THE APPLETON FUNDS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THE
APPLETON FUNDS
DISTRIBUTION
AGREEMENT, dated as of December 8, 2009, by and among The Appleton Funds, an
Ohio business trust (the "Trust"), Appleton Partners, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Adviser"), and Unified Financial Securities, Inc., an Indiana
corporation (the "Distributor").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the " 1940 Act");
and
WHEREAS,
the Trust, on behalf of the portfolios set forth on Exhibit A (each a
"Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds"), desires to retain the Distributor as the
principal underwriter of the shares of beneficial interest of the Funds (the
"Shares"); and
WHEREAS,
the Distributor is willing to render such services.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants set forth
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Delivery of
Documents. The Trust has delivered to the Distributor copies of the
following documents and will deliver to the Distributor all future amendments
and supplements thereto, if any:
(a) The
Trust's Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto (as currently in effect
and as from time to time amended, hereinafter referred to as the
"Declaration");
(b) The
Trust's By-Laws (as currently in effect and as from time to time amended,
hereinafter referred to as the "By-Laws");
(c) Resolutions
of the Board of Trustees authorizing the execution and delivery of this
Agreement;
(d) The
Trust's Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), and the 1940 Act on Form N-1A most recently filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and all subsequent
amendments or supplements thereto (the "Registration
Statement");
(e) The
Trust's Notification of Registration under the 1940 Act on Form N-8A as filed
with the Commission; and
(f)
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A
current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for each Fund
(as currently in effect and as
from time to time amended and supplemented, hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Prospectuses").
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Section 2. Distribution.
2.1 Appointment of
Distributor. The Trust hereby appoints the Distributor as principal
underwriter of the Shares of each Fund that is set forth on Exhibit A to this
Agreement and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to
render the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.
2.2 Services and
Duties.
(a) The
Trust agrees to sell through the Distributor, as agent, from time to time during
the term of this Agreement, Shares of each Fund upon the terms and at the
current offering prices as described in such Fund's Prospectus. The Distributor
will act only in its own behalf as principal in making agreements with selected
dealers or others for the sale and redemption of Shares, and shall sell Shares
only at the offering prices as set forth in the applicable Fund's Prospectus.
The Distributor shall devote its best efforts to effect the sale of shares, but
shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of Shares.
(b) In
all matters relating to the sale and redemption of Shares, the Distributor and
its designated agent(s) will act in conformity with the Trust's Declaration,
By-laws and the Funds' Prospectuses and with the instructions and directions of
the Board of Trustees and will conform and comply with the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the
regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and all other
applicable federal or state laws or regulations. In connection with the sale of
Shares of a Fund, the Distributor acknowledges and agrees that it is not
authorized to provide any information or make any representation other than as
contained in the Trust's Registration Statement or such Fund's Prospectus and
any sales literature approved by such Fund.
(c) All
Shares of a Fund offered for sale by the Distributor shall be offered for sale
to the public at a price per Share (the "offering price") equal to their net
asset value (determined in the manner set forth in such Fund's then-current
Prospectus), plus any applicable sales charge as set forth in such Fund's
then-current Prospectus.
2.3 Sales and
Redemptions.
(a) The
Trust shall execute all documents, furnish all information and otherwise take
all actions which may be reasonably necessary in the discretion of the Trust's
officers in connection with the qualification of the Shares for sale in such
states as the Distributor may designate to the a Fund and a Fund may approve,
and each Fund shall pay all fees which may be incurred in connection with its
qualification. The Distributor shall pay all expenses connected with its
qualification as a dealer under state or federal laws. It is understood that
certain advertising, marketing, shareholder servicing, administration and/or
distribution expenses to be incurred in connection with the Shares may be paid
as provided in any plan which may be adopted by a Fund in accordance with Rule
12b-l under the 0000 Xxx.
(b) The
Trust shall have the right to suspend the sale of Shares at any time in response
to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise, and to suspend the
redemption of Shares at any time permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules of the
Commission
(c) Each
Fund reserves the right to reject any order for its
Shares.
(d) No
Shares shall be offered by either a Fund or the Distributor under any provisions
of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of Shares hereunder
shall be accepted by a Fund if and so long as the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall be suspended under any of the provisions of the
1933 Act, or if and so long as a Prospectus as required by Section 10 of the
1933 Act for such Fund is not on file with the Commission; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this subsection shall in any way restrict or have any application
to or bearing upon each Fund's obligation to repurchase any Shares from any
shareholder in accordance with the provisions of its
Prospectus.
2.4 Fees and Expenses of the
Fund. Each Fund shall pay all costs and expenses in connection with the
registration of such Fund's Shares under the 1933 Act, all fees in connection
with making notice filings under state securities "blue sky" laws, and all
expenses in connection with maintaining facilities for the issue and transfer
of
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the
Shares and for supplying information, prices and other data to be furnished by
the Fund hereunder, and all expenses in connection with preparing, printing and
distributing such Fund's Prospectus to existing shareholders.
No Fund
will bear any costs and expenses incurred with respect to distribution of shares
except to the extent the Fund is permitted to do so by applicable
law
2.5. Fees and Expenses of the
Adviser. For performing its services under this Agreement, each Fund's
Adviser will pay a fee to Distributor as set forth in Exhibit B. Each
Fund's Adviser shall promptly reimburse Distributor for any expenses incurred on
behalf of such Fund as set forth in Exhibit
B.
It is
understood that each Fund's Adviser will bear the costs and expenses incurred
for (i) printing and mailing to prospective investors copies of such Fund's
Prospectus (including supplements thereto) and annual and interim reports of
such Fund which are used in connection with the offering of the Fund's Shares;
(ii) preparing, printing and mailing any other literature used by the
Distributor in connection with the sale of such Fund's Shares; (iii)
reimbursement for FINRA advertising compliance expenses advanced by the
Distributor on behalf of such Fund; (iv) fees for Distributor's review of such
Fund's sales literature and website; (v) registered representative annual
renewal and compliance fees; and (vi) travel and such other expenses as may be
incurred by Distributor on behalf of such Fund.
Section 3. Limitation of
Liability.
(a) The
Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or
for any loss suffered by any Fund 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
or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this
Agreement. Any person, even though also an officer, director, partner, employee
or agent of the Distributor, who may be or become an officer, Trustee, employee
or agent of the Trust, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the Trust, or
acting on any business of the Trust (other than services or business in
connection with the Distributor's duties as distributor hereunder), to be
rendering such services to or acting solely for the Trust and not as an officer,
director, partner, employee or agent of, or one under the control or direction
of, the Distributor even though paid by the Distributor.
(b) In
the performance of its duties hereunder, the Distributor shall be obligated to
exercise due care and diligence, and to act in good faith in performing the
services provided for under this Agreement. In performing its services
hereunder, the Distributor shall be entitled to rely on any oral or written
instructions, notices or other communications from the Fund and its custodian,
officers and Trustee, investors, agents and other service providers which the
Distributor reasonably believes to be genuine, valid and authorized. The
Distributor shall also be entitled to consult with and rely on the advice and
opinions of outside legal counsel retained by the Trust, as necessary or
appropriate.
(c) The
term "Unified Series Trust" means and refers to the Trust and each Fund listed
on Exhibit
A from
time to time, as the same may subsequently thereto have been, or subsequently
hereto be amended. 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 assets and property
of the Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized
by the vote of a majority
of the Trustees, who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of
any party to this Agreement,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
This Agreement
has been signed by an authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such, and
neither such authorization by such
Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have
been made by any of them individually
or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the
assets and property of the appropriate
Fund.
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Section 4. Indemnification.
4.1. Trust
Representations. The Trust represents and warrants to the Distributor
that at all times the Registration Statement and Prospectuses will in all
material respects conform to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder and will not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, except that no representation or warranty
is made herein with respect to any statements in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Trust by, or on behalf of and with respect to, the Distributor
specifically for use in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus.
4.2. Distributor's
Representations. The Distributor represents and warrants to the Trust
that it is duly organized and validly existing as an Indiana corporation and is
and at all times will remain duly authorized and licensed to carry out its
services as contemplated herein.
4.3. Trust
Indemnification. The Trust will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Distributor, its several officers
and directors, and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which any of them may become subject
under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings
in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectuses or in any
application or other document executed
by or on behalf of the Trust, or arise out of, or are based upon, information
furnished by or on behalf of the Trust
filed in any state in order to qualify the Shares under the securities or blue
sky laws thereof ("Blue Sky Application"),
or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and will reimburse the Distributor,
its several officers and directors, and any person who controls the Distributor
within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any
of them in investigating, defending
or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that the
Trust shall not be liable
in any case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out
of, or is based upon, any untrue
statement, alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectuses,
any Blue Sky Application or any application or other document executed by or on
behalf of the Trust in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Trust
by, or on behalf of, and with respect
to, the Distributor specifically for inclusion therein.
The Trust
shall not indemnify any person pursuant to this Section 4.3 unless the court or
other body before which the proceeding was brought has rendered a final decision
on the merits that such person was not liable by reason of his willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of his duties, or
his reckless disregard of obligations and duties, under this Agreement
("disabling conduct") or, in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable
determination (based upon a review of the facts) that such person was not liable
by reason of disabling conduct has been made by the vote of a majority of
Trustees who are neither "interested persons" of the Trust (as defined in
the 0000 Xxx) nor parties to the proceeding, or by an independent legal counsel
in a written opinion.
The Trust
shall advance attorneys' fees and other expenses incurred by any person in
defending any claim, demand, action or suit which is the subject of a claim for
indemnification pursuant to this Section 4.3, so long as such person shall: (i)
undertake to repay all such advances unless it is ultimately determined that he
is entitled to indemnification hereunder; and (ii) provide security for such
undertaking, or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of
any lawful advances, or a majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party
Trustees of the Trust (or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion)
shall determine based on a review of readily
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available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe
that such person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification
hereunder.
4.4. Distributor's
Indemnification. The Distributor will indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the Trust, the Trust's several officers and Trustees and any person who controls
the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from and against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any of them
may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect hereof) arise
out of, or are based upon, any breach of its representations and warranties in
Section 4.2 hereof, or which arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectuses, any Blue Sky Application or any
application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Trust, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, which
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Trust or any of its several officers and Trustees
by, or on behalf of, and with respect to, the Distributor specifically for
inclusion therein, and will reimburse the Trust, the Trust's several officers
and Trustees, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by any of them in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such
action, proceeding or claim.
4.5. General Indemnity
Provisions. No indemnifying party shall be liable under its indemnity
agreement contained in Section 4.3 or 4.4 hereof with respect to any claim made
against such indemnifying party unless the indemnified party shall have notified
the indemnifying party in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or
other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall
have been served upon the indemnified party (or after the indemnified party
shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure
to notify the indemnifying party of any such claim shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may otherwise have to the indemnified party. The indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if
it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such
liability, and if the indemnifying party elects to assume the defense, such
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnified party. In the event the indemnifying party elects to assume
the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the indemnified party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by the
indemnified party.
Section 5. Duration and
Termination. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date of this
Agreement for each Fund listed on Exhibit A attached
hereto on the date of this Agreement and shall continue in effect with respect
to each such Fund (and any subsequent Funds added pursuant to an Exhibit
executed during the initial term of this Agreement) for two years thereafter,
and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter, subject to
termination as hereinafter provided, if such continuance is approved at least
annually by (a) a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in
the 0000 Xxx) of such Fund or by vote of the Trust's Board of Trustees, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b)
by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this
Agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any party to
this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on
such approval. If a Fund is added pursuant to an Exhibit executed after the date
of this Agreement as described above, this Agreement shall become effective with
respect to that Fund upon execution of the applicable Exhibit by the appropriate
parties and shall continue in effect until the next annual continuance of this
Agreement and from year to year thereafter, subject to approval as described
above. This Agreement may be terminated by the Trust with respect to any Fund at
any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees or by
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000
Xxx) of such Fund, on 60 days' written notice to the Distributor, or by the
Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 90 days' written
notice to the Trust. This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate
in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
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Section 6. Miscellaneous.
6.1. Amendments. No
provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which an
enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is
sought.
6.2. Construction. The
captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in
no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their
construction or effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby. Subject to the provisions of Section 5
hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors.
6.3. Notices. Any notice
or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be
given to the Trust shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Trust and
mailed or delivered to it at its principal office set forth in the Registration
Statement, or at such other place as the Trust may from time to time designate
in writing. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Distributor shall be sufficiently given if
addressed to the Distributor and mailed or delivered to it at 0000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention: President,
or at such other place as the Distributor may from time to time designate in
writing.
6.4.
Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Indiana.
6.5
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
[Remainder
of this page intentionally left blank.]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Distribution Agreement to
be executed by their officers designated below as of the date and year first
above written.
THE
APPLETON FUNDS
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By:
/s/ Xxxxx
Xxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
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Title:
President
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UNIFIED
FINANCIAL SECURITIES, INC.
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By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx
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Title:
President
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APPLETON
PARTNERS, INC.
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As
to Section 2.5
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By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
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Name:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
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Title:
President
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EXHIBIT
A
The
Appleton Equity Growth Fund
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EXHIBIT
B
DISTRIBUTION FEE
SCHEDULE
Unified's
pricing proposal is subject to change based upon further review of the service
requirements. Additional services not contemplated in this schedule will be
negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The prices contained herein are effective
for twelve months from the execution date of the Distribution Agreement. Fees
are billed monthly and are payable upon receipt of an
invoice.
I. Base Fees
mm
Base Fees
are the greater of the annual minimum or the basis point fees as defined
below:
Annual Minimum
Fees:
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$12,000
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Annual
Basis Point Fees:
0.01% of
average daily net assets of each portfolio
[1]
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Base
Fees do not include out-of-pocket expenses which include but are not
limited to: printing, postage and handling, shipping, record storage,
legal expenses associated with negotiating customized agreements with
selling group counterparties, regulatory filing fees and all other
expenses incurred on behalf of the Trust. Additional fees not contemplated
in tin's schedule will be negotiated on a per occurrence
basis.
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[2]
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Base
fees are subject to a cost of living adjustment of 3% per year of the
prior year's annual minimum
fee.
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II. Additional
Services
♦ Conversion
of existing business
♦ Advertising
Compliance Review
(including websites)
♦ EXPEDITED
advertising review (24 hr turnaround)
♦ FINRA
and other filing
fees
♦ Model
Fund Fact Sheet set-up & branding
♦ Fund
Fact Sheet maintenance & quarterly updates
♦ Model
Brochure Development
♦ Licensing
of associated persons
(Unified accepts only series 6, 7,24,26, and 63)
♦ Travel
and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
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Quoted
based on business requirements
$150.00
per hour
$225.00
per hour
Pass
through
$2,000.00
per portfolio
$1,000.00
annually
$500.00
per occurrence
$150.00
per month*
Pass
through when associated with the compliance audit of registered
person
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* Registration
fees as well as state licensing fees are pass through expenses.
Please sign below. Your
signature indicates acceptance of the Distribution fee
schedule.
THE APPLETON FUNDS | UNIFIED FINANCIAL SECURITIES, INC. | |
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | |
Print
Name: Xxxxx
Xxxxx
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Print Name: Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx
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Title: President | Title: President | |
Date: 12/23/09 | ||
Attest: _____________________ | ||
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