DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
23E
AGREEMENT
made as of August 1, 2007 between The Blue Fund Group (the “Company”), having an
office at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, and Foreside
Distribution Services, L.P. (“Distributor”), having an office at 000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
WHEREAS,
the Company is an open-end management investment company, organized as a
Massachusetts Business Trust and registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS,
the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and is a member of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) (the successor organization to the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.); and
WHEREAS,
it is intended that Distributor act as the distributor of the shares of
beneficial interest (“Shares”) of each series of the Company, as listed on
Schedule A, and such series as are hereafter created (all of the foregoing
series individually referred to herein as a “Fund” and collectively as the
“Funds”).
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants herein set
forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. Services as
Distributor.
1.1 Distributor
will act as agent of Company on behalf of each Fund for the distribution of the
Shares covered by the registration statement of Company then in effect under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the 1940
Act. As used in this Agreement, the term “registration statement”
shall mean the registration statement of the Company and any amendments thereto,
then in effect, including Parts A (the Prospectus), B (the Statement of
Additional Information) and C of each registration statement, as filed on Form
N-1A, or any successor thereto, with the Commission, together with any
amendments thereto. The term “Prospectus” shall mean the then-current
form of Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information used by the Funds, in
accordance with the rules of the Commission, for delivery to shareholders and
prospective shareholders after the effective dates of the above-referenced
registration statements, together with any amendments and supplements
thereto. The Company will notify Distributor in advance of any
proposed changes to Schedule A to this Agreement.
1.2 Consistent
with the understanding between the Funds and the Distributor, Distributor may
solicit orders for the sale of the Shares and may undertake such advertising and
promotion as it believes reasonable in connection with such
solicitation. The Company understands that Distributor is now and may
in the future be the distributor of the shares of many other investment
companies or series, including investment companies having investment objectives
similar to those of the Company. The Company further understands that
shareholders and potential shareholders in the Company may invest in shares of
such other investment companies. The Company agrees that
Distributor’s obligations to other investment companies shall not be deemed in
conflict with its obligations to the Company under this Section
1.2. The Company represents and warrants that the Shares will be
offered and sold without any sales charges.
1.3 Consistent
with the understanding between the Funds and the Distributor, and subject to the
last sentence of this Section 1.3, Distributor may engage in such activities as
it deems appropriate in connection with the promotion and sale of the Shares,
which may include advertising, compensation of underwriters, dealers and sales
personnel, the printing and mailing of Prospectuses to prospective shareholders
other than current shareholders, and the printing and mailing of sales
literature. Distributor may enter into dealer agreements and other
selling agreements with broker-dealers and other intermediaries; provided,
however, that Distributor shall have no obligation to make any payments to any
third parties, whether as finder’s fees, compensation or otherwise, unless (i)
Distributor has received a corresponding payment from the applicable Fund’s
Distribution Plan (as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement), the Fund’s
investment adviser (the “Adviser”) or from another source as may be permitted by
applicable law, and (ii) such corresponding payment has been approved by the
Company’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”).
1.4 In
its capacity as distributor of the Shares, all activities of the Distributor and
its partners, agents, and employees shall comply with all applicable laws, rules
and regulations, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act, all applicable
rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, and all
applicable rules and regulations adopted by any securities association
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Distributor
shall use reasonable efforts to cooperate with all reasonable requests of the
Fund related to the Fund’s administration and monitoring of the compliance
program as adopted by the Distributor pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940
Act.
1.5 Whenever
in their judgment such action is warranted by unusual market, economic or
political conditions or by abnormal circumstances of any kind, the Company’s
officers may upon reasonable notice instruct the Distributor to decline to
accept any orders for or make any sales of the Shares until such time as those
officers deem it advisable to accept such orders and to make such
sales.
1.6 The
Company agrees to inform the Distributor from time to time of the states in
which the Fund or its administrator has registered or otherwise qualified shares
for sale, and the Company agrees at its own expense to execute any and all
documents and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all
actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the qualification of
the Shares for sale in such states as the Distributor may
designate.
1.7 The
Company shall furnish from time to time, for use in connection with the sale of
the Shares, such supplemental information with respect to the Funds and the
Shares as Distributor may reasonably request; and the Company warrants that the
statements contained in any such supplemental information will fairly show or
represent what they purport to show or represent. The Company shall
also furnish Distributor upon request with: (a) unaudited semi-annual statements
of the Funds’ books and accounts prepared by the Company, and (b) from time to
time such additional information regarding the Funds as the Distributor may
reasonably request.
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1.8 The
Company represents and warrants to Distributor that all registration statements,
and each Prospectus, filed by the Company with the Commission under the
Securities Act and the 1940 Act shall be prepared in conformity with
requirements of said Acts and rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, and all Company-related advertisement or sales literature shall be
prepared in conformity with requirements of applicable laws and
regulations. The registration statement, Prospectus and advertisement
or sales literature shall contain all statements required to be stated therein
in conformity with said Acts, laws and regulations and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder or other applicable regulatory authority, and all
statements of fact contained in any such registration statement, Prospectus and
advertisement or sales literature are true and correct in all material
respects. Furthermore, neither any registration statement nor any
Prospectus nor any advertisement or sales literature includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to a
purchaser of the Shares. The foregoing representations and warranties
shall continue throughout the term of this Agreement and be deemed to be of a
continuing nature, applicable to all Shares distributed
hereunder. The Company 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 Company’s counsel, be necessary or
advisable. If the Company shall not propose any amendment or
amendments and/or supplement or supplements within 15 days after receipt by the
Company of a written request from Distributor to do so, Distributor may, at its
option, terminate this Agreement. In such case, the Distributor will
be held harmless from, and indemnified by Company for, any liability or loss
resulting from the failure to implement such amendment. The Company
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 Company’s right to file at any time such amendments to any
registration statement and/or supplements to any Prospectus, of whatever
character, as the Company may deem advisable, such right being in all respects
absolute and unconditional.
1.9 The
Company authorizes the Distributor and dealers to use the then current
Prospectus in the form furnished by the Company from time to time in connection
with the sale of the Shares.
1.10 The
Distributor may utilize agents in its performance of its services and, with
prior notice to the Company, appoint in writing other parties qualified to
perform specific administration services reasonably acceptable to the Company
(individually, a “Sub-Agent”) to carry out some or all of its responsibilities
under this Agreement; provided, however, that a Sub-Agent shall be the agent of
the Distributor and not the agent of the Company, and that the Distributor shall
be fully responsible for the acts of such Sub-Agent and shall not be relieved of
any of its responsibilities hereunder by the appointment of a
Sub-Agent.
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1.11 The
Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or
for any loss suffered by the Company 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
obligations under this Agreement, from reckless disregard by the Distributor of
its obligations under this Agreement, or from the Distributor’s failure to
comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with its
activities hereunder. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the Distributor, its officers, partners, employees, and any person
who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act (collectively, “Distributor Indemnitees”), from and against any and all
claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of
investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any
reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively,
“Claims”) which the Distributor Indemnitees may incur under the Securities Act
or under common law or otherwise (a) as the result of the Distributor acting as
distributor of the Funds and entering into selling agreements, participation
agreements or similar agreements with financial intermediaries on behalf of the
Company; (b) arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement, or alleged
untrue statement, of a material fact contained in any registration statement or
any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact
required to be stated in any registration statement or any Prospectus or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any untrue
statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact in any
Company-related advertisement or sales literature, or any omission, or alleged
omission, to state a material fact required to be stated therein to make the
statements therein not misleading, in either case notwithstanding the exercise
of reasonable care in the preparation or review thereof by the Distributor; or
(c) arising out of or based upon the electronic processing of orders over the
internet at the Company’s request; provided, however, that the Company’s
agreement to indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees pursuant to this Section 1.11
shall not be construed to cover any Claims (A) pursuant to subsection (b) above
to the extent such untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission, or
alleged omission, was furnished in writing, or omitted from the relevant writing
furnished, as the case may be, to the Company by the Distributor for use in the
registration statement or in corresponding statements made in the Prospectus,
advertisement or sales literature; (B) arising out of or based upon the willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Distributor in the performance
of its obligations under this Agreement or the Distributor’s reckless disregard
of its obligations under this Agreement; or (C) arising out of or based upon the
Distributor’s failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations applicable to
it in connection with its activities hereunder.
In the
event of a Claim for which the Distributor Indemnitees may be entitled to
indemnification hereunder, the Distributor shall provide the Company with
written notice of the Claim, identifying the persons against whom such Claim is
brought, promptly following receipt of service of the summons or other first
legal process, and in any event within 10 days of such receipt. The
Company will be entitled to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce
any such Claim if such defense shall be conducted by counsel of good standing
chosen by the Company and approved by the Distributor, which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld. In the event any such suit is not based
solely on an alleged untrue statement, omission, or wrongful act on the
Company’s part, the Distributor shall have the right to participate in the
defense. In the event the Company elects to assume the defense of any
such suit and retain counsel of good standing so approved by the Distributor,
the Distributor Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by any of them, but in any case where the Company
does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit or in case the Distributor
reasonably withholds approval of counsel chosen by the Company, the Company will
reimburse the Distributor Indemnitees named as defendants in such suit, for the
reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them to the extent
related to a Claim covered under this Section 1.11. The Company’s
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 1.11 shall remain operative
and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Distributor Indemnitees, and shall survive the delivery of any
Shares.
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1.12 The
Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its
officers, trustees, directors, employees, and any person who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively,
“Company Indemnitees”), from and against any and all Claims which the Company
Indemnitees may incur under the Securities Act or under common law or otherwise,
arising out of or based upon (a) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue
statement, of a material fact contained in any registration statement,
Prospectus, or Company-related advertisement or sales literature, or upon any
omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact in such materials that
would be necessary to make the information therein not misleading, which untrue
statement, alleged untrue statement, omission, or alleged omission, was
furnished in writing, or omitted from the relevant writing furnished, as the
case may be, to the Company by the Distributor for use in the registration
statement or in corresponding statements made in the Prospectus, or
advertisement or sales literature; (b) the willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence of the Distributor in the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement, or the Distributor’s reckless disregard of its obligations under
this Agreement, or (c) the Distributor’s failure to comply with laws, rules and
regulations applicable to it in connection with its activities hereunder (other
than in respect of Fund-related advertisements or sales literature that fail to
comply with applicable laws despite the Distributor’s exercise of reasonable
care in the preparation and review thereof); provided, however, that the
Distributor’s agreement to indemnify the Company Indemnitees pursuant to this
Section 1.12 shall not be construed to cover any Claims (A) arising out of or
based upon the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of the Company
in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the Company’s
reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement; or (B) arising out
of or based upon the Company’s failure to comply with laws, rules and
regulations applicable to it in connection with its activities
hereunder.
In the
event of a Claim for which the Company Indemnitees may be entitled to
indemnification hereunder, the Company shall provide the Distributor with
written notice of the Claim, identifying the persons against whom such Claim is
brought, promptly following receipt of service of the summons or other first
legal process, and in any event within ten (10) days of such
receipt. The Distributor will be entitled to assume the defense of
any suit brought to enforce any such Claim if such defense shall be conducted by
counsel of good standing chosen by the Distributor and approved by the Company,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event any
such suit is not based solely on an alleged untrue statement, omission, or
wrongful act on the Distributor’s part, the Company shall have the right to
participate in the defense. In the event the Distributor elects to
assume the defense of any such suit and retain counsel of good standing so
approved by the Company, the Company Indemnitees in such suit shall bear the
fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by any of them, but in any
case where the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit
or in case the Company reasonably withholds approval of counsel chosen by the
Distributor, the Distributor will reimburse the Company Indemnitees named as
defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel
retained by them to the extent related to a Claim covered under this Section
1.12. The Distributor’s indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 1.12 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company Indemnitees, and shall
survive the delivery of any Shares.
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1.13 No
Shares shall be offered by either the Distributor or the Company under any of
the provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of
Shares hereunder shall be accepted by the Company 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
Securities Act or if and so long as a current Prospectus as required by Section
10(b)(2) of said Securities Act is not on file with the Commission; provided,
however, that: (a) the Distributor will not be obligated to cease offering
shares until it has received from the Company written notice of such events, and
(b) nothing contained in this Section 1.13 shall in any way restrict or have an
application to or bearing upon the Company’s obligation to repurchase Shares
from any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s
Prospectus, Agreement and Declaration of Trust, or By-laws.
1.14 The
Company agrees to advise the Distributor as soon as reasonably practical by a
notice in writing delivered to the Distributor:
(a) of any
request by the Commission for amendments to the registration statement or
Prospectus then in effect or for additional information;
(b) in the
event of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the registration statement or Prospectus then in effect or the
initiation by service of process on the Company of any proceeding for that
purpose;
(c) of the
happening of any event that makes untrue any statement of a material fact made
in the registration statement or Prospectus then in effect or which requires the
making of a change in such registration statement or Prospectus in order to make
the statements therein not misleading; and
(d) of any
other event which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact
upon the offering of Shares or the Distributor’s provision of services under
this Agreement.
For
purposes of this section, informal requests by or acts of the Staff of the
Commission shall not be deemed actions of or requests by the Commission unless
they would reasonably be expected to have a material negative impact upon the
offering of Shares.
1.15 NOTWITHSTANDING
ANY PROVISION IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL
EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SIMILAR DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST REVENUE, LOST PROFITS
OR LOST OR DAMAGED DATA, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES.
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2.
Fees.
2.1 Attached
as Schedule B to this Agreement are all plans of distribution under Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act approved by the Funds and in effect (collectively, the
“Distribution Plan”). The Funds will deliver to Distributor promptly
after any changes thereto updated copies of the Distribution
Plan. For its services under this Agreement, the Distributor shall be
compensated and reimbursed for its expenses as set forth on Schedules C and D to
this Agreement. If the Funds have a Distribution Plan that permits
and authorizes them to compensate and reimburse the Distributor and required
Board approvals have been given, then the Funds shall be responsible for all
such compensation and reimbursements or such portions of it as have been
permitted and authorized under the Distribution Plan. It is
contemplated by the Distributor that the Adviser shall compensate and reimburse
the Distributor for its provision to the Funds of any distribution services for
which the Funds are not authorized to compensate and reimburse the
Distributor. The fees set forth on Schedules C and D are subject to
change by Distributor upon 30 days advance notice.
2.2 If:
(i) the Distributor properly receives fees from the Funds under the Distribution
Plan, other than for services rendered or expenses incurred, that the
Distributor is not obligated to pay to third party broker-dealers, plan
administrators or others (“Retained Fees”), and (ii) the Funds have authority
under the Distribution Plan to pay for some or all of the Distributor’s services
under this Agreement (“Permitted Services”), then all of the Retained Fees will
either be (a) returned to the Funds and/or (b) credited against the compensation
payable by the Funds to the Distributor for Permitted Services.
2.3 In
the event that the Distributor is requested or authorized by the Company or is
required by governmental regulation, summons, subpoena, investigation,
examination or other legal or regulatory process to produce documents or
personnel with respect to services provided by the Distributor to the Company or
any Fund, the Company will, so long as the Distributor is not the subject of the
investigation or proceeding in which the information is sought, pay the
Distributor for its professional time (at its standard billing rates) and
reimburse the Distributor for its out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable
attorneys fees) incurred in responding to such requests or
requirements.
3. Representations and
Warranties.
The Distributor represents and warrants the following:
(a) it
is presently a duly registered broker-dealer with the FINRA in good standing and
covenants that it shall remain so registered and in good standing for the
duration of this Agreement, and shall promptly notify the Adviser should the
foregoing no longer be true during the term of this Agreement;
(b) the
Distributor also represents and warrants that it is in material compliance with
all laws, rules and regulations applicable to it in connection with the services
provided in this Agreement, including but not limited to the rules and
regulations promulgated by the FINRA; and
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(c) this
Agreement has been duly authorized by the Distributor and, when executed and
delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Distributor, enforceable against the Distributor in accordance with its terms
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganizations, moratorium and other laws of
general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured
parties.
4.
Term, Duration and
Termination.
This
Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Fund as of the date first
written above (the “Effective Date”) (or, if a particular Fund is not in
existence on such date, on the earlier of the date an amendment to Schedule A to
this Agreement relating to that Fund is executed or the Distributor begins
providing services under this Agreement with respect to such Fund) and, unless
sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue through August 22,
2007. Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue
with respect to a particular Fund automatically for successive one-year terms,
provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by
the vote of a majority of those members of the Board who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting
for the purpose of voting on such approval and (b) by the vote of the Board or
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such
Fund. This Agreement is terminable without penalty with 60 days’
prior written notice, by the Board, by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company, or by the Distributor. This
Agreement will also terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment. (As used in this Agreement, the terms “majority of the
outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” shall have
the same meaning as ascribed to such terms in the 1940 Act.)
5.
Privacy.
Nonpublic
personal financial information relating to consumers or customers of the Funds
provided by, or at the direction of, the Company to the Distributor, or
collected or retained by the Distributor to perform its obligations as
distributor, shall be considered confidential information. The
Distributor shall not disclose or otherwise use any nonpublic personal financial
information relating to present or former shareholders of the Funds other than
for the purposes for which that information was disclosed to the Distributor,
including use under an exception in Rules 13, 14 or 15 of Securities and
Exchange Commission Regulation S-P in the ordinary course of business to carry
out those purposes. The Distributor shall have in place and maintain
physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect
the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized
access to or use of, records and information relating to consumers and customers
of the Funds. The Company represents to the Distributor that it has
adopted a Statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by
Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-P and agrees to provide the
Distributor with a copy of that statement annually.
6.
Anti-Money Laundering
Compliance.
6.1 Each
of Distributor and the Company acknowledges that it is a financial institution
subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively,
the “AML Acts”), which require, among other things, that financial institutions
adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering. Each
represents and warrants to the other that it is in compliance with and will
continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable regulations in all relevant
respects. The Distributor shall also provide written notice to each
person or entity with which it entered an agreement prior to the date hereof
with respect to sale of the Company’s Shares, such notice informing such person
of anti-money laundering compliance obligations applicable to financial
institutions under applicable laws and, consequently, under applicable
contractual provisions requiring compliance with laws.
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6.2 The
Distributor shall include specific contractual provisions regarding anti-money
laundering compliance obligations in agreements entered into by the Distributor
with any dealer that is authorized to effect transactions in Shares of the
Company.
6.3 Each
of Distributor and the Company agrees that it will take such further steps, and
cooperate with the other as may be reasonably necessary, to facilitate
compliance with the AML Acts, including but not limited to the provision of
copies of its written procedures, policies and controls related thereto (“AML
Operations”). Distributor undertakes that it will grant to the
Company, the Company’s anti-money laundering compliance officer and regulatory
agencies, reasonable access to copies of Distributor’s AML Operations, books and
records pertaining to the Company only. It is expressly understood
and agreed that the Company and the Company’s compliance officer shall have no
access to any of Distributor’s AML Operations, books or records pertaining to
other clients of Distributor.
7.
Notices.
Any
notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail, or by nationally recognized overnight courier, to the party
required to be served with such notice at the following address: if to the
Company, to it at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention:
President; and if to Distributor, to it at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Broker Dealer Chief Compliance Officer, with a
copy to 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, Attention: President, or at
such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the
other party pursuant to this Section.
8.
Confidentiality.
During
the term of this Agreement, the Distributor and the Company may have access to
confidential information relating to such matters as either party’s business,
trade secrets, systems, procedures, manuals, products, contracts, personnel, and
clients. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means
information belonging to the Distributor or the Company which is of value to
such party and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other
disadvantage to either party, including, without limitation, financial
information, business practices and policies, know-how, trade secrets, market or
sales information or plans, customer lists, business plans, and all provisions
of this Agreement. Confidential Information includes information
developed by either party in the course of engaging in the activities provided
for in this Agreement, unless: (i) the information is or becomes publicly known
without breach of this Agreement, (ii) the information is disclosed to the other
party by a third party not under an obligation confidentiality to the party
whose Confidential Information is at issue of which the party receiving the
information should reasonably be aware, or (iii) the information is
independently developed by a party without reference to the other’s Confidential
Information. Each party will protect the other’s Confidential
Information with at least the same degree of care it uses with respect to its
own Confidential Information, and will not use the other party’s Confidential
Information other than in connection with its obligations
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may disclose the
other’s Confidential Information if (i) required by law, regulation or legal
process or if requested by any Agency; (ii) it is advised by counsel that it may
incur liability for failure to make such disclosure; (iii) requested to by the
other party; provided that in the event of (i) or (ii) the disclosing party
shall give the other party reasonable prior notice of such disclosure to the
extent reasonably practicably and cooperate with the other party (at such other
party’s expense) in any efforts to prevent such disclosure.
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9.
Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to New York’s conflicts of laws principles, and the
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.
10. Prior
Agreements.
This
Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties as to the subject
matter covered by this Agreement, and supersedes all prior negotiations,
understandings and agreements bearing upon the subject matter covered by this
Agreement.
11. Amendments.
No
amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and executed
by both parties hereto.
12. Matters Relating to the
Trust as a Massachusetts Business Trust.
It is
expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be
binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or
employees of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the
Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the Trustees, and this Agreement has been signed and delivered by
an authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such
authorization by the Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer
shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any
liability on them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the
Trust as provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.
* * * * *
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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 written
above.
The
Blue Fund Group
By:/s/ Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Foreside
Distribution Services, L.P.
By:/s/ Xxxxx
X. Xxx
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxx
Title:
President
|
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SCHEDULE
A
FUNDS
THE BLUE
LARGE CAP FUND
THE BLUE
SMALL CAP FUND
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SCHEDULE
B
DISTRIBUTION
PLAN
DISTRIBUTION
AND SERVICES PLAN
This Plan
(the “Plan”) constitutes the Distribution and Services Plan of The Blue Large
Cap Fund (the “Fund”), a separate series of The Blue Fund Group, a Massachusetts
business trust (the “Trust”), adopted pursuant to the provisions of Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”). During the
effective term of this Plan, the Fund may make payments to investment brokers or
dealers (including any principal underwriter or distributor of the Fund) and
other persons providing services to the Fund upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
Section
1. The
Fund may make monthly payments to investment dealers or the other persons
providing services to the Fund, in the form of fees or reimbursements, as
compensation for services provided and expenses incurred for purposes of
promoting the sale of shares of the Fund, reducing redemptions of shares, or
maintaining or improving services provided to shareholders by investment dealers
and other persons. The amount of such payments and the purposes for
which they are made shall be determined by the Qualified Trustees (as defined
below). Payments under this Plan shall not exceed in any fiscal year
the annual rate of 0.25% of the average net asset value of the Fund determined
by taking an average of all of the determinations of such net asset value during
the year. A majority of the Qualified Trustees may, at any time and
from time to time, reduce the amount of such payments covered by this Plan, or
may suspend the operation of the Plan for such period or periods of time as they
may determine.
Section
2. This
Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved, together with any related
agreements, by votes of a majority (or whatever greater percentage may, from
time to time, be required by Section 12(b) of the Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder) of both (a) the Trustees of the Trust, and (b) the
Qualified Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on this Plan or such agreement.
Section
3. This
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 this Plan in Section
2(b).
Section
4. The
Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts
covered by this Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were
made.
Section
5. This
Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Qualified
Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting
securities.
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Section
6. All
agreements with any person relating to implementation of this Plan shall be in
writing, and any agreement related to this Plan shall provide:
(1) that
such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by
vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the
Fund’s outstanding voting securities, on not more than 60 days’ written notice
to any other party to the agreement; and
(2) that
such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment.
Section
7. This
Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of distribution
expenses permitted pursuant to Section 1 hereof without the approval of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and all material
amendments to this Plan shall be approved in the manner provided for approval of
this Plan in Section 2(b).
Section
8. As
used in this Plan, (a) the term “Qualified 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 this Plan or any agreements
related to it, and (b) the terms “assignment”, “interested person” and “vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective
meaning specified in the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject
to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Section
9. A
copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby
given that this instrument is made on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as
Trustees and not individually, and that the obligations of or arising out of
this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or
shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of
the Fund.
Adopted
as of July 17, 2006
|
|
Ratified
as of September 8, 2006
|
|
Reapproved
as of August 13, 2007
|
14
DISTRIBUTION
AND SERVICES PLAN
This Plan
(the “Plan”) constitutes the Distribution and Services Plan of The Blue Small
Cap Fund (the “Fund”), a separate series of The Blue Fund Group, a Massachusetts
business trust (the “Trust”), adopted pursuant to the provisions of Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”). During the
effective term of this Plan, the Fund may make payments to investment brokers or
dealers (including any principal underwriter or distributor of the Fund) and
other persons providing services to the Fund upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
Section
1. The
Fund may make monthly payments to investment dealers or the other persons
providing services to the Fund, in the form of fees or reimbursements, as
compensation for services provided and expenses incurred for purposes of
promoting the sale of shares of the Fund, reducing redemptions of shares, or
maintaining or improving services provided to shareholders by investment dealers
and other persons. The amount of such payments and the purposes for
which they are made shall be determined by the Qualified Trustees (as defined
below). Payments under this Plan shall not exceed in any fiscal year
the annual rate of 0.25% of the average net asset value of the Fund determined
by taking an average of all of the determinations of such net asset value during
the year. A majority of the Qualified Trustees may, at any time and
from time to time, reduce the amount of such payments covered by this Plan, or
may suspend the operation of the Plan for such period or periods of time as they
may determine.
Section
2. This
Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved, together with any related
agreements, by votes of a majority (or whatever greater percentage may, from
time to time, be required by Section 12(b) of the Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder) of both (a) the Trustees of the Trust, and (b) the
Qualified Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on this Plan or such agreement.
Section
3. This
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 this Plan in Section
2(b).
Section
4. The
Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts
covered by this Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were
made.
Section
5. This
Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Qualified
Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting
securities.
Section
6. All
agreements with any person relating to implementation of this Plan shall be in
writing, and any agreement related to this Plan shall provide:
(1) that
such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by
vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by vote of a majority of the
Fund’s outstanding voting securities, on not more than 60 days’ written notice
to any other party to the agreement; and
15
(2) that
such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
assignment.
Section
7. This
Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of distribution
expenses permitted pursuant to Section 1 hereof without the approval of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, and all material
amendments to this Plan shall be approved in the manner provided for approval of
this Plan in Section 2(b).
Section
8. As
used in this Plan, (a) the term “Qualified 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 this Plan or any agreements
related to it, and (b) the terms “assignment”, “interested person” and “vote of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective
meaning specified in the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject
to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Section
9. A
copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby
given that this instrument is made on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as
Trustees and not individually, and that the obligations of or arising out of
this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or
shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of
the Fund.
Adopted
as of September 8, 2006
|
|
Reapproved
as of August 13, 2007
|
16
SCHEDULE
C
COMPENSATION
OF THE DISTRIBUTOR
1. BASIC DISTRIBUTION
SERVICES. For providing the distribution entity and related
infrastructure and platform, including requisite registrations and
qualifications, premises, personnel, compliance, ordinary Board meeting
preparation, maintenance of selling agreements, clearance of advertising and
sales literature with regulators, filing appropriate documentation for advisory
representatives to qualify as registered representatives of the Distributor
(provided that the Adviser is solely responsible for its representatives’
meeting examination requirements) and their related registrations and fees,
ordinary supervisory services and overhead, the Distributor shall receive the
following annual fee, billed monthly, based on aggregate net assets of the
Funds:
Aggregate Net Assets
of the Funds
|
Annual Fee
|
$0
- $100 million
|
$25,000
|
over
$100 million- $1 billion
|
$50,000
|
over
$1 billion
|
$75,000
|
2. SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION
SERVICES. For special distribution services, including those
set forth on Schedule D to this Agreement, such as additional personnel,
registrations, printing and fulfillment, website services, proprietary
distribution expertise for particular circumstances, and any other services in
addition to the basic distribution services covered by Paragraph 1 above, the
Distributor shall be reimbursed promptly upon invoicing its expenses for such
services, including: (a) all costs to support additional personnel; (b)
regulatory fees including FINRA CRD costs associated with marketing materials;
and (c) printing, postage and fulfillment costs, and (d) amounts payable under
additional agreements to which Distributor is a party.
3. SPECIAL CONDUIT
SITUATIONS. If the Distribution Plan, or any other Fund plans
of distribution under Rule 12b-1 that contemplate up front and/or recurring
commission and/or service payments to broker dealers, retirement plan
administrators or others by the Distributor with respect to back-end loads,
level loads, or otherwise, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing between
the parties, all such payments shall be made to the Distributor, which shall act
as a conduit for making such payments to such broker-dealers, retirement plan
administrators or others.
4. OTHER PAYMENTS BY THE
DISTRIBUTOR. If the Distributor is required to make any
payments to third parties in respect of distribution, which payments are
contemplated by the parties to this Agreement or otherwise arise in the ordinary
course of business, the Distributor shall be promptly reimbursed for such
payments upon invoicing them.
5. FEE
ADJUSTMENTS. The fixed fees and other fees expressed as stated
dollar amounts in this Schedule C and in this Agreement are subject to annual
increases, commencing on the one-year anniversary date of the date of this
Agreement, in an amount equal to the percentage increase in consumer prices for
services as measured by the United States Consumer Price Index entitled “All
Services Less Rent of Shelter,” or a similar index should such index no longer
be published, since such one-year anniversary or since the date of the last fee
increase, as applicable.
17
SCHEDULE
D
SPECIAL
DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AND FEES
Services
|
Fees
|
1. Wholesaling Personnel
Services
Wholesaling
Personnel may be external wholesalers
and/or
internal wholesalers.
Services
include soliciting support of the Funds with selling broker dealers;
participating in promotional meetings, presentations, conferences and
other and forums; identifying high potential personnel of the Adviser and
selling broker dealers; and assisting with mail solicitations and
literature fulfillment.
|
Wholesaling
Personnel Services Fees
For
each individual constituting the Wholesaling Personnel employed by the
Distributor pursuant to this Agreement, the Distributor shall receive
annually an
amount
equal to the sum of:
(i) all
compensation paid annually by the Distributor to the employee;
plus
(ii) a
management oversight fee equal to:
(a) if
one to four Wholesaling Personnel are employed, 30% of the salary
compensation and 5% of the bonus or commission compensation,
or
(b) if
five or more Wholesaling Personnel are employed, 25% of the salary
compensation and 5% of the bonus or commission compensation;
plus
(iii) 18%
of the total compensation (covering costs of the Distributor’s employee
benefits that are provided by the Distributor).
In
addition, the Distributor shall be reimbursed for all related costs to
support, educate and train and maintain compliance oversight of
Wholesaling Personnel and other personnel such as sales management,
marketing and performance reporting personnel (including time and
expenses, continuing education, seminars, rent, supplies, phone,
computers, firm element, license, registration)
Upon
any termination of Wholesaling Personnel at the request of the Funds or
upon termination of this Agreement by the Funds for any reason other than
cause, the Distributor will be reimbursed its severance costs with respect
to such terminated Wholesaling
Personnel.
|
18
Expenses Applicable to
Distribution Services
Except as
expressly set forth above, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Distributor in the
performance of its services under this Agreement are not included in the above
fees. Such out-of-pocket expenses may include, without
limitation:
·
|
reasonable
travel and entertainment costs;
|
·
|
expenses
incurred by the Distributor in qualifying, registering and maintaining the
registration of the Distributor and each individual comprising Wholesaling
Personnel as a registered representative of the Distributor under
applicable federal and state laws and rules of the FINRA, e.g., CRD fees
and state fees;
|
·
|
sponsorships,
promotions, sales incentives;
|
·
|
any
and all compensation to be paid to a third party as paying agent for
distribution activities (platform fees, finders fees, sub-TA fees, 12b-1
pass thru, commissions, etc.);
|
·
|
costs
and expenses incurred for telephone service, photocopying and office
supplies;
|
·
|
advertising
costs;
|
·
|
costs
for printing, paper stock and costs of other materials, electronic
transmission, courier, talent utilized in sales materials (e.g. models),
design output, photostats, photography, and
illustrations;
|
·
|
packaging,
shipping, postage, and photocopies;
|
·
|
taxes
that are paid or payable by the Distributor or its affiliates in
connection with its services hereunder, other than taxes customarily and
actually imposed upon the income that the Distributor receives hereunder;
and
|
·
|
amounts
paid to the FINRA based on Distributor’s revenue and/or the number of
Distributor’s registered
representatives.
|
19