial interest ("Shares") of each series of the Trust, as listed
on Schedule A, and such series as are hereafter created (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 Trust on behalf of each Fund for the
distribution of the Shares covered by the registration statement of Trust 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 Trust 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.
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 Trust 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 Trust. The Trust further understands that shareholders and
potential shareholders in the Trust may invest in shares of such other
investment companies. The Trust agrees that Distributor's duties to other
investment companies shall not be deemed in conflict with its duties to the
Trust under this Section 1.2.
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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, which may include 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 may enter into dealer
agreements and other selling agreements with broker-dealers and other
intermediaries; provided, however, that Distributor shall have no obligation to
make any payments to any third parties, whether as 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 Trust's Board of Trustees.
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
Trust'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 Trust 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 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 the Distributor may
designate.
1.7 The Trust 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 Trust warrants
that the statements contained in any such supplemental information will 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 the
Distributor may reasonably request.
1.8 The Trust represents and warrants to Distributor that all registration
statements, and each Prospectus, filed by the Trust 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. The registration statement
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and Prospectus shall contain all statements required to be stated therein in
conformity with said Acts and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, and all statements of fact contained in any such registration
statement and Prospectus are true and correct in all material respects.
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 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 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
any amendment or amendments and/or supplement or supplements within 15 days
after receipt by the Trust 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 Trust for, any
liability or loss resulting from the failure to implement such amendment. 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.
1.9 The Trust authorizes the Distributor and dealers to use any Prospectus
in the form furnished by the Trust 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 Trust, appoint in writing other parties qualified
to perform specific administration services reasonably acceptable to the Trust
(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 Trust, 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 Trust 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 duties, from reckless disregard by the Distributor of its
obligations and duties 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 Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Distributor, its officers, partners, employees, 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,
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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 (a) as the result of
the Distributor acting as distributor of the Funds and entering into selling
agreements, participation agreements, shareholder servicing agreements or
similar agreements with financial intermediaries on behalf of the Trust; (b)
arising out of or based upon (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 Trust-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; or (c)
arising out of or based upon the electronic processing of orders over the
internet at the Trust's request; provided, however, that the Trust'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 (b) 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 Trust 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 duties or the Distributor's reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties 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 provide the Trust
with written notice of the Claim, identifying the persons against whom such
Claim is brought, promptly following receipt of service of the summons or other
first legal process, and in any event within 10 days of such receipt. The Trust
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 Trust 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 Trust's part, the
Distributor shall have the right to participate in the defense. In the event the
Trust 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 Trust does not elect to assume the defense of
any such suit or in case the Distributor reasonably withholds approval of
counsel chosen by the Trust, the Trust 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 Trust'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.
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1.12 The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Trust, its officers, Trustees, employees, and any person who controls the Trust
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, Trust
Indemnitees), from and against any and all Claims which the Trust 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
Trust-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 Trust 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 duties, or the
Distributor's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties 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 Trust-related advertisements or sales literature that fails
to comply with applicable laws notwithstanding the exercise of reasonable care
in the preparation and review thereof by the Distributor).
In the event of a Claim for which the Trust Indemnitees may be entitled to
indemnification hereunder, the Trust shall provide the Distributor with written
notice of the Claim, identifying the persons against whom such Claim is brought,
promptly following receipt of service of the summons or other first legal
process, and in any event within ten (10) days of such receipt. 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 Trust, 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 Trust 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 Trust, the Trust 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 Trust reasonably withholds approval of counsel
chosen by the Distributor, the Distributor will reimburse the Trust 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 Trust Indemnitees, and shall
survive the delivery of any Shares.
1.13 No Shares shall be offered by either the 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
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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
Trust 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
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 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 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 any 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, which could reasonably be
expected to have a material negative impact upon the offering of
Shares.
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.
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 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 the Distributor and required
board approvals have been given, then the Funds shall be responsible for all
such compensation or such portions of it as have been permitted and authorized
under the Distribution Plan. If the Funds are not permitted and authorized to
compensate the Distributor in full in accordance with Schedules C and D, then
the Adviser shall agree with the Distributor in a separate instrument that the
Adviser
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shall compensate the Distributor in accordance with Schedules C and D to the
extent that the Funds are not so permitted or authorized. The fees set forth on
Schedules C and D are subject to change by Distributor upon 30 days advance
notice.
2.2 If: (i) the Distributor properly receives fees from the Funds under the
Distribution Plan, other than for services rendered or expenses incurred, that
the Distributor is not obligated to pay to third party broker-dealers, plan
administrators or others ("Retained Fees"), and (ii) the Funds have authority
under the Distribution Plan to pay for some or all of the Distributor's services
under this Agreement ("Permitted Services"), then all of the Retained Fees will
either be (a) returned to the funds and/or (b) credited against the compensation
payable by the funds to the Distributor for Permitted Services; provided,
however, that in no event shall any Retained Fees be applied in a manner that
results in a reduction of any obligation of the Adviser to compensate the
Distributor for services under this Distribution Agreement.
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 New York cleared 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.
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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 Trust reserves the right to issue, transfer or sell Load Shares at net
asset values (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 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 for a two year period
following the Effective Date. 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 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 with 60 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 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 Trust to the Distributor,
or collected or retained by the Distributor to perform its duties as
distributor, shall be considered confidential information. The Distributor shall
not disclose or otherwise use any
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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 Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust'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 Trust.
8.3 Each of Distributor and the Trust 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
Trust, the Trust's anti-money laundering compliance officer and regulatory
agencies, reasonable access to copies of Distributor's AML Operations, books and
records pertaining to the Trust only. It is expressly understood and agreed that
the Trust and the Trust'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 to the party required to be served with such notice
at the following address: if to the Trust, to it c/o HSBC Investments (USA)
Inc., 000 0xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attn: Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx; with a copy to the Company at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000,
Attn: President; and if to
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Distributor, to it at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attn:
Broker Dealer Chief Compliance Officer, with a copy to BISYS Distribution
Services, 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, attn: President, 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 Trust 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 Trust 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 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 duties and 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 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.
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13. Matters Relating to the Trust as a Massachusetts Business Trust.
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 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.
HSBC Advisor Funds Trust
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership
By: BISYS Fund Services, Inc.,
its general partner
By:
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President
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SCHEDULE A
FUNDS
HSBC Investor Fixed Income Fund
HSBC Investor International Equity Fund
HSBC Investor Small Cap Equity Fund
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SCHEDULE B
DISTRIBUTION PLAN
None as of December 12, 2005.
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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 fund board meeting
preparation, maintenance of selling agreements, clearance of advertising and
sales literature with regulators, 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,
ordinary supervisory services, overhead, Financial Research Corporation's Mutual
Fund Views on the News and Monitor publications, and return on investment, the
Distributor shall receive an annual fee of $37,500; provided, however, that as
long as Distributor or an affiliate of Distributor continues to perform services
under that certain First Amended and Restated Master Services Agreement dated as
of July 1, 2005, between BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc., the Trust and certain
affiliates of the Trust, Distributor will waive such fee.
2. SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES. For special distribution services, including
those set forth on Schedule D to this Agreement, such as additional personnel,
registrations, marketing services, 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 NASD 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 the distribution agreement or otherwise arise in
the ordinary course of business, the Distributor shall be promptly reimbursed
for such payments upon invoicing them.
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SCHEDULE D
SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES
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Services Fees
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1. Wholesaling Personnel Services Wholesaling Personnel Services Fees
Wholesaling Personnel may be external For each individual constituting the
wholesalers and/or internal wholesalers. Wholesaling Personnel employed by the
Distributor pursuant to this
Services include soliciting support of Agreement, the Distributor shall
the Funds with selling broker dealers; receive annually an amount equal to
participating in promotional meetings, the sum of:
presentations, conferences and other and
forums; identifying high potential (i) all compensation paid annually by
personnel of the Adviser and selling the Distributor to the employee; plus
broker dealers; and assisting with mail
solicitations and literature (ii) a management oversight fee equal
fulfillment. to:
(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).
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.
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2. Marketing and Related Services Marketing and Related Services Fees
Marketing Execution: services include Marketing Execution: Quote available
identification and development of upon request.
appropriate marketing and communications
programs, projects and other Performance Reporting
initiatives; collaboration on
initiating, researching, developing, and Monthly Reports
delivering appropriate sales and
marketing materials; and management of Monthly Updating and Typesetting
marketing and advertising projects. -- $850 - $1,000 per sheet per
month (for an All-in-One style
Performance Reporting: services include report)
creation of templates for monthly fact
sheets and quarterly fact sheets; Initial Design and Setup (1-time
populating templates with performance charge) -- $500 per sheet
data obtained from third parties; and
coordinating steps needed for final Quarterly Reports
printing and distribution.
Quarterly Updating and
Creative Communication and Editorial Typesetting -- $300 - $350 per
Services: services include preparing Fund sheet per Share Class per
drafts of textual commentary and quarter
management discussion and analysis for
annual; and semi-annual reports, Initial Design and Setup per
including portfolio manager interviews; Fund sheet (1-time charge) --
providing creative design and direction; $500 per Fund sheet
and coordinating production, including
typesetting (initial composition and Annual & Semi-Annual Reports
changes to composition), charts and
ancillary items. Coordination:
Production Timing: o $3,000 Initial Fee (includes
Chairman's Letter and 1st Fund)
o No timing guarantees can be made
for completion of monthly and o $500 for each additional Fund
quarterly fact sheets where any of
the information needed to produce NOTE: The above charges do not
the reports is generated by service include the typesetting,
providers other than the printing, shipping, fulfillment,
Distributor. However, a basic Xxxxx filing or quick-turnaround
estimate of turnaround time may be charges that may be incurred
given based upon when the unit from the financial printer. The
receives all necessary data in good above fees are for coordinating
order. Under normal conditions, the the project only.
Performance Reporting unit expects
to make proofs ready for review Creative Communication and Editorial
(either printed or electronic PDF Services
format) by the 4th business day
after the final piece of data is Quote available upon request.
received. If compliance review is
necessary (e.g., when Morningstar
ratings data is used) an additional
2 days may be required for review.
o Printing turnaround (once the
factsheets are signed-off by the
client) is usually approximately
4-5 calendar days with most jobs
shipping by the 5th day.
o If requested, final electronic PDF
files may be generated and e-mailed
on the day the job is signed-off on
by the client. These PDFs may be
distributed and printed as
necessary until the final printed
pieces arrive.
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3. FRC Services FRC Services Fees
FRC's program components include: Market Analytics Publications: Quote
available upon request.
o Market Analytics Publications
Advanced Research Publications:
o Advanced Research Publications
o Topic Briefs
o Analyst Support
o FRC Focus (typical cost is
o SME Direct Access approximately $1,500)
The Trust acknowledges that certain FRC White Papers - FRC Vision
publications may be provided only to (typical cost is approximately
parties that have entered into a written $2,500)
agreement or addendum that sets forth
the terms of use of such publications o Research Studies (costs vary,
and the associated fee. The Trust will however typically range between
notify the Distributor whether the Trust $3,500 and $12,500)
or the Adviser or both will enter into
such an agreement or addendum. The Trust Analyst Support: Quote available upon
acknowledges that if only one of the request
Trust or the Adviser enters into such
agreement or addendum, the other party SME Direct Access: Quote available
will be prohibited from receiving or upon request
using such publications.
Other FRC Fees:
o Client participation in funding
FRC Franchise Level program:
$12,500
o All subsequent content and
support hours may be purchased
at a 20% discount from standard
pricing.
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Expenses Applicable to Special Distribution Services
Except as expressly set forth above, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
Distributor in the performance of its services under this Agreement are not
included in the above fees. Such out-of-pocket expenses may include, without
limitation:
o reasonable travel and entertainment costs;
o 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 NASD,
e.g., CRD fees and state fees;
o Sponsorships, Promotions, Sales Incentives;
o 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.);
o costs and expenses incurred for telephone service, photocopying and office
supplies;
17
o advertising costs;
o 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;
o packaging, shipping, postage, and photocopies; and
o 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.
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