1
Exhibit 99(e)(i)
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
January 20, 1995
as amended as of June 4 , 1996
Xxxxxxxx Research Corp.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This is to confirm that, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter
contained, the undersigned, Fairport Funds, an Ohio business trust (the
"Trust"), has agreed that Xxxxxxxx Research Corp., an Ohio corporation
("Distributor"), shall be, for the period of this Distribution Agreement (the
"Agreement"), the principal underwriter and distributor of the shares of
beneficial interest of each currently constituted investment portfolio and any
additional investment portfolios of the Trust, as each is or will be identified
on Schedule A hereto (such current investment portfolios and any additional
investment portfolios together called the "Funds"). Such shares of beneficial
interest are hereinafter called "Shares."
1. SERVICES AS DISTRIBUTOR.
1.1 Distributor will act as agent for the distribution of the Shares
covered by the registration statement and prospectus of the Trust then in effect
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").
1.2 Distributor agrees to use appropriate efforts to solicit orders for
the sale of the Shares and will undertake such advertising and promotion as it
believes reasonable in connection with such solicitation. The Trust understands
that Distributor is now and, in the future, may be the distributor of the shares
of other investment companies or series (together, "Companies") including
Companies having investment objectives similar to those of the Funds of the
Trust. The Trust further understands that investors and potential investors in
the Trust may invest in shares of such other Companies. The Trust agrees that
Distributor's duties to such Companies shall not be deemed in conflict with its
duties to the Trust under this paragraph 1.2. Except as provided in Section 2
herein, Distributor shall, at its own expense, finance appropriate activities
which it deems reasonable which are primarily intended to result in the sale of
the Shares, including, but not limited to, advertising, compensation of
underwriters, dealers and sales personnel, the printing and mailing of
prospectuses to other than current Shareholders, and the printing and mailing of
sales literature.
1.3 All activities by Distributor and its shareholders, directors,
agents, and employees as distributor of the Shares shall comply with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, all rules
and regulations made or adopted pursuant to the
2
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or any securities association registered
under the 0000 Xxx.
1.4 Distributor will provide one or more persons, during normal
business hours, to respond to telephone questions with respect to the Trust and
the Funds.
1.5 Distributor will transmit any orders received by it for purchase or
redemption of the Shares to the transfer agent and custodian for the Funds.
1.6 Whenever in their judgment such action is warranted by unusual
market, economic or political conditions, or by abnormal circumstances of any
kind, the Trust's officers may decline to accept any orders for, or make any
sales of the Shares until such time as those officers deem it advisable to
accept such orders and to make such sales.
1.7 Distributor will act only on its own behalf as principal if it
chooses to enter into selling agreements with selected dealers or others.
1.8 The Trust agrees at its own expense to execute any and all
documents and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all
actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the qualification of
the Shares for sale in such states as Distributor may designate.
1.9 The Trust shall furnish from time to time, for use in connection
with the sale of the Shares, such information with respect to the Funds and the
Shares as Distributor may reasonably request; and the Trust warrants that the
statements contained in any such information shall fairly show or represent what
they purport to show or represent. The Trust shall also furnish Distributor upon
request with: (a) unaudited semi-annual statements of the Funds' books and
accounts prepared by the Trust, (b) quarterly earnings statements prepared by
the Trust, (c) a monthly itemized list of the securities in the Funds, (d)
monthly balance sheets as soon as practicable after the end of each month, and
(e) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial
condition of the Funds as Distributor may reasonably request.
1.10 The Trust represents to Distributor that all registration
statements and prospectuses filed by the Trust with the Commission under the
1933 Act with respect to the Shares have been carefully prepared in conformity
with the requirements of the 1933 Act and rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder. As used in this agreement the terms "registration
statement" and "prospectus" shall mean any registration statement and any
prospectus and statement of additional information relating to the Funds filed
with the Commission and any amendments and supplements thereto which at any time
shall have been filed with the Commission. The Trust represents and warrants to
Distributor that any registration statement and prospectus, when such
registration statement becomes effective, will contain all statements required
to be stated therein in conformity with the 1933 Act and the rules and
3
regulations of the Commission; that all statements of fact contained in any such
registration statement and prospectus will be true and correct when such
registration statement becomes effective; and that neither any registration
statement nor any prospectus when such registration statement becomes effective
will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading to a purchaser of the Shares. The Trust may but shall not be
obligated to propose from time to time such amendment or amendments to any
registration statement and such supplement or supplements to any prospectus as,
in the light of future developments, may, in the opinion of the Trust's counsel,
be necessary or advisable. If the Trust shall not propose such amendment or
amendments and/or supplement or supplements within fifteen days after receipt by
the Trust of a written request from Distributor to do so, Distributor may, at
its option, terminate this agreement. The Trust shall not file any amendment to
any registration statement or supplement to any prospectus without giving
Distributor reasonable notice thereof in advance; provided, however, that
nothing contained in this agreement shall in any way limit the Trust's right to
file at any time such amendments to any registration statement and/or
supplements to any prospectus, of whatever character, as the Trust may deem
advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.
1.11 The Trust authorizes Distributor and dealers to use any prospectus
in the form most recently furnished in connection with the sale of the Shares.
The Trust agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Distributor, its directors,
shareholders and employees, and any person who controls Distributor within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act free and harmless from and against any and
all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of
investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel
fees incurred in connection therewith) which Distributor, its shareholders,
directors and employees, or any such controlling person, may incur under the
1933 Act or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in
any registration statement or any prospectus or arising out of or based upon any
omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in
either any registration statement or any prospectus or necessary to make the
statements in either thereof not misleading; provided, however, that the Trust's
agreement to indemnify Distributor, its shareholders, directors or employees,
and any such controlling person shall not be deemed to cover any claims,
demands, liabilities or expenses arising out of any statements or
representations as are contained in any prospectus and in such financial and
other statements as are furnished in writing to the Trust by Distributor and
used in the answers to the registration statement or in the corresponding
statements made in the prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with the giving of
such information required to be stated in such answers or necessary to make the
answers not misleading; and further provided that the Trust's agreement to
indemnify Distributor and the Trust's representations and warranties
hereinbefore set forth in paragraph 1.10 shall not be deemed to cover any
liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which Distributor would otherwise
be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in
the performance of its duties, or by reason of Distributor's reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties under this agreement. The Trust's
4
agreement to indemnify Distributor, its shareholders, directors and employees,
and any such controlling person, as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon the
Trust's being notified of any action brought against Distributor, its
shareholders, directors or employees, or any such controlling person, such
notification to be given by letter or by telegram addressed to the Trust at its
principal office in Cleveland, Ohio and sent to the Trust by the person against
whom such action is brought, within 10 days after the summons or other first
legal process shall have been served. The failure to so notify the Trust of any
such action shall not relieve the Trust from any liability which the Trust may
have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such
untrue, or allegedly untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission,
otherwise than on account of the Trust's indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph 1.11. The Trust will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim, demand or liability, but, in such case, such
defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing chosen by the Trust and
approved by Distributor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In
the event the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain
counsel of good standing approved by Distributor, the defendant or defendants in
such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by
any of them; but in case the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of any
such suit, or in case Distributor reasonably does not approve of counsel chosen
by the Trust, the Trust will reimburse Distributor, its shareholders, directors
and employees, or the controlling person or persons named as defendant or
defendants in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by
Distributor or them. The Trust's indemnification agreement contained in this
paragraph 1.11 and the Trust's representations and warranties in this agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of Distributor, its shareholders, directors
and employees, or any controlling person, and shall survive the delivery of any
Shares. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to Distributor's
benefit, to the benefit of its several shareholders, directors and employees,
and their respective estates, and to the benefit of the controlling persons and
their successors. The Trust agrees promptly to notify Distributor of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Trust or any of its
officers or Trustees in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.
5
1.12 Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Trust, its
several officers and Trustees and any person who controls the Trust within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act free and harmless from and against any and
all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the costs of
investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel
fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Trust, its officers or Trustees
or any such controlling person, may incur under the 1933 Act or under common law
or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by
the Trust, its officers or Trustees or such controlling person resulting from
such claims or demands, shall arise out of or be based upon any untrue, or
alleged untrue, statement of a material fact contained in information furnished
in writing by Distributor to the Trust and used in the answers to any of the
items of the registration statement or in the corresponding statements made in
the prospectus, or shall arise out of or be based upon any omission, or alleged
omission, to state a material fact in connection with such information furnished
in writing by Distributor to the Trust required to be stated in such answers or
necessary to make such information not misleading. Distributor's agreement to
indemnify the Trust, its officers and Trustees, and any such controlling person,
as aforesaid, is expressly conditioned upon Distributor's being notified of any
action brought against the Trust, its officers or Trustees, or any such
controlling person, such notification to be given by letter or telegram
addressed to Distributor at its principal office in Cleveland, Ohio, and sent to
Distributor by the person against whom such action is brought, within 10 days
after the summons or other first legal process shall have been served.
Distributor shall have the right of first control of the defense of such action,
with counsel of its own choosing, satisfactory to the Trust, if such action is
based solely upon such alleged misstatement or omission on Distributor's part,
and in any other event the Trust, its officers or Trustees or such controlling
person shall each have the right to participate in the defense or preparation of
the defense of any such action. The failure to so notify Distributor of any such
action shall not relieve Distributor from any liability which Distributor may
have to the Trust, its officers or Trustees, or to such controlling person by
reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged
omission, otherwise than on account of Distributor's indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph 1.12.
1.13 No Shares shall be offered by either Distributor or the Trust
under any of the provisions of this agreement and no orders for the purchase or
sale of Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Trust if and so long as the
effectiveness of the registration statement then in effect or any necessary
amendments thereto shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the 1933
Act or if and so long as a current prospectus as required by Section l0(a) of
the 1933 Act is not on file with the Commission; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this paragraph 1.13 shall in any way restrict or have an
application to or bearing upon the Trust's obligation to repurchase Shares from
any Shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Trust's prospectus,
Declaration of Trust, or By-Laws.
1.14 The Trust agrees to advise Distributor as soon as reasonably
practical by a notice in writing delivered to Distributor:
(a) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the registration
statement or prospectus then in effect or for additional information;
6
(b) in the event of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or
prospectus then in effect or the initiation by service of process on
the Trust of any proceeding for that purpose;
(c) of the happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a
material fact made in the registration statement or prospectus then in
effect or which requires the making of a change in such registration
statement or prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
misleading; and
(d) of all action of the Commission with respect to any amendment to
any registration statement or prospectus which may from time to time be
filed with the Commission.
For purposes of this section, informal requests by or acts of the Staff
of the Commission shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the Commission.
1.15 Distributor agrees on behalf of itself and its partners and
employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust
all records and other information relative to the Trust and its prior, present
or potential Shareholders, and not to use such records and information for any
purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder,
except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where
Distributor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure
to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
1.16 This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.
2. FEE.
Distributor shall receive from the Funds identified on Schedule B
hereto a distribution fee at the rate and upon the terms and conditions set
forth in the Distribution and Shareholder Service Plan attached as Schedule C
hereto, and as amended from time to time. The distribution fee described above
shall be accrued daily and shall be paid on the first business day of each
month, or at such time(s) as Distributor shall reasonably request.
3. SALE AND PAYMENT.
(a) Distributor shall, as agent for the Trust, sell Shares of
the Funds to the public and to dealers against orders therefor at their
net asset value.
(b) Prior to the time of delivery of any Shares by a Fund to,
or on the order of, Distributor, Distributor shall pay or cause to be
paid to the Fund or to its order an amount in federal funds equal to
the applicable net asset value of such Shares.
7
4. TERM AND MATTERS RELATING TO THE TRUST AS AN OHIO BUSINESS TRUST.
This Agreement became effective on January 20, 1995, and, as amended,
shall become effective as of June 3, 1996, and, unless sooner terminated as
provided herein, shall continue until January 20, 1997, and thereafter shall
continue automatically for successive annual periods ending on January 20 of
each year with respect to each of the Funds, provided such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Trust's Board of Trustees or
(ii) by "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" (as defined
below) of the Trust, provided, however, that in either event the continuance is
also approved by the majority of the Trust's Trustees who are not parties to the
agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any party to
this agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval. This agreement is terminable without penalty, on not
less than sixty days' notice, by the Trust's Board of Trustees, by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of
the Trust or by Distributor. This agreement will also terminate automatically in
the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
Fairport Funds is a business trust organized under Chapter 1746, Ohio
Revised Code, and under a Declaration of Trust to which reference is hereby made
and a copy of which is on file at the office of the Secretary of the State of
Ohio as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed or
hereafter filed. The obligations of "Fairport Funds" entered into in the name or
on behalf thereof by any of the Trustees, officers, employees or agents are made
not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the
Trustees, Shareholders, officers, employees or agents of the Trust personally,
but bind only the assets of the Trust, as set forth in Section 1746.13(A), Ohio
Revised Code, and all persons dealing with any of the Funds of the Trust must
look solely to the assets of the Trust belonging to such Fund for the
enforcement of any claims against the Trust.
Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding by indicating your acceptance hereof at the place below indicated,
whereupon it shall become a binding agreement between us.
Yours very truly,
FAIRPORT FUNDS
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President
Accepted:
XXXXXXXX RESEARCH CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------
8
Dated: July 1, 1999
Schedule A
to the
Distribution Agreement
between Xxxxxxxx Funds and
Xxxxxxxx Research Corp.
dated January 20, 1995 as amended
as of June 4, 1996
Name of Fund Date
------------ ----
Xxxxxxxx Growth Fund January 20, 1995
Xxxxxxxx Growth and Income Fund January 20, 1995
Xxxxxxxx Government Securities Fund January 20, 1995
Xxxxxxxx Emerging Growth Fund July 1, 1999
Xxxxxxxx International Equity Fund July 1, 1999
XXXXXXXX FUNDS
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President
XXXXXXXX RESEARCH CORP.
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Treasurer
9
Dated: July 1, 1999
Schedule B
to the
Distribution Agreement
between Xxxxxxxx Funds and
Xxxxxxxx Research Corp.
dated January 20, 1995 as amended
as of June 4, 1996
Name of Plan Fund Date
----------------- ----
Xxxxxxxx Growth Fund January 20, 1995
Xxxxxxxx Growth and Income Fund January 20, 1995
Xxxxxxxx Government Securities Fund January 20, 1995
Xxxxxxxx Emerging Growth Fund July 1, 1999
Xxxxxxxx International Equity Fund July 1, 1999
XXXXXXXX FUNDS
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President
XXXXXXXX RESEARCH CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Treasurer
10
Schedule C
to the
Distribution Agreement
between Fairport Funds and
Xxxxxxxx Research Corp.
January 20, 1995
As amended as of March 1, 1996
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE PLAN
This Plan (the "Plan") constitutes a distribution and shareholder
service plan of Fairport Funds, an Ohio business trust (the "Trust"), adopted
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"). The Plan relates to shares of those investment portfolios
identified on Schedule B to the Trust's Distribution Agreement, as such schedule
may be amended from time to time (the "Plan Funds").
Section 1. Each Plan Fund shall pay to the principal underwriter
("Distributor") of the Trust's shares of beneficial interest (the "Shares"),
currently Xxxxxxxx Research Corp., an Ohio corporation, or its designee, a fee
in an amount not to exceed on an annual basis .25% of the average daily net
asset value of such Plan Fund (the "Plan Fee") for: (a) payments Distributor
makes or agrees to have made to broker/dealers, banks and other institutions (a
"Participating Organization") for distribution assistance and/or Shareholder
service pursuant to an agreement with the Participating Organization or for
distribution assistance and/or Shareholder service provided by Distributor
pursuant to the Plan; or (b) reimbursement of expenses incurred by a
Participating Organization pursuant to an agreement in connection with
distribution assistance and/or Shareholder service including, but not limited
to, the reimbursement of expenses relating to printing and distributing
prospectuses to persons other than Shareholders of a Plan Fund, printing and
distributing advertising and sales literature and reports to Shareholders used
in connection with the sale of Shares, and personnel and communication equipment
used in servicing Shareholder accounts and prospective shareholder inquiries.
For purposes of the Plan, a Participating Organization may include Distributor
and Distributor's affiliates and subsidiaries.
Section 2. The Plan Fee shall be paid by the Plan Funds to Distributor
only to compensate Distributor for assistance or services provided, or to
reimburse Distributor for payments or expenses incurred, pursuant to Section 1.
Section 3. The Plan shall not take effect with respect to a Plan Fund
until it has been approved by the vote of the initial Shareholder of such Fund.
Section 4. The Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved,
together with any related agreements, by votes of the majority (or whatever
greater percentage may, from time to time, be required by Section 12(b) of the
1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder) of both (a) the Trustees of
the Trust, and (b) the Independent Trustees of the Trust cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan or such agreement.
11
Section 5. The Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than
one year after it takes effect only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually in the manner provided for approval of the Plan in
Section 4.
Section 6. Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies
paid or payable by the Plan Funds pursuant to the Plan or any related agreement
shall provide to the Trustees of the Trust, and the Trustees shall review, at
least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes
for which such expenditures were made.
Section 7. The Plan may be terminated as to a Plan Fund at any time,
without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent
Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares of a Plan Fund.
Section 8. All agreements with any person relating to implementation of
the Plan shall be in writing, and any agreement related to the Plan shall
provide:
(a) That such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment
of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Plan
Fund, on not more than 60 days' written notice to any other party to
the agreement; and
(b) That such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of
its assignment.
Section 9. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the
amount of distribution expenses of a Plan Fund permitted pursuant to Section 1
hereof without approval by a vote of at least a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of such Plan Fund, and all material amendments to the Plan
shall be approved in the manner provided for approval of the Plan in Section 4.
Section 10. As used in the Plan, (a) the term "Independent Trustees"
shall mean those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the
Trust, and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the
Plan or any agreements related to it, and (b) the terms "assignment",
"interested person" and "majority of the outstanding voting securities" shall
have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Effective: January 20, 1995, as amended as of March 1, 1996.
