DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This Agreement made as of September
2nd, 2008 by and between AlphaMark Investment Trust (the “Trust”), an Ohio
business trust, and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, an Ohio limited liability
company (“Distributor”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Act"); and
WHEREAS, Distributor is a broker-dealer
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a member of FINRA;
and
WHEREAS, the Trust and Distributor are
desirous of entering into an agreement providing for the distribution by
Distributor of shares of beneficial interest (the "Shares") of each series of
shares of the Trust listed on Schedule A attached hereto (the "Series"), as such
Schedule A may be amended from time to time;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
premises and agreements of the parties contained herein, the parties agree as
follows:
1.
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Appointment.
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The Trust
hereby appoints Distributor as its exclusive agent for the distribution of the
Shares, and Distributor hereby accepts such appointment under the terms of this
Agreement. While this Agreement is in force, the Trust shall not sell
any Shares except on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Trust may
terminate, suspend or withdraw the offering of Shares whenever, in its sole
discretion, it deems such action to be desirable.
2.
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Sale and Repurchase of
Shares.
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(a)
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Distributor
will have the right, as agent for the Trust, to enter into dealer
agreements with responsible investment dealers, and to sell Shares to such
investment dealers against orders therefor at the public offering price
(as defined in subparagraph 2(d) hereof) stated in the Trust's effective
Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Act and the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, including the then current prospectus and statement
of additional information (the "Registration Statement"). Upon
receipt of an order to purchase Shares from a dealer with whom Distributor
has a dealer agreement, Distributor will promptly cause such order to be
filled by the Trust. All dealer agreements shall be in such
form as has been approved by the
Trust.
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(b)
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Distributor
will also have the right, as agent for the Trust, to sell such Shares to
the public against orders therefor at the public offering
price.
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(c)
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Distributor
will also have the right to take, as agent for the Trust, all actions
which, in Distributor's reasonable judgment, are necessary to carry into
effect the distribution of the
Shares.
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(d)
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The
public offering price for the Shares of each Series shall be the
respective net asset value of the Shares of that Series then in effect,
plus any applicable sales charge determined in the manner set forth in the
Registration Statement or as permitted by the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated
thereunder. In no event shall any applicable sales charge
exceed the maximum sales charge permitted by the Rules of
FINRA.
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(e)
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The
net asset value of the Shares of each Series shall be determined in the
manner provided in the Registration Statement, and when determined shall
be applicable to transactions as provided for in the Registration
Statement. The net asset value of the Shares of each Series
shall be calculated by the Trust or by another entity on behalf of the
Trust. Distributor shall have no duty to inquire into or
liability for the accuracy of the net asset value per Share as
calculated.
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(f)
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On
every sale, the Trust shall receive the applicable net asset value of the
Shares promptly, but in no event later than the third business day
following the date on which Distributor shall have received an order for
the purchase of the Shares.
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(g)
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Upon
receipt of purchase instructions, Distributor will transmit such
instructions to the Trust or its transfer agent for the issuance and
registration of the Shares
purchased.
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(h)
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Nothing
in this Agreement shall prevent Distributor or any affiliated person (as
defined in the Act) of Distributor from acting as distributor for any
other person, firm or corporation (including other investment companies)
or in any way limit or restrict Distributor or any such affiliated person
from buying, selling or trading any securities for its or their own
account or for the accounts of others from whom it or they may be acting;
provided, however, that Distributor expressly represents that it will
undertake no activities which, in its reasonable judgment, will adversely
affect the performance of its obligations to the Trust under this
Agreement.
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(i)
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Distributor,
as agent of and for the account of the Trust, may repurchase the Shares at
such prices and upon such terms and conditions as shall be specified in
the Registration Statement.
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3.
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Sale of Shares by the
Trust.
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The Trust
reserves the right to issue any Shares at any time directly to the holders of
Shares ("Shareholders"), to sell Shares to its Shareholders or to other persons
at not less than net asset value and to issue Shares in exchange for
substantially all the assets of any corporation or trust or for the shares of
any corporation or trust.
4.
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Basis of Sale of
Shares.
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Distributor
does not agree to sell any specific number of Shares. Distributor, as
agent for the Trust, undertakes to sell Shares on a best efforts basis only
against orders therefor.
5.
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Rules of FINRA,
etc.
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(a)
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In
providing services hereunder, Distributor will comply with the Rules of
FINRA, the federal securities laws and the rules thereunder and the
securities laws and regulations of each state and other jurisdiction in
which it sells, directly or indirectly, any
Shares.
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(b)
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Distributor
will require each dealer with whom Distributor has a dealer agreement to
conform to the applicable provisions hereof and the Registration Statement
with respect to the public offering price of the Shares, and neither
Distributor nor any such dealers shall withhold the placing of purchase
orders so as to make a profit
thereby.
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(c)
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Distributor
agrees to furnish to the Trust sufficient copies of any agreements, plans
or other materials it intends to use in connection with any sales of
Shares in reasonably adequate time for the Trust to file and clear them
with the proper authorities before they are put in use, and not to
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use
them until so filed and cleared. At the request of the Trust,
Distributor will assume responsibility for the review and clearance of all
advertisements and sales
literature.
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(d)
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Distributor,
at its own expense, will qualify as dealer or broker, or otherwise, under
all applicable state or federal laws required in order that Shares may be
sold in such States as may be mutually agreed upon by the
parties.
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(e)
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Distributor
shall not make, or permit any representative, broker or dealer to make, in
connection with any sale or solicitation of a sale of the Shares, any
representations concerning the Shares except those contained in the then
current prospectus and statement of additional information covering the
Shares and in printed information approved by the Trust as information
supplemental to such prospectus and statement of additional
information. Copies of the then effective prospectus and
statement of additional information and any such printed supplemental
information will be supplied by the Trust to Distributor in reasonable
quantities upon request.
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6.
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Records to be supplied
by Trust.
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The Trust
shall furnish to Distributor copies of all information, financial statements and
other papers which Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with
the distribution of the Shares, and this shall include, but shall not be limited
to, one certified copy, upon request by Distributor, of all financial statements
prepared for the Trust by independent public accountants.
7.
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Fees and
Expenses.
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For
performing its services under this Agreement, Distributor will receive a fee
from the Trust or its investment adviser in accordance with agreements between
them as permitted by applicable laws, including the Act and rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder. The fee is $6,000 per annum, and
shall be paid on a monthly basis. The Trust or its investment adviser
shall promptly reimburse Distributor for any expenses that are to be paid by the
Trust in accordance with the following paragraph.
In the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, Distributor will pay only
the costs incurred in qualifying as a broker or dealer under state and federal
laws and in establishing and maintaining its relationships with the dealers
selling the Shares. All other costs in connection with the offering
of the Shares will be paid by the Trust or its investment adviser in accordance
with agreements between them as permitted by applicable laws, including the Act
and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. These costs
include, but are not limited to, licensing fees, filing fees (including FINRA),
travel and such other expenses as may be incurred by Distributor on behalf of
the Trust.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Distributor agrees that it shall not be entitled to receive any
fee from the Trust or to be reimbursed by the Trust for any distribution or
offering related costs unless and until the Trust has adopted a plan of
distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 which permits the payment of such fee or the
reimbursement of such costs.
8.
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Indemnification of
Trust.
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Distributor
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and each person who has been,
is, or may hereafter be a Trustee, officer, employee, shareholder or control
person of the Trust against any loss, damage or expense (including the
reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) reasonably
incurred by any of them in connection with any claim or in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding to which any of them may be a party, which arises out
of or is alleged to arise out
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of or is
based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact, or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements not misleading, on the part of Distributor or any agent or
employee of Distributor or any other person for whose acts Distributor is
responsible, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon written
information furnished by the Trust; (ii) Distributor's failure to exercise
reasonable care and diligence with respect to its services, if any, rendered in
connection with investment, reinvestment, automatic withdrawal and other plans
for Shares; and (iii) Distributor’s failure to comply with applicable laws and
the Rules of FINRA. The Distributor will advance attorneys' fees or
other expenses incurred by any such person in defending a proceeding, upon the
undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay the advance if it is
ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification. The
term "expenses" for purposes of this and the next paragraph includes amounts
paid in satisfaction of judgments or in settlements which are made with
Distributor's consent. The foregoing rights of indemnification shall
be in addition to any other rights to which the Trust or each such person may be
entitled as a matter of law.
9.
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Indemnification of
Distributor.
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The Trust
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Distributor and each person who has been,
is, or may hereafter be a director, officer, employee, shareholder or control
person of Distributor against any loss, damage or expense (including the
reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) reasonably
incurred by any of them in connection with the matters to which this Agreement
relates, except a loss resulting from the failure of Distributor or any such
other person to comply with applicable law or the terms of this Agreement, or
from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, including clerical
errors and mechanical failures, on the part of any of such persons in the
performance of Distributor's duties or from the reckless disregard by any of
such persons of Distributor's obligations and duties under this Agreement, for
all of which exceptions Distributor shall be liable to the Trust. The
Trust will advance attorneys' fees or other expenses incurred by any such person
in defending a proceeding, upon the undertaking by or on behalf of such person
to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that such person is not
entitled to indemnification.
In order
that the indemnification provisions contained in this Paragraph 9 shall apply,
it is understood that if in any case the Trust may be asked to indemnify
Distributor or any other person or hold Distributor or any other person
harmless, the Trust shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts
concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that
Distributor will use all reasonable care to identify and notify the Trust
promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present
the probability of such a claim for indemnification against the
Trust. The Trust shall have the option to defend Distributor and any
such person against any claim which may be the subject of this indemnification,
and in the event that the Trust so elects it will so notify Distributor, and
neither Distributor nor any such person shall in such situation initiate further
legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this
Paragraph 9. If the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such
claim, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party, whose approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld, as long as the Trust is conducting a good faith and diligent defense.
In the event that the Trust elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain
counsel, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it. Distributor shall in no case
confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Trust will be
asked to indemnify Distributor or any such person except with the Trust's
written consent.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, Distributor shall be entitled to receive
and act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Trust or its own
counsel) and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or thing
reasonably done pursuant to such advice, provided that such action is not in
violation of applicable federal or state laws or regulations.
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10.
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Representations of the
Parties.
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(a)
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The
Trust certifies to Distributor that: (1) as of the date of the
execution of this Agreement, each Series that is in existence as of such
date has an unlimited number of authorized shares, and (2) this Agreement
has been duly authorized by the Trust and, when executed and delivered by
the Trust, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject
to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of
general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and
secured parties.
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(b)
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Distributor
represents and warrants that: (1) the various procedures and
systems which Distributor has implemented with regard to safeguarding from
loss or damage attributable to fire, theft, or any other cause the records
and other data of the Trust and Distributor’s records, data, equipment,
facilities and other property used in the performance of its obligations
hereunder are adequate and that it will make such changes therein from
time to time as are required for the secure performance of its obligations
hereunder, and (2) this Agreement has been duly authorized by Distributor
and, when executed and delivered by Distributor, will constitute a legal,
valid and binding obligation of Distributor, enforceable against
Distributor in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured
parties.
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11.
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Termination and
Amendment of this Agreement.
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This
Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in
the event of its assignment by Distributor. This Agreement may be
amended only if such amendment is approved (i) by Distributor and (ii) by the
Board of Trustees of the Trust, including the approval of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust or of
Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval.
Either
the Trust or Distributor may at any time terminate this Agreement on sixty (60)
days' written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to
the other party.
12.
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Effective Period of
this Agreement.
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This
Agreement shall take effect upon its execution and shall remain in full force
and effect for an initial term of two (2) years from the date of its execution
(unless terminated as set forth in Section 11), and shall continue in effect
from year to year thereafter, subject to annual approval of such continuance by
the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including the approval of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust or of
Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval.
13.
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Successor Investment
Company.
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Unless
this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Paragraph 11, the terms
and provisions of this Agreement shall become automatically applicable to any
investment company which is a successor to the Trust as a result of
reorganization, recapitalization or change of domicile.
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14.
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Limitation of
Liability.
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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 bind only the trust property of the
Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and signed by an 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 trust property of the Trust. If a matter relates
only to a particular series of the Trust, that series shall be solely
responsible for all liabilities in connection with such matter, and the
Distributor agrees that resort shall be had solely to the assets of such series
for the payment or performance thereof.
15.
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Severability.
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In the
event any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable,
such determination shall not affect the remainder of this Agreement, which shall
continue to be in force.
16.
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Questions of
Interpretation.
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(a)
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This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Ohio.
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(b)
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Any
question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement
having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of
the Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the
Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United States courts or
in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules,
regulations or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued
pursuant to said Act. In addition, where the effect of a
requirement of the Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement is
revised by rule, regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of
such rule, regulation or order.
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17.
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Notices.
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Any
notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or
mailed postage paid to the other party, with a copy to the Trust’s counsel, at
such address as such other party may designate for the receipt of such
notice. Such notice will be effective upon receipt. Until
further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the address of the Trust
for this purpose shall be 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx; and that the address of Distributor for
this purpose shall be 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000,
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx.
18.
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Execution
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This
Agreement may be executed by one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one in the same
instrument.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust and Distributor have each caused this Agreement to be
signed in duplicate on their behalf, all as of the day and year first above
written.
ATTEST:
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__________________________
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx
X.
Xxxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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Its: |
President
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ATTEST:
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ULTIMUS
FUND DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
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/s/ Xxxx X.
Bridge
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Its: |
President
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SCHEDULE
A
TO
THE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN
AND
ULTIMUS
FUND DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
FUND
PORTFOLIOS
AlphaMark
Large Cap Growth Fund
AlphaMark
Small Cap Growth Fund
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