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Exhibit (5)(e)
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INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of July 9, 1996, between THE SESSIONS GROUP,
an Ohio business trust (the "Trust"), and Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Company, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation (the "Investment Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Investment Adviser to provide,
or to arrange for the provision of, investment advisory services to two newly
created investment portfolios of the Trust and may retain the Investment Adviser
to serve in such capacity to certain additional investment portfolios of the
Trust, all as now or hereafter may be identified in Schedule A hereto (such new
investment portfolios and any such additional investment portfolios together
called the "Funds") and the Investment Adviser represents that it is willing and
possesses legal authority to so furnish such services without violation of
applicable laws (including the Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxx Act) and regulations;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
Section 1. Appointment. The Trust hereby appoints the Investment
Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Funds for the period and on the
terms set forth in this Agreement. The Investment Adviser accepts such
appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the
compensation herein provided. Additional investment portfolios may from time to
time be added to those covered by this Agreement by the parties executing a new
Schedule A which shall become effective upon its execution and shall supersede
any Schedule A having an earlier date.
Section 2. Delivery of Documents. The Trust has furnished the
Investment Adviser with copies properly certified or authenticated of each of
the following:
(a) the Trust's Declaration of Trust, executed as of April 25,
1988, and as filed with the Secretary of State of Ohio on April 25,
1988, as amended or restated to the date hereof (such Declaration, as
presently in effect and as it shall from time to time be amended or
restated, is herein called the "Declaration of Trust");
(b) the Trust's By-Laws and any amendments thereto;
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(c) resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees authorizing
the appointment of the Investment Adviser and approving this Agreement;
(d) the Trust's Notification of Registration on Form N-8A
under the 1940 Act as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on April 27, 1988 and all amendments thereto;
(e) all of the Trust's procedures and guidelines and all
resolutions of the Trust's Board relevant to the services to
be provided by the Investment Adviser hereunder;
(f) the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"), (File No. 33-21489),
and under the 1940 Act as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the most recent amendment thereto; and
(g) the most recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information of each of the Funds (such Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information, as presently in effect, and all amendments and
supplements thereto, are herein collectively called the "Prospectus").
The Trust will furnish the Investment Adviser from time to
time with copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing.
Section 3. Management. Subject to the supervision of the Trust's Board
of Trustees, the Investment Adviser will provide a continuous investment program
for each of the Funds, including investment research and management with respect
to all securities and investments and cash equivalents in the Funds. The
Investment Adviser will determine from time to time what securities and other
investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Trust with respect to the
Funds and will implement such determinations through the placement, in the name
of the Funds, of orders for the execution of portfolio transactions with or
through such brokers or dealers as it may select. The Investment Adviser will
provide the services under this Agreement in accordance with each of the Fund's
investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus,
as the same may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and
resolutions of the Trust's Board of Trustees.
In fulfilling its responsibilities hereunder, the Investment Adviser
further agrees that it will:
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(a) use the same skill and care in providing such ervices as
it uses in providing services to fiduciary accounts for which it has
investment responsibilities;
(b) conform with all applicable Rules and Regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and in addition will conduct its
activities under this Agreement in accordance with any applicable
regulations of any governmental authority pertaining to the investment
advisory activities of the Investment Adviser;
(c) not make loans to any person to purchase or carry shares
of beneficial interest in the Trust or make loans to the Trust;
(d) place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for
the Funds either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer.
In placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Investment Adviser will
attempt to obtain prompt execution of orders in an effective manner at
the most favorable price. In assessing the best execution available for
any transaction, the Investment Adviser shall consider all factors it
deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security,
the price of the security, the financial condition and execution
capability of the broker-dealer and the reasonableness of the
commission, if any (for the specific transaction and on a continuing
basis). Consistent with this obligation, the Investment Adviser may, in
its discretion and to the extent permitted by law, purchase and sell
portfolio securities to and from brokers and dealers who provide
brokerage and research services (within the meaning of Section 28(e) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to or for the benefit of the Funds
and/or other accounts over which the Investment Adviser exercises
investment discretion. Subject to the review of the Trust's Board of
Trustees from time to time with respect to the extent and continuation
of the policy, the Investment Adviser is authorized to pay a broker or
dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission
for effecting a securities transaction for any of the Funds which is in
excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have
charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Investment
Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in
relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided
by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Investment Adviser
with respect to the accounts as to which it exercises investment
discretion. In placing orders with brokers and dealers, consistent with
applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Investment Adviser may
consider the sale
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of shares of the Trust. Except as otherwise permitted by applicable
laws, rules and regulations, in no instance will portfolio securities
be purchased from or sold to BISYS Fund Services Limited Partnership,
the Investment Adviser or any affiliated person of the Trust, BISYS
Fund Services Limited Partnership or the Investment Adviser;
(e) will maintain all books and records with respect to the
securities transactions of the Funds and will furnish the Trust's Board
of Trustees such periodic and special reports as the Board may request;
(f) will treat confidentially and as proprietary information
of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust
and the Funds and prior, present, or potential shareholders, and will
not 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 the Investment Adviser 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; and
(g) will maintain its policy and practice of conducting its
fiduciary functions independently. In making investment recommendations
for the Funds, the Investment Adviser's personnel will not inquire or
take into consideration whether the issuers of securities proposed for
purchase or sale for the Trust's account are customers of the
Investment Adviser or of its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates. In
dealing with such customers, the Investment Adviser and its parents,
subsidiaries, and affiliates will not inquire or take into
consideration whether securities of those customers are held by the
Trust.
Section 4. Services Not Exclusive. The investment management services
furnished by the Investment Adviser hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive,
and the Investment Adviser shall be free to furnish similar services to others
so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
Section 5. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of
Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Investment Adviser hereby agrees that all
records which it maintains for the Funds are the property of the Trust and
further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the
Trust's request. The Investment Adviser further agrees to preserve for the
periods
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prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act, the records required to be
maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
Section 6. Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Investment
Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities
under this Agreement other than the cost of securities (including brokerage
commissions, if any) purchased for the Funds.
Section 7. Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses
assumed pursuant to this Agreement, each of the Funds will pay the Investment
Adviser and the Investment Adviser will accept as full compensation therefor a
fee as set forth on Schedule A hereto. The obligations of the Funds to pay the
above-described fee to the Investment Adviser will begin as of the respective
dates of the initial public sale of shares in the Funds; provided, however, that
the Investment Adviser shall waive all such fees until such time as it notifies
the Trust that it has terminated such waiver. Thereafter, the Investment Adviser
may from time to time waive some or all of such fees until such time as it
notifies the Trust that it has terminated such waiver. Upon any termination of
this Agreement before the end of any month, the fee for such part of a month
shall be prorated according to the proportion which such period bears to the
full monthly period and shall be payable upon the date of termination of this
Agreement.
For the purpose of determining fees payable to the Investment Adviser,
the value of the net assets of a particular Fund shall be computed in the manner
described in the Trust's Declaration of Trust or in the Prospectus or Statement
of Additional Information respecting that Fund as from time to time is in effect
for the computation of the value of such net assets in connection with the
determination of the liquidating value of the shares of such Fund.
If in any fiscal year the aggregate expenses of any of the Funds (as
defined under the securities regulations of any state having jurisdiction over
the Trust) exceed the expense limitations of any such state, the Investment
Adviser will reimburse the Fund for a portion of such excess expenses equal to
such excess times the ratio of the fees otherwise payable by the Fund to the
Investment Adviser hereunder to the aggregate fees otherwise payable by the Fund
to the Investment Adviser hereunder and to BISYS Fund Services Limited
Partnership under the Administration Agreement between BISYS Fund Services
Limited Partnership and the Trust and to BISYS Fund Services, Inc. under the
Fund Accounting Agreement between BISYS Fund Services, Inc. and the Trust. The
obligation of the Investment Adviser to reimburse the Funds hereunder is limited
in any fiscal year to the amount of its fee hereunder for such fiscal year,
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Investment Adviser
shall
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reimburse the Funds for such proportion of such excess expenses regardless of
the amount of fees paid to it during such fiscal year to the extent that the
securities regulations of any state having jurisdiction over the Trust so
require. Such expense reimbursement, if any, will be estimated daily and
reconciled and paid on a monthly basis.
Section 8. Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, the Investment Adviser shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Funds in connection
with the performance of this Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of
fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a
loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the
part of the Investment Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless
disregard by it of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
Section 9. Duration and Termination. This Agreement will become
effective as of the date first written above (or, if a particular Fund is not in
existence on that date, on the date a registration statement relating to that
Fund becomes effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Schedule
A hereto is amended to add such Fund), provided that it shall have been approved
by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Fund, in
accordance with the requirements under the 1940 Act, and, unless sooner
terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect until July 9, 1998.
Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue
in effect as to a particular Fund for successive periods of twelve months each
ending on July 9 of each year, provided 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 party to this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the vote of a majority of the
Trust's Board of Trustees or by the vote of a majority of all votes attributable
to the outstanding Shares of such Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Agreement may be terminated as to a particular Fund at any time on sixty days'
written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by the Trust (by vote of the
Trust's Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of such Fund) or by the Investment Adviser. This Agreement will
immediately terminate 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 meanings as ascribed
to such terms in the 1940 Act.)
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Section 10. Investment Adviser's Representations. The Investment
Adviser hereby represents that it is willing and possesses all requisite legal
authority to provide the services contemplated by this Agreement without
violation of applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to the
Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxx Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 11. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement
may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an
instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the
change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
Section 12. Name. The Trust hereby acknowledges that the name
"KeyPremier" is a property right of the Investment Adviser. The Investment
Adviser agrees that the Trust and the Funds may, so long as this Agreement
remains in effect, use "KeyPremier" as part of its name. The Investment Adviser
may permit other persons, firms or corporations, including other investment
companies, to use such name and may, upon termination of this Agreement, require
the Trust and the Funds to refrain from using the name "KeyPremier" in any form
or combination in its name or in its business or in the name of any of its
Funds, and the Trust shall, as soon as practicable following its receipt of any
such request from the Investment Adviser, so refrain from using such name.
Section 13. Miscellaneous. 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. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and shall be
governed by the law of the State of Ohio.
The Sessions Group 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
State of Ohio as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed
or hereafter filed. The obligations of "The Sessions Group" 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, officers, employees, agents or shareholders 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.
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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
above written.
THE SESSIONS GROUP
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Name Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Title President
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XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX & COMPANY,
INC.
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Title Chief Operating Officer
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Dated: January 29, 1997
Schedule A
to the
Investment Advisory Agreement
between The Sessions Group and
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Company, Inc.
dated as of July 9, 1996
Name of Fund Compensation* Date
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The KeyPremier Prime Annual Rate of forty July 9, 1996
Money Market Fund one-hundredths of
one percent (0.40%)
of such Fund's
average net assets
The KeyPremier Annual rate of sixty July 9, 1996
Pennsylvania one-hundredths of
Municipal Bond Fund one percent (.60%)
of such Fund's
average daily net
assets
The KeyPremier Annual rate of October 30, 1996
Established Growth seventy-five one-
Fund hundredths of one
percent (.75%) of
such Fund's average
daily net assets
The KeyPremier Annual rate of sixty October 30, 1996
Intermediate Term one-hundredths of
Income Fund one percent (.60%)
of such Fund's
average daily net
assets
The KeyPremier Annual rate of one January 29, 1997
Aggressive Growth percent (1.00%) of
Fund such Fund's average
daily net assets
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX & COMPANY, INC. THE SESSIONS GROUP
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Name Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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Title Chief Operating Officer Title President
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* *All Fees are computed daily and paid monthly.
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