Appointment Authority and Duties of Agent 13.1.1. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and designates BofA as Agent to act as herein specified. Agent may, and each Lender by becoming a party to this Agreement shall be deemed irrevocably to have authorized Agent to, enter into all Loan Documents to which Agent is or is intended to be a party and all amendments hereto and all Security Documents at any time executed by any Obligor, for its benefit and the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders and, except as otherwise provided in this Section 13, to exercise such rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such other rights and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each Lender agrees that any action taken by Agent or the Required Lenders in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by Agent or the Required Lenders of any of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to (a) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for Lenders with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (b) execute and deliver, as Agent, each Loan Document (including each Lien Waiver and Subordination Agreement) and accept delivery of each such agreement by any Obligor or any other Person; (c) act as collateral agent for Secured Parties for purposes of the perfection of all security interests and Liens created by this Agreement or the Security Documents and, subject to the direction of the Required Lenders, for all other purposes stated therein, provided that Agent hereby appoints, authorizes and directs each Lender to act as a collateral sub-agent for Agent and the other Lenders for purposes of the perfection of all security interests and Liens with respect to an Obligor’s Deposit Accounts maintained with, and all cash and Cash Equivalents held by, such Lender; (d) subject to the direction of the Required Lenders, manage, supervise or otherwise deal with the Collateral; and (e) except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms of this Agreement and subject to the direction of the Required Lenders, exercise all remedies given to Agent with respect to any of the Collateral under the Loan Documents relating thereto, Applicable Law or otherwise. The duties of Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and Agent shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document a fiduciary relationship with any Lender (or any Lender’s participants). Unless and until its authority to do so is revoked in writing by Required Lenders, Agent alone shall be authorized to determine whether any Accounts or Inventory constitute Eligible Accounts or Eligible Inventory (basing such determination in each case upon the meanings given to such terms in Section 1), or whether to impose or release any reserve, and to exercise its own Credit Judgment in connection therewith, which determinations and judgments, if exercised in good faith, shall exonerate Agent from any liability to Lenders or any other Person for any errors in judgment.
13.1.2. Agent (which term, as used in this sentence, shall include reference to Agent’s officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents and Affiliates and to the officers, directors, employees, attorneys and agents of Agent’s Affiliates) shall not: (a) have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or (b) be required to take, initiate or conduct any Enforcement Action (including any litigation, foreclosure or collection proceedings hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents) except to the extent directed to do so in writing by the Required Lenders during the continuance of any Event of Default. The conferral upon Agent of any right hereunder shall not imply a duty on Agent’s part to exercise any such right unless instructed to do so by the Required Lenders in accordance with this Agreement.
13.1.3. Agent may perform any of its duties by or through its agents and employees and may employ one or more Agent Professionals and shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such Agent Professionals selected by it with reasonable care. Obligors shall promptly (and in any event, on demand) reimburse Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including all Extraordinary Expenses) incurred by Agent pursuant to any of the provisions hereof or of any of the other Loan Documents or in the execution of any of Agent’s duties hereby or thereby created or in the exercise of any right or power herein or therein imposed or conferred upon it or Lenders (excluding, however, general overhead and other in-house expenses, except as expressly permitted hereunder), and each Lender agrees promptly to pay to Agent, on demand, such Lender’s Pro Rata share of any such reimbursement for expenses (including Extraordinary Expenses) that is not timely made by Obligors to Agent.
13.1.4. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges conferred upon Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents may be exercised by Agent without the necessity of the joinder of any other parties unless otherwise required by Applicable Law. If Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any act or action (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such action unless and until Agent shall have received instructions from the Required Lenders; and Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against Agent as a result of Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents pursuant to or in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders except for Agent’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with any action taken by it. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Agent shall not be required to take any action that is in its opinion contrary to Applicable Law or the terms of any of the Loan Documents or that would in its reasonable opinion subject it or any of its officers, employees or directors to personal liability.
13.1.5. Agent shall promptly, upon receipt thereof, forward to each Lender (i) copies of any significant written notices, reports, certificates and other information received by Agent from any Obligor (but only if and to the extent such Obligor is not required by the terms of the Loan Documents to supply such information directly to Lenders) and (ii) copies of the results of any field audits or other examinations made or prepared by or on behalf of Agent with respect to Obligors or the Collateral (each, a “Report” and collectively, “Reports”).
Authority and Duties All officers, as between themselves and the Corporation, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.
Authority and Duties of the Owner Trustee ACTION BY CERTIFICATEHOLDERS
Authority and Duties of Owner Trustee Section 6.01.
Services and Duties of USBFS USBFS shall provide the following transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent services to the Fund:
A. Receive and process all orders for the purchase, exchange, transfer, and/or redemption of Fund shares in accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act, other applicable regulations, and as specified in the Fund's prospectus (the "Prospectus”).
B. Process purchase and redemption orders with prompt delivery, where appropriate, of payment and supporting documentation to the shareholder based on the shareholder’s or the Trust’s custodian instructions, and record the appropriate number of shares being held in the appropriate shareholder account.
C. Process redemption requests received in good order and, where relevant, deliver appropriate documentation to the Trust's custodian.
D. Pay proceeds upon receipt from the Trust's custodian, where relevant, in accordance with the instructions of redeeming shareholders.
E. Process transfers of shares in accordance with the shareholder's instructions, after receipt of appropriate documentation from the shareholder as specified in the Prospectus.
F. Prepare and transmit payments, or apply reinvestments for income dividends and capital gains distributions declared by the Trust with respect to a Fund, after deducting any amount required to be withheld by any applicable laws, rules and regulations and in accordance with shareholder instructions.
G. Serve as the Fund’s agent in connection with systematic plans including, but not limited to, systematic investment plans, systematic withdrawal plans, and systematic exchange plans.
H. Make changes to shareholder records, including, but not limited to, address and plan changes (e.g., systematic investment and withdrawal, dividend reinvestment).
I. Handle load and multi-class processing, including rights of accumulation and purchases by letters of intent in accordance with the Prospectus.
J. Record the issuance of shares of each Fund and maintain, pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), a record of the total number of shares of each Fund which are authorized, issued and outstanding.
K. Prepare ad-hoc reports as necessary at prevailing rates.
L. Mail shareholder reports and Prospectuses to current shareholders.
M. Prepare and file U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate information returns required with respect to dividends and distributions for all shareholders.
N. Provide shareholder account information upon shareholder or Trust requests and prepare and mail confirmations and statements of account to shareholders for all purchases, redemptions and other confirmable transactions as agreed upon with the Trust.
O. Mail and/or obtain shareholders’ certifications under penalties of perjury and pay on a timely basis to the appropriate federal or state authorities any taxes to be withheld on dividends and distributions paid by the Trust, all as required by applicable federal and state tax laws and regulations.
P. Answer correspondence from shareholders, securities brokers and others relating to USBFS’ duties hereunder within required time periods established by applicable regulation.
Q. Reimburse the Fund for all material losses resulting from “as of” processing errors for which USBFS is responsible in accordance with the “as of” processing guidelines set forth on Exhibit B hereto.
R. Calculate average assets held in shareholder accounts for purposes of paying Rule 12b-1 and/or shareholder servicing fees as directed by a Fund
S. Provide service and support to financial intermediaries including but not limited to trade placements, settlements, and corrections.
Duties of Agent The Agent shall:
(a) as a non-fiduciary agent for the Borrower, maintain a record of the Outstanding Principal Amount owing to each Lender, which record shall conclusively be presumed to be correct and accurate, absent manifest error;
(b) hold and maintain the Security to the extent provided in Section 11.02;
(c) provide to each Lender copies of all financial information received from the Borrower promptly after receipt thereof, and copies of any Draw Requests, Substitution Notices, Rollover Notices, Repayment Notices and other notices received by the Agent from the Borrower upon request by any Lender;
(d) promptly advise each Lender of Advances required to be made by it hereunder and disburse all Repayments to the Lenders hereunder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
(e) promptly notify each Lender of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default of which the Agent has actual knowledge or actual notice;
(f) at the time of engaging any agent, receiver, receiver-manager, consultant, monitor or other party in connection with the Security or the enforcement thereof, obtain the agreement of such party to comply with the applicable terms of this Agreement in carrying out any such enforcement activities and dealing with any Proceeds of Realization;
(g) account for any monies received by it in connection with this Agreement, the Security and any other agreement delivered in connection herewith or therewith;
(h) each time the Borrower requests the written consent of the Lenders (or the Required Lenders, as the case may be) in connection with any matter, use its best efforts to obtain and communicate to the Borrower the response of the Lenders (or the Required Lenders) in a reasonably prompt and timely manner having due regard to the nature and circumstances of the request;
(i) give written notice to the Borrower in respect of any other matter in respect of which notice is required in accordance with or pursuant to this Agreement, promptly or promptly after receiving the consent of the Lenders, if required under the terms of this Agreement;
(j) except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, act in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Required Lenders;
(k) refrain from exercising any right, power or discretion vested in it under this Agreement or any document incidental thereto if so instructed by the Required Lenders (in respect of any matter which requires the consent of the Required Lenders), or by all of the Lenders (in respect of any matter which requires the unanimous consent of the Lenders); and
(l) call a meeting of the Lenders at any time not earlier than five (5) days and not later than thirty (30) days after receipt of a written request for a meeting provided by any Lender.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN As custodian, the Custodian shall have and perform the powers and duties set forth in this Article II. Pursuant to and in accordance with Article IV hereof, the Custodian may appoint one or more Subcustodians (as hereinafter defined) to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Custodian set forth in this Article II and references to the Custodian in this Article II shall include any Subcustodian so appointed.
Services and Duties of the Distributor A. The Distributor agrees to sell Shares on a best efforts basis as agent for the Trust upon the terms and at the current offering price (plus sales charge, if any) described in the Prospectus. As used in this Agreement, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the current prospectus, including the statement of additional information, as both may be amended or supplemented, relating to the Fund and included in the currently effective registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) of the Trust filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act. The Trust shall in all cases receive the net asset value per Share on all sales. If a sales charge is in effect, the Distributor shall remit the sales charge (or portion thereof) to broker-dealers who have sold Shares, as described in Section 2(G), below. In no event shall the Distributor be entitled to all or any portion of such sales charge.
B. During the continuous public offering of Shares, the Distributor will hold itself available to receive orders, satisfactory to the Distributor, for the purchase of Shares and will accept such orders on behalf of the Trust. Such purchase orders shall be deemed effective at the time and in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.
C. The Distributor, with the operational assistance of the Trust’s transfer agent, shall make Shares available for sale and redemption through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Fund/SERV System.
D. The Distributor acknowledges and agrees that it is not authorized to provide any information or make any representations other than as contained in the Prospectus and any sales literature specifically approved by the Trust.
E. The Distributor agrees to cooperate with the Trust or its agent in the development of all proposed advertisements and sales literature relating to the Fund. The Distributor agrees to review all proposed advertisements and sales literature for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and shall file with appropriate regulators those advertisements and sales literature it believes are in compliance with such laws and regulations. The Distributor agrees to furnish to the Trust any comments provided by regulators with respect to such materials and to use its best efforts to obtain the approval of the regulators to such materials.
F. The Distributor, at its sole discretion, may repurchase Shares offered for sale by shareholders of the Fund. Repurchase of Shares by the Distributor shall be at the price determined in accordance with, and in the manner set forth in, the Prospectus. At the end of each business day, the Distributor shall notify the Trust and its transfer agent, by any appropriate means, of the orders for repurchase of Shares received by the Distributor since the last report, the amount to be paid for such Shares and the identity of the shareholders offering Shares for repurchase. The Trust reserves the right to suspend such repurchase right upon written notice to the Distributor. The Distributor further agrees to act as agent for the Trust to receive and transmit promptly to the Trust’s transfer agent, shareholder requests for redemption of Shares.
G. The Distributor may, in its discretion, enter into agreements with such qualified broker-dealers as it may select, in order that such broker-dealers also may sell Shares of the Fund. The form of any dealer agreement shall be approved by the Trust. To the extent there is a sales charge in effect, the Distributor shall pay the applicable sales charge (or portion thereof), or allow a discount, to the selling broker-dealer, as described in the Prospectus.
H. The Distributor shall devote its best efforts to effect sales of Shares of the Fund but shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of Shares.
I. The Distributor shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested by the Board, including reports regarding the use of any 12b-1 payments received by the Distributor.
J. The Distributor agrees to advise the Trust promptly in writing of the initiation of any proceedings against it by the SEC or its staff, the NASD or any state regulatory authority.
K. The Distributor shall monitor amounts paid under Rule 12b-1 plans and pursuant to sales loads to ensure compliance with applicable NASD rules.
Powers and Duties of Trustees Section 3.1 General 6 Section 3.2 Investments 6 Section 3.3 Legal Title 7 Section 3.4 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares 7 Section 3.5 Borrow Money or Utilize Leverage 7 Section 3.6 Delegation; Committees 7 Section 3.7 Collection and Payment 8 Section 3.8 Expenses 8 Section 3.9 By-Laws 8 Section 3.10 Miscellaneous Powers 8 Section 3.11 Further Powers 8
Scope of Agency (a) Transfer Agent shall act solely as agent for Fund under this Agreement and owes no duties hereunder to any other person. Transfer Agent undertakes to perform the duties and only the duties that are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against Transfer Agent.
(b) Transfer Agent may rely upon, and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith reliance upon, (i) any communication from Fund, any predecessor transfer agent or co-transfer agent or any registrar (other than Agent), predecessor registrar or co-registrar; (ii) any instruction, notice, request, direction, consent, report, certificate, opinion or other instrument, paper, document or electronic transmission believed in good faith by Transfer Agent to be genuine and to have been signed or given by the proper party or parties; (iii) any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing; or (iv) any instructions received through Direct Registration System/Profile. In addition, Transfer Agent is authorized to refuse to make any transfer that it determines in good faith not to be in good order.
(c) From time to time, Fund may provide Transfer Agent with instructions concerning the Services. Further, Transfer Agent may apply to any Authorized Person for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for Agent or Fund with respect to any matter arising in connection with the Services. Transfer Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by Fund under Section 9.2 of this Agreement for any action taken or omitted by Transfer Agent in good faith reliance upon any Fund instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. Fund shall promptly provide Transfer Agent with an updated board resolution and/or certificate of incumbency regarding any change of authority for any Authorized Person. Transfer Agent shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any Authorized Person, until receipt of written notice thereof from Fund.
