TRANSFER AGENCY AGREEMENT
This Agreement made as of the 30th of November 1994 between The Advisors' Inner
Circle Fund ("Fund"), a Massachusetts business trust, having its principal
office and place of business at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx, XX and
Supervised Service Company Inc. ("SSC"), a Delaware corporation having its
principal office and place of business at 000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
(hereinafter referred to as the "Transfer Agent").
WITNESSETH:
That for and in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the
parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the
following meanings:
1. "APPROVED INSTITUTION" shall mean an entity so named in a Certificate.
From time to time the Fund may amend a previously delivered Certificate by
delivering to the Transfer Agent a Certificate naming an additional entity or
deleting any entity named in a previously delivered Certificate.
2. THE "BOARD OF TRUSTEES" shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
3. "CERTIFICATE" shall mean any notice, instruction, or other instrument
in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to the Transfer
Agent by the Fund which is signed by any Officer, as hereinafter defined, and
actually received by the Transfer Agent.
4. "CUSTODIAN" shall mean the financial institution appointed as
custodian under the terms and conditions of the Custody Agreement between the
financial institution and the Fund, or its successor(s).
5. "FUND BUSINESS DAY" shall be deemed to be each day on which the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for trading.
6. "OFFICER" shall be deemed to be the Fund's President, any Vice
President of the Fund, the Fund's Secretary, the Fund's Treasurer, the Fund's
Controller, any Assistant Controller of the Fund, any Assistant Treasurer of the
Fund and any Assistant Secretary of the Fund, and any other person duly
authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Fund to execute any Certificate,
instruction, notice or other instrument on behalf of the Fund and named in the
Certificate annexed hereto as Appendix A, as such Certificate may be amended
from time to time, and any person reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to
be such a person.
7. "OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES" means amounts reasonably necessary and
actually incurred by Transfer Agent in the provision of Transfer Agent services
or pursuant to this Agreement for the following purposes: postage (and first
class mail insurance in connection with mailing share certificates), envelopes,
check forms, continuous forms, forms for reports and statements, stationery, and
other similar items, telephone and telegraph charges incurred in answering
inquiries from dealers
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or shareholders, microfilm used to record transactions in shareholder accounts
and computer tapes used for permanent storage of records and cost of insertion
of materials in mailing envelopes by outside firms. Transfer Agent may, at its
option, arrange to have various service providers submit invoices directly to
the Fund for payment of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable hereunder; and such
other expenses paid or incurred by Transfer Agent at the request of the Fund.
Any charges associated with special or exception processing shall also be
considered out-of-pocket Expenses.
8. "PROSPECTUS" shall mean the last Fund prospectus and any supplements
actually received by the Transfer Agent from the Fund with respect to which the
Fund has indicated a registration statement under the Federal Securities Act of
1933 has becomes effective, including the Statement of Additional Information,
incorporated by reference therein.
9. "SHARES" shall mean all or any part of each class or series of the
shares of beneficial interest of the Fund or Portfolio listed in the Certificate
as to which the Transfer Agent acts as transfer agent hereunder, as may be
amended from time to time, which are authorized and/or issued by the Fund.
10. "TRANSFER AGENT" shall mean Supervised Service Company, Inc., ("SSC"),
as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent under the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, its successors or assign(s).
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ARTICLE II
APPOINTMENT OF TRANSFER AGENT
1. The Fund hereby constitutes and appoints the Transfer
Agent as transfer agent of all the Shares of the Fund and as dividend disbursing
agent during the period of this Agreement.
2. The Transfer Agent hereby accepts appointment as transfer agent and
dividend disbursing agent and agrees to perform duties thereof as hereinafter
set forth.
3. In connection with such appointment, the Fund upon the request of the
Transfer Agent, shall deliver the following documents to the Transfer Agent:
(i) A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund and all
amendments thereto certified by the Secretary of the Fund;
(ii) A copy of the By-Laws of the Fund certified by the Secretary of
the Fund;
(iii) A copy of a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund
certified by the Secretary of the Fund appointing the Transfer Agent and
authorizing the execution of this Transfer Agency Agreement;
(iv) A Certificate signed by the Secretary of the Fund specifying:
the number of authorized Shares, if any, the number of such authorized Shares
issued, the number of such authorized Shares issued and currently outstanding;
the names and specimen signatures of the Officers of the Fund; and the name and
address of the legal counsel for the Fund;
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(v) In the event the Fund issues shares, specimen share certificate
for each or series class of Shares in the form approved by the Board of Trustees
of the Fund (and in a format compatible with the Transfer Agent's system) ,
together with a Certificate signed by the Secretary of the Fund as to such
approval;
(vi) Copies of the Fund's Registration Statement, as amended to
date, and the most recently filed Post-Effective Amendment thereto, filed by the
Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
together with any applications filed in connection therewith; and
(vii) Opinion of counsel for the Fund with respect to the validity of
the authorized and outstanding Shares, whether such Shares are fully paid and
non-assessable and the status of such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and any other applicable federal law or regulation (i.e., if subject
to registration, that they have been registered and that the Registration
Statement has become effective or, if exempt, the specific grounds therefor.)
ARTICLE III
AUTHORIZATION AND ISSUANCE OF SHARES
1. The Fund shall deliver to the Transfer Agent the following documents
on or before the effective date of any increase or decrease in the total number
of Shares authorized to be issued:
(a) A certified copy of the amendment to the Declaration of
Trust giving effect to such increase or decrease;
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(b) In the case of an increase, an opinion of counsel for the
Fund with respect to the validity of the Shares of the Fund and the status of
such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any other
applicable federal law or regulation (I.E., if subject to registration, that
they have been registered and that the Registration Statement has become
effective or, if exempt, the specific grounds therefor); and
(c) In the case of an increase, if the appointment of the
Transfer Agent was theretofore expressly limited, a certified copy of a
resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund increasing the authority of the
Transfer Agent.
2. Prior to the issuance of any additional Shares of the Fund pursuant to
stock dividends or stock splits, etc., and prior to any reduction in the number
of shares outstanding, the Fund shall deliver the following documents to the
Transfer Agent:
(a) A certified copy of the resolutions) adopted by the Board of
Trustees and/or the shareholders of the Fund authorizing such issuance of
additional Shares of the Fund or such reduction, as the case may be, and
(b) An opinion of counsel for the Fund with respect to the
validity of the Shares of the Fund and the status of such Shares under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any other applicable federal law or
regulation (i.e., if subject to registration, that they have been registered and
that the Registration Statement has become effective, or, if exempt, the
specific grounds therefor).
ARTICLE IV
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RECAPITALIZATION OR CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT
1. In the case of any negative stock split, recapitalization or other
capital adjustment requiring a change in the form of Share certificates, the
Transfer Agent will issue Share certificates in the new form in exchange for, or
upon transfer of, outstanding Share certificates in the old form, upon
receiving:
(a) A Certificate authorizing the issuance of the Share
certificates in the new form;
(b) A certified copy of any amendment to the Declaration of
Trust with respect to the change;
(c) Specimen Share certificates for each class of Shares in the
new form approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, with a Certificate
signed by the Secretary of the Fund as to such approval; and
(d) An opinion of counsel for the Fund with respect to the
validity of the Shares in the new form and the status of such Shares under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any other applicable federal law or
regulation (i.e., if subject to registration, that the Shares have been
registered and that the Registration Statement has become effective or, if
exempt, the specific grounds therefor.)
2. The Fund at its expense shall furnish the Transfer Agent with a
sufficient supply of blank share certificates in the new form and from time to
time will replenish such supply upon the request of the Transfer Agent. Such
blank Share certificates shall be compatible with the Transfer
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Agent's system and shall be properly signed by facsimile or otherwise by
Officers of the Fund authorized by law or by the By-Laws to sign Share
certificates and, if required shall bear the corporate Seal or facsimile
thereof. The Fund agrees to indemnify and exonerate, save and hold the Transfer
Agent harmless, from and against any and all claims or demands that may be
asserted against the Transfer Agent with respect to the genuineness of any Share
certificate supplied to the Transfer Agent pursuant to this section.
ARTICLE V
ISSUANCE,
REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES
1. (a) The Transfer Agent acknowledges that it has received a copy of
the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information, which prospectus
and statement of additional information describe how sales and redemption of
shares of the Fund shall be made, and the Transfer Agent agrees to accept
purchase orders and redemption requests with respect to Fund shares on each Fund
Business Day in accordance with such prospectus and statement of additional
information; provided, however, that the Transfer Agent shall only accept
purchase orders from states in which the shares of the Fund are registered. The
Fund shall provide the Transfer Agent with a listing of the states in which the
shares of the Fund are registered on a periodic basis. The Fund agrees to
provide the Transfer Agent with sufficient advance notice to enable the Transfer
Agent to effect any changes in the procedures set forth in the prospectus and
statement of additional information
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regarding such purchase and redemption procedure; provided, however, that in no
event will such advance notice be less than 30 days.
(b) The Transfer Agent shall also accept with respect to each Fund
Business Day, at such times as are agreed upon from time to time by the Transfer
Agent and the Fund, a computer tape or electronic data transmission consistent
in all respects with the Transfer Agent's tape layout package, as amended from
time to time, which is believed by the Transfer Agent to be furnished by or on
behalf of any Approved Institution. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable for
any losses or damages to the Fund or its shareholders in the event that a
computer tape or electronic data transmission from an Approved Institution is
unable to be processed for any reason beyond the control of the Transfer Agent,
or if any of the information on such tape or transmission is found to be
incorrect.
2. On each Fund Business Day the Transfer Agent shall, as of the time at
which the Fund computes the net asset value of the Fund, issue to and redeem
from the accounts specified in a purchase order, redemption request, or computer
tape, which in accordance with the Prospectus is effective on such Fund Business
Day, the appropriate number of full and fractional Shares based on the net asset
value per Share of such Fund specified in an advice received on such Fund
Business Day from the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a redemption
specified in a computer tape is for a dollar value of Shares in excess of the
dollar value of uncertificated Shares in the specified account, the Transfer
Agent shall not effect such redemption in whole or in part and shall within
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twenty-four hours orally advise the Approved Institution which supplied such
tape of the discrepancy.
3. In connection with a reinvestment of a dividend or distribution of
Shares of the Fund, the Transfer Agent shall as of each Fund Business Day, as
specified in a Certificate or resolution described in paragraph 1 of succeeding
Article VI, issue Shares of the Fund based on the net asset value per Share of
such Fund specified in an advice received from the Fund on such Fund Business
Day.
4. On each Fund Business Day the Transfer Agent shall supply the Fund
with a statement specifying with respect to the immediately preceding Fund
Business Day: the total number of Shares of the Fund (including fractional
Shares) issued and outstanding at the opening of business on such day; the total
number of Shares of the Fund sold on such day, pursuant to preceding paragraph 2
of this Article; the total number of Shares of the Fund redeemed from
Shareholders by the Transfer Agent on such day; the total number of Shares of
the Fund, if any, sold on such day pursuant to preceding paragraph 3 of this
Article, and the total number of Shares of the Fund issued and outstanding.
5. In connection with each purchase and each redemption of Shares, the
Transfer Agent shall send such statements as are prescribed by the Federal
Securities laws applicable to transfer agents and Section 8-408 of the Uniform
Commercial Code as enacted in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or as described
in the Prospectus. If the Prospectus indicates that certificates for Shares are
available and if specifically requested in writing by any shareholder, or if
otherwise
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required hereunder, the Transfer Agent will countersign, issue and mail to such
shareholder at the address set forth in the records of the Transfer Agent a
Share certificate for any full Share requested.
6. As of each Fund Business Day the Transfer Agent shall furnish the Fund
with an advice setting forth the number and dollar amount of Shares to be
redeemed on such Fund Business Day in accordance with paragraph 2 of this
Article.
7. Upon receipt of a proper redemption request and moneys paid to it by
the Custodian in connection with a redemption of Shares, the Transfer Agent
shall cancel the redeemed Shares and after making appropriate deduction for any
withholding of taxes required of it by applicable law (a) in the case of a
redemption of Shares pursuant to a redemption described in preceding paragraph
l(a) of this Article, make payment in accordance with the Fund's redemption and
payment procedures described in the Prospectus, and (b) in the case of a
redemption of Shares pursuant to a computer tape described in preceding
paragraph l(b) of this Article, make payment by directing a federal funds wire
order to the account previously designated by the Approved Institution specified
in said computer tape.
8. The Transfer Agent shall not be required to issue any Shares after it
has received f rom an Officer of the Fund or f rom an appropriate federal or
state authority written notification that the sale of Shares has been suspended
or discontinued, and the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely upon such
written notification.
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9. Upon the issuance of any Shares in accordance with this Agreement the
Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for the payment of any original issue or
other taxes required to be paid by the Fund in connection with such issuance of
any Shares.
10. The Transfer Agent shall accept a computer tape consistent with the
Transfer Agent's tape layout package, as amended from time to time, which is
reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be furnished by or on behalf of any
Approved Institution and is represented to be instructions with respect to the
transfer of Shares from one account of such Approved Institution to another such
account, and shall effect the transfers specified in said computer tape. The
Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any losses to the Fund or its
shareholders in the event that a computer tape or electronic data transmission
from an Approved Institution is unable to be processed for any reason beyond the
control of the Transfer Agent, or if any of the information on such tape or
transmission is found to be incorrect.
11. (a) Except as otherwise provided in sub-paragraph (b) of and in
paragraph 13 of this Article, Shares will be redeemed upon presentation to
the Transfer Agent of Share certificates or instructions properly endorsed
for transfer or redemption, accompanied by such documents as the Transfer
Agent deems necessary to evidence the authority of the person making such
transfer or redemption, and bearing satisfactory evidence of the payment of
stock transfer taxes. In the case of small estates where no administration
is contemplated, the Transfer Agent may, when furnished with an appropriate
surety bond, and without further approval of the Fund, transfer or redeem
Shares registered in the name of a decedent where the current market value of
the Shares
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being transferred does not exceed such amount as may from time to time be
prescribed by various states. The Transfer Agent reserves the right to refuse
to transfer or redeem Shares until it is satisfied that the endorsement on the
stock certificate or instructions is valid and genuine, and for that purpose it
will require, unless otherwise instructed by an authorized officer of the Fund,
a guarantee of signature by an "Eligible Guarantor Institution" as that term is
defined by SEC Rule 17Ad-15. The Transfer Agent also reserves the right to
refuse to transfer or redeem Shares until it is satisfied that the requested
transfer or redemption is legally authorized, and it shall incur no liability
for the refusal, in good faith, to make transfers or redemptions which the
Transfer Agent, in its judgement, deems improper or unauthorized, or until it is
satisfied that there is no basis to any claims adverse to such transfer or
redemption. The Transfer Agent may, in effecting transfers and redemptions of
Shares, rely upon those provisions of the Uniform Act for the Simplification of
Fiduciary Security Transfers or the Uniform Commercial Code, as the same may be
amended from time to time, applicable to the transfer of securities, and the
Fund shall indemnify the Transfer Agent for any act done or omitted by it in
good faith in reliance upon such laws. In no event will the Fund indemnify the
Transfer Agent for any act done by it as a result of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, the Transfer Agent shall be fully protected
by the Fund in not requiring any instruments, documents, assurances,
endorsements or guarantees, including, without limitation, any signature
guarantees, in connection with a redemption, or transfer, of Shares whenever the
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Transfer Agent reasonably believes that requiring the same would be inconsistent
with the transfer and redemption procedures as described in the Prospectus.
12. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this agreement to the
contrary, the Transfer Agent shall not be required or expected to require, as a
condition to any transfer of any Shares pursuant to paragraph 11 of this Article
or any redemption of any Shares pursuant to a computer tape described in this
Agreement, any documents, including, without limitation, any documents of the
kind described in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 12 of this Article, to evidence
the authority of the person requesting the transfer or redemption and/or the
payment of any stock transfer taxes, and shall be fully protected in acting in
accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article.
13. (a) As used in this Agreement, the terms "computer tape" and
"computer tape believed by the Transfer Agent to be furnished by an Approved
Institution", shall include any tapes generated by the Transfer Agent to reflect
information believed by the Transfer Agent to have been input by an Approved
Institution, via a remote terminal or other similar link, into a data
processing, storage, or collection system, or similar system (the "System") ,
located on the Transfer Agent's premises. For purposes of paragraph 1 of this
Article, such a computer tape shall be deemed to have been furnished at such
times as are agreed upon from time to time by the Transfer Agent and Fund only
if the information reflected thereon was input to the System at such times as
are agreed upon from time to time by the Transfer Agent and the Fund.
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(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall constitute any
agreement or representation by the Transfer Agent to permit, or to agree to
permit, any Approved Institution to input information into a System.
(c) The Transfer Agent reserves the right to approve, in advance,
any Approved Institution, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. The
Transfer Agent also reserves the right to terminate any and all automated data
communications, at its discretion, upon a reasonable attempt to notify the Fund
when in the opinion of the Transfer Agent continuation of such communications
would jeopardize the accuracy and/or integrity of the Fund's records on the
System.
ARTICLE VI
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
1. The Fund shall furnish to the Transfer Agent a copy of a resolution of
its Board of Trustees, certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary,
either (i) setting forth the date of the declaration of a dividend or
distribution, the date of accrual or payment, as the case may be, thereof, the
record date as of which Shareholders entitled to payment, or accrual, as the
case may be, shall be determined, the amount per Share of such dividend or
distribution, the payment date on which all previously accrued and unpaid
dividends are to be paid, and the total amount, if any, payable to the Transfer
Agent on such payment date, or (ii) authorizing the declaration of dividends and
distributions on a daily (or other periodic basis and authorizing the Transfer
Agent to rely on a Certificate setting forth the information described in
subsection (i) of this paragraph.
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2. Upon the mail date specified in such Certificate or resolution, as the
case may be, the Fund shall, in the case of a cash dividend or distribution,
cause the Custodian to deposit in an account in the name of the Transfer Agent
on behalf of the Fund an amount of cash, if any, sufficient for the Transfer
Agent to make the payment, as of the mail date, specified in such Certificate or
resolution, as the case may be, to the Shareholders who were of record on the
record date. The Transfer Agent will, upon receipt of any such cash, make
payment of such cash dividends or distributions to the shareholders of record as
of the record date by: (i) mailing a check, payable to the registered
shareholder, to the address of record or dividend mailing address, or (ii)
wiring such amounts to the accounts previously designated by an Approved
Institution, as the case may be. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any
improper payments made in good faith and without negligence, in accordance with
a Certificate or resolution described in the preceding paragraph. If the
Transfer Agent shall not receive from the Custodian sufficient cash to make
payments of any cash dividend or distribution to all shareholders of the Fund as
of the record date, the Transfer Agent shall, upon notifying the Fund, withhold
payment to all shareholders of record as of the record date until sufficient
cash is provided to the Transfer Agent.
3. It is understood that the Transfer Agent shall in no way be
responsible for the determination of the rate or form of dividends or capital
gain distributions due to the shareholders. It is expressly agreed and
understood that the Transfer Agent is not liable for any loss AS a result of
processing a distribution based on information provided in the Certificate that
is incorrect. The Fund
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agrees to pay the Transfer Agent for any and all costs, both direct and
out-of-pocket expenses, incurred in such corrective work as necessary to remedy
such error.
4. It is understood that the Transfer Agent shall file such appropriate
information returns concerning the payment of dividend and capital gain
distributions with the proper federal, state and local authorities as are
required by law to be filed by the Fund but shall in no way be responsible for
the collection or withholding of taxes due on such dividends or distributions
due to shareholders, except and only to the extent, required by applicable law.
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE FUND
1. The Fund represents to the Transfer Agent that:
(a) It is a business trust duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(b) It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Declaration
of Trust and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(c) All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(d) It is an investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(e) A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, with respect to the Shares is effective. The Fund shall notify the
Transfer Agent if such
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registration statement or any state securities registrations have been
terminated or a stop order has been entered with respect to the Shares.
2. Each copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund and copies of all
amendments thereto shall be certified by the Secretary of State (or other
appropriate official) of the state of organization, and if such Declaration of
Trust and/or amendments are required by law also to be filed with a county or
other officer or official body, a certificate of such filing shall be filed with
a certified copy submitted to the Transfer Agent. Each copy of the By-Laws and
copies of all amendments thereto, and copies of resolutions of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund, shall be certified by the Secretary of the Fund under
seal.
3. The Fund shall promptly deliver to the Transfer Agent written notice
of any change in the Officers authorized to sign Share Certificates,
notifications or requests, together with a specimen signature of each new
Officer. In the event any officer who shall have signed manually or whose
facsimile signature shall have been affixed to blank Share certificates shall
die, resign or be removed prior to issuance of such Share certificates, the
Transfer Agent may issue such Share certificates of the Fund notwithstanding
such death, resignation or removal, and the Fund shall promptly deliver to the
Transfer Agent such approval, adoption or ratification as may be required by
law.
4. It shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund to deliver to the
Transfer Agent the Fund's currently effective Prospectus and, for purposes of
this Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall
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not be deemed to have notice of any information contained in such Prospectus
until a reasonable time after it is actually received by the Transfer Agent.
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE TRANSFER AGENT
1. The Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Fund that:
(a) It is a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) It is empowered under applicable law and by its charter and
By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(c) All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(d) It is duly registered as a transfer agent under Section 17A
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable and shall be indemnified in
acting upon any computer tape, writing or document reasonably believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or made by an officer of the Fund or person
designated by the Fund and shall not be held to have any notice of any change of
authority of any person until receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund or
such person. It shall also be protected in processing Share certificates which
bear the proper countersignature of the Transfer Agent and which it reasonably
believes to bear the proper manual or facsimile signature of the Officers of the
Fund.
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3. The Transfer Agent upon notice to the Fund may establish such
additional procedures, rules and regulations governing the transfer or
registration of Share certificates as it may deem advisable and consistent with
such rules and regulations generally adopted by mutual fund transfer agents.
4. The Transfer Agent shall keep such records as are specified in
Schedule II hereto in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem
advisable and is agreeable to the Fund but not inconsistent with the rules and
regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular Rules 3la-2 and
3la-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Transfer Agent
acknowledges that such records are the property of the Fund. The Transfer Agent
may deliver to the Fund from time to time at its discretion, for safekeeping or
disposition by the Fund in accordance with law, such records, papers, documents
accumulated in the execution of its duties as such Transfer Agent, as the
Transfer Agent may deem expedient, other than those which the Transfer Agent is
itself required to maintain pursuant to applicable laws and regulations. The
Fund shall assume all responsibility for any failure thereafter to produce any
record, paper, canceled Share certificate, or other document so returned, if and
when required. The records specified in Schedule II hereto maintained by the
Transfer Agent pursuant to this paragraph 4, which have not been previously
delivered to the Fund pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 4,
shall be considered to be the property of the Fund, shall be made available upon
request for inspection by the officers, employees, and auditors of the Fund, and
records shall be delivered to the Fund upon request and in any event upon the
date of termination of this Agreement, as specified in Article IX
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of this Agreement, in the form and manner kept by the Transfer Agent on such
date of termination or such earlier date as may be requested by the Fund.
5. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any loss or damage,
including counsel fees, resulting from its actions or omissions to act or
otherwise, except for any loss or damage arising out of its bad faith,
negligence, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its
duties under this agreement.
6a. The Fund shall indemnify and exonerate, save and hold harmless the
Transfer Agent from and against any and all claims (whether with or without
basis in fact or law), demands, expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees)
and liabilities of any and every nature which the Transfer Agent may sustain or
incur or which may be asserted against the Transfer Agent by any person by
reason of or as a result of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any prior
transfer agent of the Fund or as a result of any action taken or omitted to be
taken by the Transfer Agent in good faith and without negligence or willful
misconduct or in reliance upon (i) any provision of this Agreement; (ii) the
Prospectus; (iii) any instruction or order including, without limitation, any
computer tape reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to have been received
from an Approved Institution; (iv) any instrument, order or Share certificate
reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, countersigned or
executed by any duly authorized Officer of the Fund; (v) any Certificate or
other instructions of an Officer; or (vi) any opinion of legal counsel for the
Fund or the Transfer Agent. The Fund shall indemnify and exonerate, save and
hold the Transfer Agent harmless from and against any and all claims (whether
with or without basis in fact or law),
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demands, expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) and liabilities of any
and every nature which the Transfer Agent may sustain or incur or which may be
asserted against the Transfer Agent by any person by reason of or as a result of
any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Transfer Agent in good faith in
connection with its appointment or in reliance upon any law, act, regulation or
any interpretation of the same even though such law, act or regulation may
thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or repealed.
6b. The Transfer Agent shall not settle any claim, demand, expense or
liability to which it may seek indemnity pursuant to paragraph 6(a) above (each,
an "Indemnifiable Claim") without the express written consent of an Officer of
the Fund. The Transfer Agent shall notify the Fund within 15 days of receipt of
notification of an lndemnifiable Claim, provided that the failure by the
Transfer Agent to furnish such notification shall not impair its right to seek
indemnification from the Fund unless the Fund is unable to adequately defend the
Indemnifiable Claim as a result of such failure, and further provided, that if
as a result of the Transfer Agent's failure to provide the Fund with timely
notice of the institution of litigation a judgment by default is entered, prior
to seeking indemnification from the Fund the Transfer Agent, at its own cost and
expense, shall open such judgment. The Fund shall have the right to defend any
Indemnifiable Claim at its own expense, provided that such defense shall be
conducted by counsel selected by the Fund and reasonably acceptable to the
Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent may join in such defense at its own expense,
but to the extent that it shall so desire the Fund shall direct such defense.
The Fund shall not settle any Indemnifiable Claim without the express written
consent of the Transfer Agent if the Transfer
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Agent determines that such settlement would have an adverse effect on the
Transfer Agent beyond the scope of this
23
Agreement. In such event, each of the Fund and the Transfer Agent shall be
responsible for their own defense at their own cost and expense, and such claim
shall not be deemed an Indemnifiable Claim hereunder. If the Fund shall fail or
refuse to defend an Indemnifiable Claim, the Transfer Agent may provide its own
defense at the cost and expense of the Fund. Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Fund shall not indemnify the Transfer Agent
against any liability or expense arising out of the Transfer Agent's willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties and
obligations under this Agreement. The Transfer Agent shall indemnify and hold
the Fund harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges ,
counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to
any action or failure or omission to act by the Transfer Agent as a result of
the Transfer Agent's lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct.
7. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable to the Fund with respect to any
redemption draft on which the signature of the drawer is forged and which the
Fund's Custodian or Cash Management bank has advised the Transfer Agent to honor
the redemption; nor shall Transfer Agent be liable for any material alteration
or absence or forgery of any endorsement, it being understood that the Transfer
Agent's sole responsibility with respect to inspecting redemption drafts is to
use reasonable care to verify the drawer's signature against signatures on file.
8. There shall be excluded from the consideration of whether the Transfer
Agent has been negligent or has breached this Agreement, any period of time, and
only such period of time, during which the Transfer Agent's performance is
materially affected, by reason of circumstances
24
beyond its control (collectively, "Causes") , including, without limitation
(except as provided below), (a) mechanical breakdowns of equipment (including
any alternative power supply and operating systems software), flood or
catastrophe, acts of God, failures of transportation, communication or power
supply, strikes, lockouts, work stoppages or other similar circumstances.
9. At any time the Transfer Agent may apply to an officer of the Fund for
written instructions with respect to any matter arising in connection with the
Transfer Agent's duties and obligations under this Agreement, and the Transfer
Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or permitted by it in good faith
in accordance with such written instructions. Such application by the Transfer
Agent for written instructions from an officer of the Fund may set forth in
writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Transfer Agent with
respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or
after which such action shall be taken. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable
for any action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any
such application on or after the date specified therein unless, prior to taking
or omitting any such action, the Transfer Agent has received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken
or omitted. The Transfer Agent may consult counsel of the Fund, or upon notice
to the Fund I its own counsel, at the expense of the Fund and shall be fully
protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in
accordance with the advice or opinion of counsel to the Fund or its own counsel.
10. The Transfer Agent may issue new Share certificates in place of
certificates represented to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed upon receiving
written instructions from the
25
shareholder accompanied by proof of an indemnity or surety bond issued by a
recognized insurance institution specified by the Fund or the Transfer Agent.
If the Transfer Agent receives written notification from the shareholder
or broker dealer that the certificate issued was never received, and such
notification is made within 30 days of the date of issuance, the Transfer Agent
may reissue the certificate without requiring a surety bond. The Transfer
Agent may also reissue certificates which are represented as lost, stolen, or
destroyed without requiring a surety bond provided that the notification is in
writing and accompanied by an indemnification signed on behalf of a member firm
of the New York Stock Exchange and signed by an officer of said firm with the
signature guaranteed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Transfer Agent will
reissue a certificate upon written authorization from an Officer of the Fund.
11. In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the
shareholder records of the Fund, the Transfer Agent will endeavor to notify the
Fund promptly and to secure instructions from an officer as to such inspection.
The Transfer Agent reserves the right, however, to exhibit the shareholder
records to any person whenever it receives an opinion from its counsel that
there is a reasonable likelihood that the Transfer Agent will be held liable for
the failure to exhibit the shareholder records to such person; provided,
however, that in connection with any such disclosure the Transfer Agent shall
promptly notify the Fund that such disclosure has been made or is to be made.
12. At the request of an Officer of the Fund the Transfer Agent will
address and mail such appropriate notices to shareholders as the Fund may
direct.
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13. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Agreement,
the Transfer Agent shall be under no duty or obligation to inquire into, and
shall not be liable for:
(a) The legality of the issue or sale of any Shares, the
sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor, or the authority of the
Approved Institution or of the Fund, as the case may be, to request such sale or
issuance;
(b) The legality of a transfer of Shares, or of a redemption of any
Shares, the propriety of the amount to be paid therefor, or the authority of the
Approved Institution or of the Fund, as the case may be, to request such
transfer or redemption;
(c) The legality of the declaration of any dividend by the Fund, or
the legality of the issue of any Shares in payment of any stock dividend; or
(d) The legality of any recapitalization or readjustment of Shares.
14. The Transfer Agent shall be entitled to receive and the Fund hereby
agrees to pay to the Transfer Agent for its performance hereunder, including its
performance of the duties and functions set forth in Schedule I hereto, (i) its
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable legal expenses and
attorney's fees) incurred in connection with its performance hereunder and (ii)
such compensation as may be agreed upon in writing from time to time by the
Transfer Agent and the Fund.
15. The Transfer Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities whatsoever
except such duties and responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this
Agreement, and no covenant or obligation shall be implied in this Agreement
against the Transfer Agent.
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16. Purchase and Prices of Services.
(a) The Fund will compensate the Transfer Agent for, and Transfer
Agent will provide, beginning on the execution date of this Agreement and
continuing until the termination of this Agreement as provided hereinafter, the
Services set forth in Schedule I.
(b) The current unit prices for the Services are set forth in
Schedule III (the "Schedule III Fee Schedule"). Once in each calendar year, the
Transfer Agent may elect to raise the Schedule III Fees upon ninety (90) days
prior notice to the Fund. Notwithstanding the annual right to raise the
Schedule III Fees, the Transfer Agent may increase prices due to changes in
legal or regulatory requirements - Any increases in prices or one-time charges
due to changes in the legal or regulatory requirements will be subject to the
approval of the Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
17. Billing and Payment.
(a) The Transfer Agent shall xxxx the Fund as follows: (i)
monthly in arrears for Accounts maintained; and (ii) monthly in advance for
estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses for the following month. Documentation to
support reconciliation of actual Out-of-Pocket Expenses will be provided to the
Fund monthly. The Transfer Agent may from time to time request the Fund to make
additional advances when appropriate.
(b) The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent in immediately available funds
at United Missouri Bank in Kansas City, Missouri within thirty (30) days of the
date of the xxxx. Any amounts
28
due under this Agreement which are not paid within said thirty (30) day period
shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (11/2%) per month
from such date until paid in full.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION
Either of the parties hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving to the
other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such termination, which
shall be not less than 60 days after the date of receipt of such notice. In the
event such notice is given by the Fund, it shall be accompanied by a copy of a
resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, certified by the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary, electing to terminate this Agreement and designating
the successor transfer agent or transfer agents. In the event such notice is
given by the Transfer Agent, the Fund shall on or before the termination date,
deliver to the Transfer Agent a copy of a resolution of its Board of Trustees
certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary designating a successor
transfer agent or transfer agents. In the absence of such designation by the
Fund, the Fund shall upon the date specified in the notice of termination of
this Agreement and delivery of the records maintained hereunder, be deemed to be
its own transfer agent and the Transfer Agent shall thereby be relieved of all
duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement.
In the event this Agreement is terminated as provided herein, the Transfer
Agent, upon the written request of the Fund, shall deliver the records of the
Fund on electromagnetic media to the Fund or its successor transfer agent. The
Fund shall be responsible to the Transfer Agent for the reasonable costs and
expenses associated with the preparation and delivery of such media.
29
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
1. The Fund agrees that prior to effecting any change in the Prospectus
which would increase or alter the duties and obligations of the Transfer Agent
hereunder, it shall advise the Transfer Agent of such proposed change at least
30 days prior to the intended date of the same, and shall proceed with such
change only if it shall have received the written consent of the Transfer Agent
thereto, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
2. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be sufficiently given if addressed
to the Fund and mailed or delivered to it at its office at the address first
above written, or at such other place as the Fund may from time to time
designate in writing.
3. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to the Transfer Agent shall be sufficiently given if
addressed to the Transfer Agent and mailed or delivered to the Secretary at 000
Xxxxx XxXxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX, with a copy to the President at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX, or at such other place as the Transfer Agent may from time to
time designate in writing.
4. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by
a written agreement executed by both parties with the formality of this
Agreement.
5. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties
hereto, and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement shall not
be assignable by either party without
30
the written consent of the other party, except that the Transfer Agent may
assign this Agreement to a corporate affiliate with advance written notice to
the Fund.
6. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
7. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each of
which shall be deemed to be an original; but such counterparts shall, together,
constitute only one instrument.
8. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to benefit only the
Transfer Agent and the Fund, and no rights shall be granted to any other person
by virtue of this Agreement.
9. (a) The Transfer Agent will endeavor to assist in resolving
shareholder inquiries and errors relating to the period during which prior
transfer agents acted as such for the Fund. Any such inquiries or errors which
cannot be expediently resolved by the Transfer Agent will be referred to the
Fund.
(b) The Transfer Agent shall only be responsible for the
safekeeping and maintenance of transfer agency records, canceled certificates
and correspondence of the Fund created or produced prior to the time of
conversion which are under its control and acknowledged in a writing to the Fund
to be in its possession. Any expenses or liabilities incurred by the Transfer
Agent as a result of shareholder inquiries, regulatory compliance or audits
related to such records and not caused as a result of Transfer Agent's bad
faith, willful malfeasance or negligence shall be the responsibility of the Fund
as provided in Article VIII herein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective corporate officer, thereunto duly authorized and
their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed, as the day and year
first above written.
SUPERVISED SERVICE COMPANY, INC. ADVISORS' INNER CIRCLE FUND, INC.
By: By:
--------------------------- --------------------------------
(Signature) (Signature)
--------------------------- --------------------------------
(Name) (Name)
--------------------------- --------------------------------
(Title) (Title)
--------------------------- --------------------------------
(Date Signed) (Date Signed)
32
SCHEDULE I
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
In consideration of the fees to be paid in such manner and at such times as
Fund and Transfer Agent may agree, Transfer Agent will provide the services set
forth below:
Examine and Process New Accounts, Subsequent Payments, Liquidations,
Exchanges, Telephone Transactions, Check Redemptions, Automatic Withdrawals,
Certificate Issuance, Wire order Trades, Dividends, Dividend Statements, Dealer
Statements.
DAILY ACTIVITY
Maintain the following shareholder information in such a manner as the
Transfer Agent shall determine:
Name and Address, including Zip Code
Balance of Uncertificated Shares
Balance of Certificated Shares
Certificate number, number of shares, issuance date of each certificate
outstanding and cancellation date for each certificate date for each
certificate no longer outstanding, if issued
Balance of dollars available for redemption
Dividend code (daily accrual, monthly reinvest, monthly cash or quarterly
cash)
Type of account code
Establishment date indicating the date an account was opened, carrying
forward pre-conversion data as available
Original establishment date for accounts opened by exchange
W-9 withholding status and periodic reporting
State of residence code
33
Social Security or taxpayer identification number, and indication of
certification
Historical transactions on the account for the most recent 18 months, or
other period as mutually agreed to from time-to-time
Indication as to whether phone transactions can be accepted for this
account. Beneficial owner code, i.e. male, female, joint tenant, etc.
An alternate or "secondary" account number issued by a dealer (or bank,
etc.) to a customer for use, inquiry and transaction input by "remote
accessors"
FUNCTIONS
Answer investor and dealer telephone and/or written inquiries, except those
concerning Fund policy, or requests for investment advice which will be
referred to the Fund, or those which the Fund chooses to answer
Deposit Fund share certificates into accounts upon receipt of instructions
from the investor or other authorized person, if issued
Examine and process transfers of shares insuring that all transfer
requirements and legal documents have been supplied
Process and confirm address changes
Process standard account record changes as required, i.e. Dividend Codes,
etc.
Microfilm source documents for transactions, such as account applications
and correspondence
Perform backup withholding for those accounts which federal government
regulations indicate is necessary
Perform withholdings on liquidations, if applicable, for employee benefit
plans. Prepare and mail 5498s and 1099R's
Solicit missing taxpayer identification numbers
34
Provide remote access inquiry to Fund records via Fund supplied hardware
(Fund responsible for connection line and monthly fee)
REPORTS PROVIDED
Daily Journals Reflecting all shares and dollar activity for the
previous day Supply information monthly for Fund's
preparation of
Blue Sky Report Blue Sky Reporting
N-SAR Report Supply monthly correspondence, redemption and
liquidation information for use in fund's N-SAR Report
Additionally, monthly average daily balance reports will be provided at the
Fund's request to the Fund at no charge.
Prepare and mail copies of summary statements to dealers and investment advisers
Generate and mail confirmation statements for financial transactions
DIVIDEND ACTIVITY
Reinvest or pay in cash including reinvesting in other funds within the
fund group serviced by the Transfer Agent as described in each Fund
prospectus
Distribute capital gains simultaneously with income dividends
DEALER SERVICES
Prepare and mail confirmation statements to dealers daily
Prepare and mail copies of statements to dealers, same frequency as
investor statements
35
ANNUAL MEETINGS
Assist Fund in obtaining a qualified service to: address and mail proxies
and related material, tabulate returned proxies and supply daily reports
when sufficient proxies have been received
Prepare certified list of stockholders, hard copy or microform
PERIODIC ACTIVITIES
Mail transaction confirmation statements daily to investors
Address and mail four (4) periodic financial reports (material must be
adaptable to Transfer Agent's mechanical equipment as reasonably specified
by the Transfer Agent)
Mail periodic statement to investors
Compute, prepare and furnish all necessary reports to Governmental
authorities: Forms 1099R, 1099DIV, 1099B, 1042 and 1042S
Enclose various marketing material as designated by the Fund in statement
mailings, i.e. monthly and quarterly statements (material must be adaptable
to mechanical equipment as reasonably specified by the Transfer Agent)
36
SCHEDULE II
RECORDS MAINTAINED BY TRANSFER AGENT
- Account applications
- Canceled certificates plus stock powers and supporting documents
- Checks including check registers, reconciliation records, any
adjustment records and tax withholding documentation
- Indemnity bonds for replacement of lost or missing stock certificates
and checks
- Liquidation, redemption, withdrawal and transfer requests including
stock powers, signature guarantees and any supporting documentation
37
