Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Bank 1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, each Trust, on behalf of its respective Funds, hereby employs and appoints the Bank to act as, and the Bank agrees to act as, its transfer agent for the authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest, no par value per share of the Funds (“Shares”), and as the Trust’s dividend disbursing agent.
1.2 The Bank agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with the terms and conditions of the form of Participant Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Bank shall:
(i) Perform and facilitate the performance of purchases and redemption of Creation Units;
(ii) Prepare and transmit by means of DTC’s book-entry system payments for dividends and distributions declared by each Trust on behalf of the applicable Fund;
(iii) Maintain the record of the name and address of the Shareholder and the number of Shares issued by each Trust and held by the Shareholder;
(iv) Record the issuance of Shares of each Trust and maintain a record of the total number of Shares of the Funds outstanding. The Bank 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 each Trust;
(v) Prepare and transmit to each Trust and any designated administrator and to any applicable securities exchange (as specified to the Bank by the Trust) information with respect to purchases and redemptions of Shares;
(vi) On days that the Trusts may accept orders for purchases or redemptions, calculate and transmit to the Bank and the Trust’s administrator the number of outstanding Shares for each Fund;
(vii) On days that the Trusts may accept orders for purchases or redemptions (pursuant to the Participant Agreement), transmit to the Bank, the Trusts and DTC the amount of Shares purchased on such day;
(viii) Confirm to DTC the number of Shares issued to the Shareholder, as DTC may reasonably request;
(ix) Prepare and deliver other reports, information and documents to DTC as DTC may reasonably request;
(x) Extend the voting rights to the Shareholder and/or beneficial owners of Shares in accordance with the policies and procedures of DTC for book-entry only securities;
(xi) Maintain those books and records of each Trust specified by the Trusts in Schedule A attached hereto;
(xii) Prepare a monthly report of all purchases and redemptions during such month on a gross transaction basis. The monthly report shall show the counterpart and amount of each purchase on a daily basis net number of shares either redeemed or created for such Business Day;
(xiii) Receive from the Distributor (as defined in the Participant Agreement) purchase orders from Authorized Participants (as defined in the Participant Agreement) for Creation Unit aggregations of Shares received in good form and accepted by or on behalf of each Trust by the Distributor, transmit appropriate trade instructions to the National Securities Clearance Corporation, if applicable, and pursuant to such orders issue the appropriate number of Shares of the applicable Fund and hold such Shares in the account of the Shareholder for each of the respective Funds of each Trust;
(xiv) Receive from the Authorized Participants (as defined in the Participant Agreement) redemption requests, deliver the appropriate documentation thereof to The Bank of New York as custodian for each Trust, generate and transmit or cause to be generated and transmitted confirmation of receipt of such redemption requests to the Authorized Participants submitting the same; transmit appropriate trade instructions to the National Securities Clearance Corporation, if applicable, and redeem the appropriate number of Creation Unit Aggregations of Shares held in the account of the Shareholder;
(xv) Confirm the name, U.S. taxpayer identification number and principal place of business of each Authorized Participant; and
(b) In addition to, and neither in lieu nor in contravention of, the services set forth in the above paragraph (a), the Bank shall perform the customary services of a transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent, including, but not limited to: maintaining the account of the Shareholder, obtaining a list of DTC participants holding interests in the Global Certificate at the request of a Trust, mailing proxy materials, shareholder reports and prospectuses to the Shareholder or DTC participants or beneficial owners of Shares at the request of a Trust and those services set forth on Schedule A attached hereto.
(c) The following shall be delivered to DTC for delivery to beneficial owners in accordance with the procedures for book-entry only securities of DTC:
(i) Annual and semi-annual reports of the Trusts;
(ii) Proxies, proxy statements and other proxy soliciting materials;
(iii) Prospectus and amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including stickers; and
(iv) Other communications as may be required by law or reasonably requested by a Trust.
(d) If the Shares are represented by individual Certificates, the Bank shall perform the services agreed to in writing by the Bank and the Trusts.
(e) The Bank shall provide additional services (if any) on behalf of a Trust (i.e., escheatment services) which may be agreed upon in writing between a Trust and the Bank.
(f) The Bank shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. To the extent required by Section 31 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Rules thereunder, the Bank agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by the Bank relating to the services to be performed by the Bank hereunder are the property of each respective Trust and will be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such Section and Rules, and will be surrendered promptly to that Trust on and in accordance with its request.
Terms of Appointment/Duties of Price Associates Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints Price Associates to provide, and Price Associates agrees to provide, the Accounting Services set forth in this Section A. It is agreed by the parties that Price Associates may subcontract or jointly contract with other parties, on behalf of the Funds, to perform certain of the functions and services described herein.
1. Maintain for each Fund a daily trial balance, a general ledger, subsidiary records and capital stock accounts;
2. Maintain for each Fund an investment ledger, including amortized bond and/or money market costs, foreign dollar denominated costs, and securities on loan where applicable;
3. Maintain for each Fund all records relating to the Fund’s income and expenses, gains and losses;
4. Provide for the daily valuation of each Fund’s portfolio securities and the computation of each Fund’s daily net asset value per share (“NAV”). Such daily valuations shall be made in accordance with the valuation policies established by each of the Fund's Board including, but not limited to, the utilization of such pricing valuation sources and/or pricing services as determined by the Boards. Price Associates shall have no liability for any losses or damages incurred by the Fund as a result of erroneous portfolio security evaluations provided by such designated sources and/or pricing services; provided that, Price Associates reasonably believes the prices are accurate, has adhered to its normal verification control procedures, and has otherwise met the standard of care as set forth in Article G of this Agreement;
5. Provide daily cash flow and transaction status information to each Fund’s adviser;
6. Authorize the payment of Fund expenses, either through instruction of custodial bank or utilization of custodian’s automated transfer system, manage the Fund’s inter-fund lending program and provide support for the Fund’s security lending program;
7. Prepare for each Fund such financial information that is reasonably necessary for shareholder reports, reports to the Board and to the officers of the Fund, reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other Federal and state regulatory agencies as well as class action and other claims filings arising out of legal proceedings;
8. Provide each Fund with such advice that may be reasonably necessary to properly account for all financial transactions and to maintain the Fund's accounting procedures and records so as to insure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and tax practices and rules;
9. Maintain for each Fund all records that may be reasonably required in connection with the audit performed by each Fund's independent accountant, the SEC, the IRS or such other Federal or state regulatory agencies;
10. Cooperate with each Fund’s independent public accountants and take all reasonable action in the performance of its obligations under the Agreement to assure that the necessary information is made available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion without any qualification as to the scope of their examination including, but not limited to, their opinion included in each such Fund’s annual report on Form N-CSR and annual amendment to Form N-1A;
11. Maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting to provide complete and accurate financial information and disclosures that are certified by officers of the Funds. Provide sub-certifications, as requested by the officers of the Funds, for the adequacy of such controls and the completeness and accuracy of information included in Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, or any other form that may require certification;
12. Implement and maintain the systems, data storage and reporting necessary to perform the above services; and
13. Such other services as mutually agreed upon by the parties.
Terms of Appointment and Duties of the Bank as Transfer Agent -------------------------------------------------------------
A. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints the Bank to act as, and the Bank agrees to act as, transfer agent for the Fund's authorized and issued Shares, dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with the purchase and redemption plans provided to the Shareholders and set out in the Private Placement Memorandum.
B. The Bank agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In connection with procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Fund and the Bank, the Bank shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the Custodian;
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate amount of Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder accounts;
(iii) Receive for acceptance, redemption requests and redemption directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to the Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies or portfolio securities paid or delivered to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or deliver or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies or portfolio securities as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;
(v) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Fund;
(vi) Create and maintain all necessary records, and make available during regular business hours all records for inspection, as set forth in Section 13; and
(vii) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain a record of the total amount of Shares of the Fund which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. The Bank shall also provide the Fund on a regular basis with the total amount of Shares which are authorized and 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 Fund. In connection with the closings of the Fund, the Bank will notify the Fund and each Shareholder of the Fund participating in a closing, promptly of the number of full and fractional Shares held by such Shareholder.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in the above paragraph (a) or in any schedule hereto the Bank shall:
(i) perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent, distribution disbursing agent and, as relevant, agent in connection with purchase and redemption plans, including but not limited to: maintaining all Shareholder accounts and records (including capital accounts for Undivided Shares, Preferred Shares and Common Shares required to be maintained by the Fund by the Fund's Limited Liability Company Agreement; and tax basis accounts and any other account required in order to comply with Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code); making all allocations to and adjustments in the shareholder accounts and records in accordance with the Fund's Limited Liability Company Agreement and Private Placement Memorandum; mailing proxy materials; receiving and tabulating proxies; mailing Shareholder reports to current Shareholders; withholding taxes on all Shareholder accounts, including non-resident alien accounts; and 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; and
(ii) perform such other duties and functions as may from time to time be agreed in writing.
Terms of Appointment Every separate trustee and co-trustee will be appointed and act subject to the following:
(i) all rights, powers and obligations of the Indenture Trustee will apply to and will be exercised or performed by the Indenture Trustee, or the Indenture Trustee and the separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that the separate trustee or co-trustee will not be authorized to act separately without the Indenture Trustee joining in the act), except if under the law of a jurisdiction in which a particular act or acts are to be performed the Indenture Trustee will be incompetent or unqualified to perform those act or acts, in which event those acts will be exercised and performed singly by the separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Indenture Trustee;
(ii) no trustee will be personally liable by reason of an act or omission of another trustee under this Indenture; and
(iii) the Indenture Trustee may accept the resignation of or remove a separate trustee or co-trustee.
ALPS Appointment and Duties (a) The Fund hereby appoints ALPS to provide the distribution services set forth in this Agreement on Appendix B, as amended from time to time, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. ALPS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such specified services. ALPS shall for all purposes be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly authorized in this Agreement, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.
(b) ALPS may employ or associate itself with a person or persons or organizations as ALPS believes to be desirable in the performance of its duties hereunder; provided that, in such event, the compensation of such person or persons or organizations shall be paid by and be the sole responsibility of ALPS, and the Fund shall bear no cost or obligation with respect thereto; and provided further that ALPS shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement in such event and shall be responsible for all acts of any such person or persons or organizations taken in furtherance of this Agreement to the same extent it would be for its own acts.
Nature of Appointment; Limitation of Duty THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE VI IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT IS TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7.14. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NONE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY, ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OR ANY OF THEIR OR THEIR AFFILIATES’ RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO SUCH PARTY’S OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; PROVIDED THAT, IN NO EVENT SHALL THEY BE LIABLE FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee (a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Securityholder or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series;
(iv) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it;
(v) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder;
(vi) The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee; and
(vii) No Trustee shall have any duty or responsibility for any act or omission of any other Trustee appointed with respect to a series of Securities hereunder.
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
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 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.
