UNIFIED SERIES TRUST
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of December 18, 2002, by and among Unified
Series Trust, an Ohio business trust (the "Trust"), each investment adviser to
each series of the Trust as set forth on Exhibit A (each an "Adviser" and,
collectively, the "Advisers"), and Unified Financial Securities, Inc., an
Indiana corporation (the "Distributor").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust, on behalf of the portfolios set forth on Exhibit A
(each a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds"), desires to retain the
Distributor as the principal underwriter of the shares of beneficial interest of
the Funds (the "Shares"); and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is willing to render such services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants set
forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Delivery of Documents. The Trust has delivered to the
Distributor copies of the following documents and will deliver to the
Distributor all future amendments and supplements thereto, if any:
(a) The Trust's Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto (as
currently in effect and as from time to time amended, hereinafter referred to as
the "Declaration");
(b) The Trust's By-Laws (as currently in effect and as from time to time
amended, hereinafter referred to as the "By-Laws");
(c) Resolutions of the Board of Trustees authorizing the execution and
delivery of this Agreement;
(d) The Trust's Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"), and the 1940 Act on Form N-1A most recently filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and all subsequent
amendments or supplements thereto (the "Registration Statement");
(e) The Trust's Notification of Registration under the 1940 Act on Form
N-8A as filed with the Commission; and
(f) A current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for each
Fund (as currently in effect and as from time to time amended and supplemented,
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Prospectuses").
Section 2. Distribution.
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2.1 Appointment of Distributor. The Trust hereby appoints the Distributor as
principal underwriter of the Shares of each Fund that is set forth on Exhibit A
to this Agreement and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees
to render the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.
2.2 Services and Duties.
(a) The Trust agrees to sell through the Distributor, as agent, from time
to time during the term of this Agreement, Shares of each Fund upon the terms
and at the current offering prices as described in such Fund's Prospectus. The
Distributor will act only in its own behalf as principal in making agreements
with selected dealers or others for the sale and redemption of Shares, and shall
sell Shares only at the offering prices as set forth in the applicable Fund's
Prospectus. The Distributor shall devote its best efforts to effect the sale of
shares, but shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of Shares.
(b) In all matters relating to the sale and redemption of Shares, the
Distributor and its designated agent(s) will act in conformity with the Trust's
Declaration, By-laws and the Funds' Prospectuses and with the instructions and
directions of the Board of Trustees and will conform and comply with the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the 1933 Act,
the 1940 Act, the regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. and all other applicable federal or state laws or regulations. In
connection with the sale of Shares of a Fund, the Distributor acknowledges and
agrees that it is not authorized to provide any information or make any
representation other than as contained in the Trust's Registration Statement or
such Fund's Prospectus and any sales literature approved by such Fund.
(d) All Shares of a Fund offered for sale by the Distributor shall be
offered for sale to the public at a price per Share (the "offering price") equal
to their net asset value (determined in the manner set forth in such Fund's
then-current Prospectus).
2.3 Sales and Redemptions.
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(a) The Trust shall execute all documents, furnish all information and
otherwise take all actions which may be reasonably necessary in the discretion
of the Trust's officers in connection with the qualification of the Shares for
sale in such states as the Distributor may designate to the a Fund and a Fund
may approve, and each Fund shall pay all fees which may be incurred in
connection with its qualification. The Distributor shall pay all expenses
connected with its qualification as a dealer under state or federal laws. It is
understood that certain advertising, marketing, shareholder servicing,
administration and/or distribution expenses to be incurred in connection with
the Shares may be paid as provided in any plan which may be adopted by a Fund in
accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 0000 Xxx.
(b) The Trust shall have the right to suspend the sale of Shares at any
time in response to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise, and to
suspend the redemption of Shares at any time permitted by the 1940 Act or the
rules of the Commission
(c) Each Fund reserves the right to reject any order for its Shares.
(d) No Shares shall be offered by either a Fund or the Distributor under
any provisions of this Agreement and no orders for the purchase or sale of
Shares hereunder shall be accepted by a Fund if and so long as the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement shall be suspended under any of the provisions of
the 1933 Act, or if and so long as a Prospectus as required by Section 10 of the
1933 Act for such Fund is not on file with the Commission; provided, however,
that nothing contained in this subsection shall in any way restrict or have any
application to or bearing upon each Fund's obligation to repurchase any Shares
from any shareholder in accordance with the provisions of its Prospectus.
2.4 Fees and Expenses of the Fund. Each Fund shall pay all costs and
expenses in connection with the registration of such Fund's Shares under the
1933 Act, all fees in connection with making notice filings under state
securities "blue sky" laws, and all expenses in connection with maintaining
facilities for the issue and transfer of the Shares and for supplying
information, prices and other data to be furnished by the Fund hereunder, and
all expenses in connection with preparing, printing and distributing such Fund's
Prospectus to existing shareholders.
No Fund will bear any costs and expenses incurred with respect to
distribution of shares except to the extent the Fund is permitted to do so by
applicable law
2.5. Fees and Expenses of the Adviser. For performing its services under
this Agreement, each Fund's Adviser will pay a fee to Unified as set forth in
Exhibit B. Each Fund's Adviser shall promptly reimburse Distributor for any
expenses incurred on behalf of such Fund as set forth in Exhibit B.
It is understood that each Fund's Adviser will bear the costs and expenses
incurred for (i) printing and mailing to prospective investors copies of such
Fund's Prospectus (including supplements thereto) and annual and interim reports
of such Fund which are used in connection with the offering of the Fund's
Shares; (ii) preparing, printing and mailing any other literature used by the
Distributor in connection with the sale of such Fund's Shares; (iii)
reimbursement for NASD advertising compliance expenses advanced by the
Distributor on behalf of such Fund; (iv) fees for Distributor's review of such
Fund's sales literature and website; (v) registered representative annual
renewal and compliance fees; and (vi) travel and such other expenses as may be
incurred by Distributor on behalf of such Fund.
Section 3. Limitation of Liability.
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(a) The Distributor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss suffered by any Fund in connection with the
matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Distributor's part in the
performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations
and duties under this Agreement. Any person, even though also an officer,
director, partner, employee or agent of the Distributor, who may be or become an
officer, Trustee, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be deemed, when
rendering services to the Trust, or acting on any business of the Trust (other
than services or business in connection with the Distributor's duties as
distributor hereunder), to be rendering such services to or acting solely for
the Trust and not as an officer, director, partner, employee or agent of, or one
under the control or direction of, the Distributor even though paid by the
Distributor.
(b) In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Distributor shall be
obligated to exercise due care and diligence, and to act in good faith in
performing the services provided for under this Agreement. In performing its
services hereunder, the Distributor shall be entitled to rely on any oral or
written instructions, notices or other communications from the Fund and its
custodian, officers and Trustee, investors, agents and other service providers
which the Distributor reasonably believes to be genuine, valid and authorized.
The Distributor shall also be entitled to consult with and rely on the advice
and opinions of outside legal counsel retained by the Trust, as necessary or
appropriate.
(c) The Trust. The term "Unified Series Trust" means and refers to the
Trust and each Fund listed on Exhibit A from time to time, as the same may
subsequently thereto have been, or subsequently hereto be amended. It is
expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be
binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or
employees of the Trust, personally, but bind only the assets and property of the
Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the
Trustees of the Trust and the initial shareholder of each Fund and signed by an
authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization
by such Trustees and shareholders nor such execution and delivery by such
officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to
impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets
and property of the appropriate Fund.
Section 4. Indemnification.
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4.1. Trust Representations. The Trust represents and warrants to the
Distributor that at all times the Registration Statement and Prospectuses will
in all material respects conform to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder and will not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that no
representation or warranty is made herein with respect to any statements in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Trust by, or on behalf of' and with
respect to, the Distributor specifically for use in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus.
4.2. Distributor's Representations. The Distributor represents and warrants
to the Trust that it is duly organized and validly existing as an Indiana
corporation and is and at all times will remain duly authorized and licensed to
carry out its services as contemplated herein.
4.3. Trust Indemnification. The Trust will indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Distributor, its several officers and directors, and any person who
controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which any of them may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in
respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or in any application or other document executed by or
on behalf of the Trust, or arise out of, or are based upon, information
furnished by or on behalf of the Trust filed in any state in order to qualify
the Shares under the securities or blue sky laws thereof ("Blue Sky
Application"), or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the
Distributor, its several officers and directors, and any person who controls the
Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in investigating, defending or
preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim; provided, however,
that the Trust shall not be liable in any case to the extent that such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue
statement, alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Blue Sky Application or any
application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Trust in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Trust by, or on
behalf of, and with respect to, the Distributor specifically for inclusion
therein.
The Trust shall not indemnify any person pursuant to this Section 4.3
unless the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought has
rendered a final decision on the merits that such person was not liable by
reason of his willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of his duties, or his reckless disregard of obligations and duties,
under this Agreement ("disabling conduct") or, in the absence of such a
decision, a reasonable determination (based upon a review of the facts) that
such person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct has been made by the
vote of a majority of Trustees who are neither "interested persons" of the Trust
(as defined in the 0000 Xxx) nor parties to the proceeding, or by an independent
legal counsel in a written opinion.
The Trust shall advance attorneys' fees and other expenses incurred by any
person in defending any claim, demand, action or suit which is the subject of a
claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 4.3, so long as such person
shall: (i) undertake to repay all such advances unless it is ultimately
determined that he is entitled to indemnification hereunder; and (ii) provide
security for such undertaking, or the Trust shall be insured against losses
arising by reason of any lawful advances, or a majority of a quorum of
disinterested non-party Trustees of the Trust (or an independent legal counsel
in a written opinion) shall determine based on a review of readily available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe
that such person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification hereunder.
4.4. Distributor's Indemnification. The Distributor will indemnify, defend
and hold harmless the Trust, the Trust's several officers and Trustees and any
person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act,
from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several,
to which any of them may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or actions or proceedings in
respect hereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any breach of its
representations and warranties in Section 4.2 hereof, or which arise out of, or
are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectuses, any Blue Sky
Application or any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the
Trust, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, which statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Trust or any of its several
officers and Trustees by, or on behalf of, and with respect to, the Distributor
specifically for inclusion therein, and will reimburse the Trust, the Trust's
several officers and Trustees, and any person who controls the Trust within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by any of them in investigating, defending or preparing to
defend any such action, proceeding or claim.
4.5. General Indemnity Provisions. No indemnifying party shall be liable
under its indemnity agreement contained in Section 4.3 or 4.4 hereof with
respect to any claim made against such indemnifying party unless the indemnified
party shall have notified the indemnifying party in writing within a reasonable
time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon the indemnified party (or after
the indemnified party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying party of any such
claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may otherwise have to the
indemnified party. The indemnifying party will be entitled to participate at its
own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any
suit brought to enforce any such liability, and if the indemnifying party elects
to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it
and reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. In the event the
indemnifying party elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such
counsel, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by the indemnified party.
Section 5. Duration and Termination. The term of this Agreement shall begin
on the date of this Agreement for each Fund that has executed an Exhibit hereto
on the date of this Agreement and shall continue in effect with respect to each
such Fund (and any subsequent Funds added pursuant to an Exhibit executed during
the initial term of this Agreement) for two years thereafter, and shall continue
in effect from year to year thereafter, subject to termination as hereinafter
provided, if such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a majority of
the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of such Fund or
by vote of the Trust's Board of Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by vote of a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or "interested
persons" (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any party to this Agreement, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If a Fund
is added pursuant to an Exhibit executed after the date of this Agreement as
described above, this Agreement shall become effective with respect to that Fund
upon execution of the applicable Exhibit and shall continue in effect until the
next annual continuance of this Agreement and from year to year thereafter,
subject to approval as described above. This Agreement may be terminated by the
Trust with respect to any Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty,
by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of such Fund, on 60 days' written notice
to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of
any penalty, on 90 days' written notice to the Trust. This Agreement will
automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the 1940 Act).
Section 6. Miscellaneous.
6.1. Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against which an enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is
sought.
6.2. Construction. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be
affected thereby. Subject to the provisions of Section 5 hereof, this Agreement
shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors.
6.3. Notices. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or
required by this Agreement to be given to the Trust shall be sufficiently given
if addressed to the Trust and mailed or delivered to it at its principal office
set forth in the Registration Statement, or at such other place as the Trust may
from time to time designate in writing. Any notice or other instrument in
writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the Distributor
shall be sufficiently given if addressed to the Distributor and mailed or
delivered to it at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000,
Attention: President, or at such other place as the Distributor may from time to
time designate in writing.
6.4. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana.
[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Distribution
Agreement to be executed by their officers designated below as of the date and
year first above written.
UNIFIED SERIES TRUST
By _________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chairman and President
UNIFIED FINANCIAL SECURITIES, INC.
By _________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, President
By _________________________
ARISTON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT CORP.
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President
XXXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
XXXXXX & COMPANY
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, President
[signatures continued next page]
[signature page continued]
GAMBLE, JONES, MORPHY & BENT
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
GLOBALT, INC.
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
SPECTRUM ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, President
STONERIDGE INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Manager
XXXXX TOTAL ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
As to Section 2.5
By:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
EXHIBIT A
to
Distribution Agreement
List of Funds and Advisers
FUNDS AND INVESTMENT ADVISERS
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NAME OF FUND INVESTMENT ADVISER
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Ariston Convertible Securities Fund Ariston Capital Management Corp.
00 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
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Xxxxxx Focus Fund Xxxxxx Asset Management, LLC
0000 X.X. Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
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Xxxxxx Small-Cap Value Fund Xxxxxx & Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
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GJMB Growth Fund Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
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GLOBALT Growth Fund GLOBALT, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, X.X.
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
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Marathon Value Portfolio Spectrum Advisory Services, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
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RiverGuide Fund Xxxxx Asset Management
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
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StoneRidge Equity
StoneRidge Investment Partners, LLC
StoneRidge Small Cap Equity Fund 0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
StoneRidge Bond Fund
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Plus such additional Funds as may be agreed upon to from time to time between
Distributor and the Trust.
Date: December 18, 2002
EXHIBIT B
to
Distribution Agreement
FEE SCHEDULE
The prices contained herein are effective for twelve months from the execution
date of the Distribution Agreement. All fees are billed monthly and are payable
upon receipt.
I Standard Fee
$100.00 per month per Fund
II Additional Services
- Sales literature & document review (including websites) $75 per hour, plus NASD filing fees.
- NASD and other filing fees Pass thru
- Annual Licensing and Compliance Fees $500 per Registered Representative
(of pre-approved RR's) Site visits charged as out of pocket
expenses.
- Travel Expenses and Out-of-Pockets Pass thru
- Other duties as agreed upon Negotiable
