DUTIES OF GFS GFS’s duties with respect to Fund Accounting, Fund Administration and Transfer Agency services are detailed in Appendices I, II and III to this Agreement.
(a) In order for GFS to perform the Services, the Trust (i) shall cause all service providers to the Funds of the Trust to furnish any and all information to GFS, and assist GFS as may be required and (ii) shall ensure that GFS has access to all records and documents maintained by the Trust or any service provider to the Trust or a Fund of the Trust.
(b) GFS shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
(c) Whenever, in the course of performing its duties under this Agreement, GFS determines, on the basis of information supplied to GFS by the Trust, that a violation of applicable law has occurred, or that, to its knowledge, a possible violation of applicable law may have occurred, or with the passage of time could occur, GFS shall promptly notify the Trust and its legal counsel of such violation.
DUTIES OF THE COMPANY The Company shall provide Consultant, on a regular and timely basis, with all approved data and information about it, its subsidiaries, its management, its products and services and its operations as shall be reasonably requested by Consultant, and shall advise Consultant of any facts which would affect the accuracy of any data and information previously supplied pursuant to this paragraph. The Company shall promptly supply Consultant with full and complete copies of all financial reports, all fillings with all federal and state securities agencies; with full and complete copies of all stockholder reports; with all data and information supplied by any financial analyst, and with all brochures or other sales materials relating to its products or services.
Duties of Contractor The Contractor shall provide the following services relative to this Contract:
DUTIES OF MSS 1.01 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust hereby employs and appoints MSS to act, and MSS agrees to act, as transfer agent for the Trust’s authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest of each class of each portfolio of the Trust (the “Shares”), and as dividend disbursing and redemption agent for the Trust.
1.02 MSS agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Trust and MSS, MSS shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefore to the Custodian of the Trust authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Custodian”);
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefore to the Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Trust;
(vii) Maintain records of account for and advise the Trust and its Shareholders as to the foregoing;
(viii) Maintain an Anti-Money Laundering Program in compliance with the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and regulation thereunder, and provide to the Trust a copy of MSS’s Anti-Money Laundering Program;
(ix) Perform such services as are necessary to implement and enforce the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Program;
(x) Provide necessary and reasonable access to properly authorized federal examiners so that they can obtain all necessary information and records relating to the AML Program and to inspect MSS’s implementation and operation of the AML Program; and
(xi) Record the issuance of shares of the Trust and maintain pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total number of shares of the Trust which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Trust, and issued and outstanding. MSS shall also provide the Trust on a regular basis with the total number of shares which are authorized, issued and outstanding and shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of shares, to monitor the issuance of such shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Trust.
(b) In addition, MSS shall perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing and redemption agent, including but not limited to: maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting lists, mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating proxies, mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses to current Shareholders, withholding taxes for U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts, preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms required with respect to dividends and distributions by federal authorities for all Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity statements for Shareholders, and providing Shareholder account information and provide a system and reports which will enable the Trust to monitor the total number of Shares sold in each State. Procedures applicable to certain of these services may be established from time to time by agreement between the Trust and MSS.
Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund Held By the Custodian in the United States
DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR The Advisor will use its reasonable best efforts to present to the Company and the Operating Partnership potential investment opportunities and to provide a continuing and suitable investment program consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company as determined and adopted from time to time by the Board. In performance of this undertaking, subject to the supervision of the Board and consistent with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, By-laws and the Operating Partnership Agreement, the Advisor, directly or indirectly, will:
(a) serve as the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s investment and financial advisor;
(b) provide the daily management for the Company and the Operating Partnership and perform and supervise the various administrative functions necessary for the day-to-day management of the operations of the Company and the Operating Partnership;
(c) investigate, select and, on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership, engage and conduct business with and supervise the performance of such Persons as the Advisor deems necessary to the proper performance of its obligations hereunder (including consultants, accountants, correspondents, lenders, technical advisors, attorneys, brokers, underwriters, corporate fiduciaries, escrow agents, depositaries, custodians, agents for collection, insurers, insurance agents, banks, builders, developers, property owners, property managers, real estate management companies, real estate operating companies, securities investment advisors, mortgagors, the registrar and the transfer agent and any and all agents for any of the foregoing), including Affiliates of the Advisor and Persons acting in any other capacity deemed by the Advisor necessary or desirable for the performance of any of the foregoing services (including entering into contracts in the name of the Company and the Operating Partnership with any of the foregoing);
(d) consult with the officers and Directors of the Company and assist the Directors in the formulation and implementation of the Company’s financial policies, and, as necessary, furnish the Board with advice and recommendations with respect to the making of investments consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Company and in connection with any borrowings proposed to be undertaken by the Company or the Operating Partnership;
(e) subject to the provisions of Section 4 , (i) participate in formulating an investment strategy and asset allocation framework; (ii) locate, analyze and select potential Investments; (iii) structure and negotiate the terms and conditions of transactions pursuant to which acquisitions and dispositions of Investments will be made; (iv) research, identify, review and recommend acquisitions and dispositions of Investments to the Board and make Investments on behalf of the Company and the Operating Partnership in compliance with the investment objectives and policies of the Company; (v) arrange for financing and refinancing and make other changes in the asset or capital structure of, and dispose of, reinvest the proceeds from the sale of, or otherwise deal with, Investments; (vi) enter into leases and service contracts for Real Estate Assets and, to the extent necessary, perform all other operational functions for the maintenance and administration of such Real Estate Assets; (vii) actively oversee and manage Investments for purposes of meeting the Company’s investment objectives and reviewing and analyzing financial information for each of the Investments and the overall portfolio;
Duties of Company The Company shall at all times during the term of Options:
(a) Reserve and keep available for issue such number of shares of its authorized and unissued common stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement;
(b) Pay all original issue taxes with respect to the issue of shares pursuant hereto and all other fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connection therewith;
(c) Use its best efforts to comply with all laws and regulations which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, shall be applicable thereto.
Duties of the Distributor (a) The Distributor agrees to serve as the principal underwriter of the Funds in connection with the review and approval of all Purchase and Redemption Orders of Creation Units of each Fund by Authorized Participants that have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Distributor and Transfer Agent/ Index Receipt Agent. Nothing herein shall affect or limit the right and ability of the Transfer Agent/ Index Receipt Agent to accept Fund Securities, Deposit Securities, and related Cash Components through or outside the Clearing Process, and as provided in and in accordance with the Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Trust acknowledges that the Distributor shall not be obligated to approve any certain number of orders for Creation Units.
(b) The Distributor agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the following services to the Trust with respect to the continuous distribution of Creation Units of each Fund: (i) at the request of the Trust, the Distributor shall enter into Authorized Participant Agreements between and among Authorized Participants, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent/Index Receipt Agent, for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units of the Funds, (ii) the Distributor shall approve and maintain copies of confirmations of Creation Unit purchase and redemption order acceptances; (iii) upon request, the Distributor will make available copies of the Prospectus to purchasers of such Creation Units and, upon request, the Statement of Additional Information; and (iv) the Distributor shall maintain telephonic, facsimile and/or access to direct computer communications links with the Transfer Agent.
(c) The Distributor shall ensure that all direct requests to Distributor for Prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, product descriptions and periodic fund reports, as applicable, are fulfilled.
(d) The Distributor agrees to make available, at the Trust’s request, one or more members of its staff to attend, either via telephone or in person, Board meetings of the Trust in order to provide information with regard to the Distributor’s services hereunder and for such other purposes as may be requested by the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
(e) Distributor shall review and approve, prior to use, all Trust marketing materials (“Marketing Materials”) for compliance with SEC and FINRA advertising rules, and will file all Marketing Materials required to filed with FINRA. The Distributor agrees to furnish to the Trust’s investment adviser any comments provided by FINRA with respect to such materials.
(f) The Distributor shall not offer any Shares and shall not approve any creation or redemption order hereunder 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 1933 Act or if and so long as a current prospectus as required by Section 10 of the 1933 Act is not on file with the SEC; provided, however, that nothing contained in this paragraph shall in any way restrict or have any application to or bearing upon the Trust’s obligation to redeem or repurchase any Shares from any shareholder in accordance with provisions of the Prospectus or Registration Statement.
(g) The Distributor shall work with the Index Receipt Agent to review and approve orders placed by Authorized Participants and transmitted to the Index Receipt Agent.
(h) The Distributor agrees to maintain, and preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act, such records as are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1(d) under the 1940 Act. The Distributor agrees that all records which it maintains pursuant to the 1940 Act for the Trust shall at all times remain the property of the Trust, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of the Agreement or otherwise on written request; provided, however, that Distributor may retain all such records required to be maintained by Distributor pursuant to applicable FINRA or SEC rules and regulations.
(j) The Distributor agrees to maintain compliance policies and procedures (a “Compliance Program”) that are reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Federal Securities Laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 of the 0000 Xxx) with respect to the Distributor’s services under this Agreement, and to provide any and all information with respect to the Compliance Program, including without limitation, information and certifications with respect to material violations of the Compliance Program and any material deficiencies or changes therein, as may be reasonably requested by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer or Board of Trustees.
Duties of Executive Subject to the approvals by and the ultimate supervision of the Board, Executive during the term hereof shall serve as Employer’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the Board, Executive shall have the responsibilities commensurate with Executive’s title and as otherwise provided in Employer’s bylaws and other governing documents, but in any event, construed in a manner generally consistent with the responsibilities of Executive that existed immediately prior to the Effective Date. During the period of employment hereunder, Executive shall devote to the business of Employer substantially the same amount of Executive’s time and efforts that Executive devoted to the business of Employer prior to the Effective Date; provided, however, that this Section shall not be construed as preventing Executive from investing Executive’s personal assets in business ventures that do not compete with Employer or Employer’s Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) or are not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, and spending reasonable amounts of personal time in the management thereof. Employer acknowledges that Executive owns a material ownership interest in HealthTronics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“HTRN”), and that Executive serves as a director and may serve as an officer of HTRN. Employer agrees that Executive may continue to serve HTRN in such capacities and devote Executive’s time and efforts to such service in a manner generally consistent with the time and efforts devoted by Executive prior to the Effective Date. Consistent with the foregoing, Executive shall use Executive’s best efforts to promote the interests of Employer and Employer’s Affiliates, and to preserve their goodwill with respect to their employees, customers, suppliers and other persons having business relations with Employer. Executive agrees to accept and hold all such offices and/or directorships with Employer and Employer’s Affiliates as to which Executive may, from time to time, be elected. For purposes of this Agreement, Employer’s subsidiaries, parent companies and other affiliates are collectively referred to as “Affiliates.”
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.
