CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER SERVICES AGREEMENT
This
Agreement, dated May 19, 2009, between Xxxx & Xxxxx Funds Trust a Delaware
business trust (“CLIENT” or “Trust”), and ALPS FUND SERVICES, INC. (“ALPS”), a Colorado
corporation. The “Effective Date” of
this Agreement is May 19, 2009.
WHEREAS,
the Trust is a registered investment company, and is subject to the requirements
of Rule 38a−1 (hereinafter the “Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, (the “1940 Act”), which requires each registered investment company
to, among other things, adopt policies and procedures that are reasonably
designed to prevent it from violating the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes Oxley”), the
1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the Gramm−Xxxxx−Xxxxxx
Act, any rules adopted by the Commission under any of these statutes, the Bank
Secrecy Act (including the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism or USA Patriot
Act of 2001) as it applies to registered investment companies and any rules
adopted thereunder by the Commission or the Department of the Treasury
(collectively, the “Federal Securities Laws”). These policies and procedures
include policies and procedures that provide for the oversight of compliance by
each investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, and transfer
agent of the Trust (collectively, the “Service Providers”);
WHEREAS,
ALPS offers mutual fund compliance oversight services;
WHEREAS,
CLIENT desires to retain the services of ALPS to assist in its compliance with
Rule 38a−1;
WHEREAS,
ALPS has agreed to render such services to CLIENT by entering into a formal
agreement with respect thereto effective from and after the Effective
Date.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, CLIENT and ALPS hereby
agree as set forth below.
SECTION
1. Term of
Agreement.
CLIENT
hereby retains ALPS, for a period beginning on the Effective Date and ending May
19, 2012 subject to early termination as provided in this Agreement (the
“Term”). This Agreement may be renewed for additional one-year periods beyond
the Term by mutual agreement, which agreement shall be in writing signed by both
ALPS and CLIENT and shall be entered into no later than the last day of the
Term. If either ALPS or the CLIENT choose not to renew the Agreement beyond the
initial three year term, notice shall be given to the other party no less than
ninety (90) days prior to the end of the term of the Agreement.
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SECTION
2. Duties.
(a) ALPS
shall designate, subject to the approval of CLIENT and the Trust’s Board of
Trustees (the “Trustees”), one of its own employees to serve as Chief Compliance
Officer of the Trust within the meaning of the Rule (such individual, the
“CCO”). The CCO shall render to CLIENT such advice and services (“Services”) as are
required to be performed by a CCO under the Rule and as are set forth on Exhibit A hereto, as
such exhibit may be modified from time to time by written agreement of the
parties hereto. Exhibit A is hereby
incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement. CLIENT acknowledges that
other employees of ALPS will assist the CCO in the performance of his duties
hereunder. Such CCO shall be appropriately qualified and who, in the exercise of
his or her duties to the Trust, shall act in good faith and in the best
interests of the Trust.
(b) During
the Term, the CCO shall report to such individuals as may be designated from
time to time by CLIENT or the Trustees, subject to the provisions of Exhibit
A.
(c) The
parties agree that only employees of ALPS shall act as CCO or otherwise perform
services to CLIENT under this Agreement unless otherwise agreed to in writing by
CLIENT. Notwithstanding his other duties for ALPS or any other investment
company, the CCO shall perform the Services in a professional manner and shall
devote appropriate time, energies and skill to the Services.
(d) CLIENT
acknowledges that the CCO may act as Chief Compliance Officer within the meaning
of the Rule for other investment companies, and nothing herein shall be
construed to prohibit the CCO from acting in such capacity; provided, however,
that during the Term neither ALPS nor the CCO shall enter into any agreement,
arrangement or understanding which would conflict with this Agreement or prevent
ALPS or the CCO from performing its or his obligations hereunder.
(e) CLIENT
shall cooperate in good faith with ALPS and the CCO in order to assist in the
performance of the Services. In furtherance of this agreement to cooperate,
CLIENT shall make those of its and its Affiliates’ officers, employees and
outside counsel available for consultation with ALPS and the CCO and shall
communicate with the Trustees, and such other service providers of the Trust
(the Trustees and such other service providers collectively, the “Service
Providers”), in each case as ALPS or the CCO may reasonably
request. CLIENT shall provide ALPS and the CCO with the names of
appropriate contact people at the Service Providers and shall make introductions
and otherwise assist ALPS and the CCO in obtaining the cooperation of the
Service Providers. CLIENT shall provide ALPS and the CCO with such books and
records regarding the Trust and CLIENT as ALPS and the CCO may reasonably
request.
SECTION
3. Fee.
(a) As
compensation for the performance of the Services on behalf of the Trust, CLIENT
shall pay to ALPS, during the Term an annual fee of: $60,000 paid 1/12 on a
monthly basis (or a pro rata portion thereof for a partial month) (the “Fee”)
for the current portfolio plus an additional $1,500 per additional portfolio.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, fees billed for the
services to be performed by ALPS under this Agreement are based on information
provided by the Trust and such fees are subject to renegotiation between the
parties to the extent such information is determined to be materially different
from what the Trust originally provided to ALPS. During each year of
the Term, unless the parties shall otherwise agree and provided that the service
mix and volumes remain consistent with those provided in the previous year of
this Agreement, the total fee that would be charged for the same services would
be the Fee rate increased by 5% per annum.
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(b) The
Fee shall be payable by CLIENT within 30 days of its receipt of an invoice from
ALPS, which invoices shall include amounts for any expenses reimbursable under
Section 4 hereof. LATE CHARGES:
All invoices are due and payable upon receipt. Any invoices not paid
within thirty (30) days of the invoice date are subject to a one percent (1%)
per month financing charge on any unpaid balance but only to the extent
permitted by law.
(c) The
CCO shall not receive and shall not make any claim under this Agreement or
otherwise against CLIENT for compensation, workers’ compensation, unemployment
insurance compensation, or life insurance, social security benefits, disability
insurance benefits or any other benefits. ALPS is solely responsible for any
such compensation or benefits to be paid to the CCO, and ALPS shall withhold on
behalf of the CCO the required sums for income tax, unemployment insurance or
social security pursuant to any law or requirement of any government agency
including, without limitation, unemployment tax, federal, state or foreign
income tax, federal social security (FICA) payments and disability insurance
taxes. ALPS and the CCO shall make such tax payments as may be required by
applicable law and shall indemnify and hold CLIENT harmless from any liability
that CLIENT may incur as a consequence of ALPS’ or the CCO’s failure to make any
such tax payment(s). In accordance with the
requirements of Rule 38a−1, ALPS shall pay a level of total compensation to the
CCO as is consistent with ALPS’ compensation of employees having similar duties,
similar seniority, and working at the same or similar geographical location.
ALPS shall not be obligated to pay any compensation to a CCO which exceeds that
set forth in the previous sentence.
(d) ALPS
and the CCO shall perform the services hereunder as independent contractors and
not as employees of CLIENT, although the CCO shall be an employee of ALPS. As
independent contractors, neither ALPS nor the CCO is, and neither shall
represent itself or himself to third parties as being, the agent or
representative of CLIENT, except as specifically set forth herein. Neither ALPS
nor the CCO have, and shall not represent itself or himself to third parties as
having, actual or apparent power or authority to do or take any action for or on
behalf of CLIENT, as its agent, representative or otherwise, except as
specifically set forth herein.
SECTION
4. Reimbursement of
Expenses.
During
the Term, CLIENT shall reimburse, ALPS for all reasonable and necessary travel
and lodging expenses and other out-of-pocket disbursements incurred by ALPS for
or on behalf of CLIENT in connection with the performance of ALPS’ or the CCO’s
duties hereunder upon presentation of appropriate receipts and other reasonable
documentation as CLIENT may request. LATE CHARGES: All invoices are
due and payable upon receipt. Any invoices not paid within thirty (30) days of
the invoice date are subject to a one percent (1%) per month financing charge on
any unpaid balance but only to the extent permitted by law.
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SECTION
5. Disclosure of
Information.
(a) From
and after the date hereof, neither ALPS nor the CCO shall use or disclose to any
Person, except as required in connection with the performance of the Services
and in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and as required by law,
regulation or judicial process, any Confidential Information (as defined in
Section 5(b)),
for any reason or purpose whatsoever, nor shall ALPS or the CCO make use
of any Confidential Information for ALPS’ or the CCO’s purposes or for the
benefit of any Person except CLIENT or CLIENT’s Affiliates. For purposes of this
Agreement, an “Affiliate” is an
individual or entity (collectively, “Person”) controlling
or controlled by or under common control with CLIENT.
(b) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means (i) the non-public
intellectual property rights of the Trustees, CLIENT and CLIENT’s Affiliates and
(ii) all other information of a proprietary or confidential nature relating to
the Trustees, CLIENT or CLIENT’s Affiliates, or the business or assets of the
CLIENT or CLIENT’s Affiliates, including, without limitation, books, records,
customer and registered user lists, vendor lists, supplier lists, customer
agreements, vendor agreements, supplier agreements, incentive and commission
program information, distribution channels, pricing information, cost
information, business and marketing plans, strategies, forecasts, financial
statements, budgets and projections, technology, and all information related to
the index on which the Trust’s investment strategy is based. Confidential
Information does not include (i) information in the public domain not as a
result of a breach by ALPS or the CCO of this Agreement, (ii) information
lawfully received by ALPS or the CCO from a third Person who had the right to
disclose such information, and (iii) information developed by ALPS’ or the CCO’s
own independent knowledge, skill and know-how.
(c) In
the event that ALPS or the CCO is requested by legal process to disclose
Confidential Information, ALPS shall notify CLIENT thereof and shall cooperate
with CLIENT and the Trustees, as appropriate, at the expense of CLIENT or the
Trustees, as appropriate, in any action that such entity may desire to take to
protect its Confidential Information.
SECTION
6. Assignment of
Written Materials.
During
the Term, ALPS and the CCO shall promptly disclose, and hereby grant and assign
to the Trust for its sole use and benefit, any and all technical information,
data, procedures, records, suggestions and other materials, insofar as they are
reduced to writing, including without limitation the Written Compliance Program
of the Trust (as that term is defined in Exhibit A), that are
reasonably related to the Trust (collectively, the “Materials”) which
ALPS or the CCO may develop or acquire during the Term (whether or not during
usual working hours), together with all copyrights and reissues thereof that may
at any time be granted for or with respect to the Materials. For the avoidance
of doubt, the Materials shall include all records referred to in Exhibit A. The
Materials shall constitute Confidential Information within the meaning of Section
5.
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SECTION
7. Delivery of
Materials Upon Termination of Term.
ALPS
shall deliver to CLIENT at the termination of the Term, or at any time upon
CLIENT’s request, the Materials and all memoranda, notes, plans, records,
reports, software and other documents and data (and copies thereof existing in
any media) relating to the Confidential Information, Inventions or the business
of CLIENT or any of its Affiliates that it or the CCO may then possess or have
under its or his control regardless of the location or form of such material
and, if requested by CLIENT, will provide CLIENT with written confirmation that
all such materials have been delivered to CLIENT.
SECTION
8. Termination.
(a) CLIENT
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately in the event
of:
(i) a
failure by ALPS or the CCO to meet its or his obligations hereunder or a breach
of ALPS representations and warranties hereunder, if such failure or breach goes
uncured for a period of 30 days after ALPS receives written notice of such
failure from CLIENT;
(ii) the
termination or dissolution of the Trust, or the deregistration of the Trust
under the 1940 Act;
(iii) a
change in the 1940 Act, the Rule or other applicable law or regulation, or the
interpretation of any of the foregoing by the Securities and Exchange Commission
or other regulatory or judicial authority with appropriate jurisdiction, that
results in the arrangement created by this Agreement no longer satisfying the
Trust’s or obligations under the Rule; or
(iv) subject
to the provisions of Section 2(d), any failure of ALPS to employ a CCO for the
Trust acceptable to CLIENT or the Trustees.
(b) ALPS
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately in the event
of:
(i) a
failure by CLIENT to meet its obligations hereunder or a breach of CLIENT’s
representations and warranties hereunder, if such failure or breach goes uncured
for a period of 30 days after CLIENT receives written notice of such failure
from ALPS;
(ii) the
termination or dissolution of the Trust, or the deregistration of the Trust
under the 1940 Act; or
(iii) a
change in the 1940 Act, the Rule or other applicable law or regulation, or the
interpretation of any of the foregoing by the Securities and Exchange Commission
or other regulatory or judicial authority with appropriate jurisdiction, that
results in the arrangement created by this Agreement being deemed
impermissible.
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(c) Upon
termination pursuant to this Section 8, ALPS shall be entitled to receive the
Fee accrued but unpaid as of the date of termination paid in a lump sum within
60 days of termination.
SECTION
9. Standard of Care;
Limitation of Liability; Indemnification
(a) ALPS
shall be under no duty to take any action except as specifically set forth
herein or as may be specifically agreed to by ALPS in writing. ALPS
shall use its best judgment and efforts in rendering the services described in
this Agreement. ALPS shall not be liable to the Trust or any of the
Trust’s stockholders for any action or inaction of ALPS relating to any event
whatsoever in the absence of bad faith, reckless disregard, negligence or
willful misfeasance in the performance of ALPS’ duties or obligations under this
Agreement. Further, ALPS shall not be liable to the Trust or any of
the Trust’s stockholders for any action taken or failure to act in good faith
reliance upon: (i) the advice and opinion of Trust counsel; and (ii) any
certified copy of any resolution of the Board; and ALPS shall not be under any
duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or
lack thereof of any statement, oral or written instruction, resolution,
signature, request, letter or transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel,
instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or any other document or instrument
which ALPS reasonably believes in good faith to be genuine.
The Trust
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ALPS, its employees, agents, directors,
officers and managers and any person who controls ALPS within the meaning of
section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (“ALPS
Indemnitees”), against and from any and all claims, demands, actions, suites,
judgments, administrative proceedings or investigations, liabilities, losses,
damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and other expenses of every
nature and character arising out of or in any way related to ALPS’ actions taken
or failure to act with respect to the Trust in connection with the performance
of any duties or obligations under this Agreement (an “ALPS Claim”); provided,
however, that nothing contained herein shall entitle an ALPS Indemnitee to
indemnification with respect to any ALPS claim arising from ALPS’ own bad faith,
reckless disregard, negligence or willful malfeasance, or breach of this
Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, ALPS’ bad faith, willful
malfeasance, or reckless disregard shall not include any action taken or not
taken by ALPS consistent with the last sentence of Section
3(a). Further, the Trust shall not be required to indemnify any ALPS’
Indemnitee if, prior to confessing any ALPS’ Claim against the ALPS’ Indemnitee,
ALPS or the ALPS’ Indemnitee does not give the Trust written notice of and
reasonable opportunity to defend against the ALPS’ claim in its own name or in
the name of the ALPS’ Indemnitee.
(b) ALPS
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, its employees, agents,
directors, officers and managers (“Trust Indemnitees”), against and from any and
all claims, demands, actions, suits, judgments, administrative proceedings and
investigations, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel
fees and other expenses of every nature and character arising out of or in any
way related to (i) ALPS’ actions taken or failures to act with respect to the
Trust that are not consistent with Section 2(a); (ii) any breach of this
Agreement with ALPS; or (iii) any breach of ALPS’ representations set forth in
Section 10 (a “Trust Claim”). ALPS shall not be required to indemnify any Trust
Indemnitee if, prior to confession any Trust Claim against the Trust Indemnitee,
the Trust or the Trust Indemnitee does not give ALPS written notice of any
reasonable opportunity to defend against the Trust Claim in its own name or in
the name of the Trust Indemnitee.
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(c) ALPS
shall not be liable for the errors of unaffiliated service providers to the
Trust or their systems.
SECTION
10. Representations
and Warranties.
(a) ALPS
hereby represents and warrants to CLIENT and the Trust that (a) the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by ALPS does not breach, violate or
cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which ALPS is a
party or any judgment, order or decree to which ALPS is subject; (b) the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by ALPS has been duly
authorized and approved by all necessary action; and (c) upon the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by ALPS and CLIENT, this Agreement will be a valid
and binding obligation of ALPS.
(b) CLIENT
hereby represents and warrants to ALPS that (a) the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by CLIENT does not breach, violate or cause a
default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which CLIENT is a party
or any judgment, order or decree to which CLIENT is subject; (b) the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by CLIENT has been duly authorized
and approved by all necessary action; and (c) upon the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by ALPS and CLIENT, this Agreement will be a valid and binding
obligation of CLIENT.
(c) CLIENT
further represents and warrants to ALPS that the CCO shall be covered by the
Trust’s Directors & Officers/Errors & Omissions Policy (the “Policy”),
and the Trust shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that such
coverage be (a) reinstated should the Policy be cancelled; (b) continued after
such officers ceases to serve as the Trust on substantially the same terms as
such coverage is provided for the Trust officers after such persons are no
longer officers of the Trust; or (c) continued in the event the fund of the
Trust merges or terminates , on substantially the same terms as such coverage is
provided for the Trust’s other officers(but for a period of no less than three
years). . The Trust shall provide ALPS with proof of current coverage, including
a copy of the Policy, and shall notify ALPS immediately should the Policy be
cancelled or terminated.
(d) The
CCO is named officer in the Trust’s corporate resolutions and subject to the
provisions of the Trust’s Organizational Documents regarding indemnification of
its officers.
SECTION
11. Entire Agreement;
Amendment and Waiver.
This
Agreement and the other writings referred to herein contain the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof
and supersede any prior agreement between ALPS and CLIENT. No waiver, amendment
or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in writing and
signed by each party hereto. The waiver by either party of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate or be construed
as a waiver of any subsequent breach by such other party.
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SECTION
12. Notices.
All
notices or other communications pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to be sufficient if delivered personally, telecopied, sent
by nationally-recognized, overnight courier or mailed by registered or certified
mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at the
following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified
by like notice):
|
(a)
|
if
to CLIENT, to:
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxx
& Xxxxx Funds Trust
|
|
Address:
|
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
|
|
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
|
Attn:
|
X.
Xxxx Xxxxx
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Telephone:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
(b)
|
if
to ALPS, to:
|
ALPS Fund
Services, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
General Counsel
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000 Telephone: (000) 000-0000
All such
notices and other communications shall be deemed to have been given and received
(a) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by facsimile, on the date of
such delivery if delivered during business hours on a business day or, if not so
delivered, on the next following business day, (b) in the case of delivery by
nationally-recognized, overnight courier, on the business day following
dispatch, and (c) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following
such mailing.
SECTION
13. Headings.
The
section Headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.
SECTION
14. Severability.
In the
event that any provision of this Agreement is determined to be partially or
wholly invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such
provision shall, as to such jurisdiction, be modified or restricted to the
extent necessary to make such provision valid, binding and enforceable, or if
such provision cannot be modified or restricted, then such provision shall, as
to such jurisdiction, be deemed to be excised from this Agreement; provided, however,
that the binding effect and enforceability of the remaining provisions of
this Agreement, to the extent the economic benefits conferred upon the parties
by virtue of this Agreement remain substantially unimpaired, shall not be
affected or impaired in any manner, and any such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability with respect to such provisions shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
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SECTION
15. Remedies.
Each of
the parties hereto acknowledges and understands that certain provisions of this
Agreement are of a special and unique nature, the loss of which cannot be
adequately compensated for in damages by an action at law, and thus, the breach
or threatened breach of the provisions of this Agreement would cause the
non-breaching party irreparable harm. Each of the parties hereto further
acknowledges that, in the event of a breach of any of the covenants contained in
this Agreement, the non-breaching party shall be entitled to immediate relief
enjoining such violations in any court or before any judicial body having
jurisdiction over such a claim. All remedies hereunder are cumulative, are in
addition to any other remedies provided for by law or in equity and may, to the
extent permitted by law, be exercised concurrently or separately, and the
exercise of any one remedy shall not be deemed to be an election of such remedy
or to preclude the exercise of any other remedy.
SECTION
16. Benefits of
Agreement; Assignment.
(a) The
terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns,
representatives, heirs and estate, as applicable. This Agreement shall not be
assignable by ALPS without the express written consent of CLIENT. Any purported
assignment in violation of the immediately preceding sentence shall be void and
of no effect.
SECTION
17. Survival.
Anything
to the contrary contained in this Agreement notwithstanding, the provisions of
Sections 5
through 7 and 11 through 21 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of
the Term.
SECTION
18. Counterparts and
Facsimile Execution.
This
Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, all of which shall be considered
one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more
counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered (by facsimile
or otherwise) to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not
sign the same counterpart. Any counterpart or other signature hereupon delivered
by facsimile shall be deemed for all purposes as constituting good and valid
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the party delivering
it.
SECTION
19. Governing Law;
Mutual Waiver of Jury Trial; Jurisdiction.
(a) All
questions concerning the construction, interpretation and validity of this
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the
domestic laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice or
conflict of law provision or rule (whether in the State of New York or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the State of New York. In furtherance of the foregoing, the law of
the State of New York will control the interpretation and construction of this
Agreement, even if under such jurisdiction’s choice of law of conflict of law
analysis, the substantive law of some other jurisdiction would ordinarily or
necessarily apply.
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(b) BECAUSE
DISPUTES ARISING CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY
AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES
WISH APPLICABLE LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES
DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS.
THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL
SYSTEM AND OF ARBITRATION, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR
REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED HERETO. THE SCOPE OF THIS
WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE
FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL
OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS
WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HAS
REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS RESPECTIVE LEGAL COUNSEL, AND KNOWINGLY AND
VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH SUCH LEGAL
COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN
CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
(c) THE
PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREE THAT THE EXCLUSIVE PLACE OF
JURISDICTION FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING (“ACTIONS”) RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE IN THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE
CITY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK OR, IF SUCH COURTS SHALL NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER
THE SUBJECT MATTER THEREOF, IN XXX XXXXXX XX XXX XXXXX XX XXX XXXX SITTING
THEREIN, AND EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES TO
SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS FOR PURPOSES OF ANY SUCH ACTIONS. IF
ANY SUCH STATE COURT ALSO DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER
THEREOF, THEN SUCH AN ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE FEDERAL
OR STATE COURTS LOCATED IN THE STATES OF THE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF ANY
PARTY HERETO. EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT
MAY HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY ACTION BROUGHT IN SUCH COURTS OR TO THE CONVENIENCE
OF THE FORUM. FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE
ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT, A CERTIFIED OR TRUE
COPY OF WHICH SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF THE FACT AND THE AMOUNT OF ANY
INDEBTEDNESS OR LIABILITY OF ANY PARTY THEREIN DESCRIBED.
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SECTION
20. Force
Majeure.
ALPS
shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of
its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or
indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control including, without
limitation, acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, fire,
mechanical breakdowns, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war,
riots or failure of the mails, transportation, communication system or power
supply. In addition, to the extent ALPS’ obligations hereunder are to oversee or
monitor the activities of third parties, ALPS shall not be liable for any
failure or delay in the performance of ALPS’ duties caused, directly or
indirectly, by the failure or delay of such third parties in performing their
respective duties or cooperating reasonably and in a timely manner with
ALPS.
SECTION
21. Mutual
Contribution.
The
parties to this Agreement and their counsel have mutually contributed to its
drafting. Consequently, no provision of this Agreement shall be construed
against any party on the ground that a party drafted the provision or caused it
to be drafted.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Chief Compliance
Officer Services Agreement as of the date first above written.
Xxxx
& Xxxxx Funds Trust
By: /s/ X. Xxxx
Xxxxx
Name: X. Xxxx Xxxxx
Title: Trustee, Vice-President and Secretary
Name: X. Xxxx Xxxxx
Title: Trustee, Vice-President and Secretary
ALPS
Fund Services, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X.
May
Name: Xxxxxx X. May
Title: President
Name: Xxxxxx X. May
Title: President
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Exhibit
A
Duties of Chief Compliance
Officer
The
Services shall include, but not be limited to, the following. Terms used in this
Exhibit A shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Chief Compliance Officer Services
Agreement to which this Exhibit A is
attached.
I.
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Review of Compliance
Program. No later than June 30, 2009, the CCO shall, with the
assistance of CLIENT, review and revise, where necessary, the written
compliance policies and procedures (the “Compliance Program”)
of the Trust, which shall address compliance with, and be
reasonably designed to prevent violation of, “Federal Securities
Laws.”1 In
addition to provisions of Federal Securities Laws that apply to the Trust,
the Compliance Program will be revised, where necessary, to address
compliance with, and ensure that it is reasonably designed to prevent
violation of, the Trust’s charter and by-laws and all exemptive orders,
no-action letters and other regulatory relief received by the Trust from
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and Financial Industry
Regulatory Association, Inc. (the “FINRA”) (all such items collectively,
“Regulatory
Relief”); provided, however, that the Compliance Program shall
address only that Regulatory Relief afforded the Service Providers or the
Trust or relevant to compliance by the Service Providers or the Trust, and
shall not address the terms by which other parties may receive the
benefits of any Regulatory Relief.
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II.
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Administration of
Compliance Program. The CCO shall administer and enforce the
Trust’s Compliance Program.
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III.
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Oversight of Service
Providers. The CCO is responsible for overseeing, on behalf of the
Trust, adherence to the written compliance policies and procedures of the
Trust’s service providers, including CLIENT and distributor (the “Distributor”)
(CLIENT and Distributor, collectively, the “Service Providers”).
In furtherance of this duty,
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A.
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No
later than June 30, 2009, the CCO shall obtain and review the written
compliance policies and procedures of the Service Providers or summaries
of such policies that have been drafted by someone familiar with
them.
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B.
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The
CCO shall monitor the Service Providers’ compliance with their own written
compliance policies and procedures, Federal Securities Laws and the
Trusts’ Indenture and Regulatory Relief. In so doing, the CCO shall
interact with representatives of the Service Providers as
appropriate.
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C.
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The
CCO shall attempt to obtain the following representations from each
Service Provider and, if it fails to obtain such representations, shall
report this fact to CLIENT:
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____________________________
1 “Federal
Securities Laws” are defined by the Rule as the Securities Act of 1933, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the
Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act, any SEC rules adopted under any of the Foregoing laws,
the Bank Secrecy Act, as it applies to registered investment companies, and any
rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the Department of
Treasury.
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1.
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In
connection with the documentation of its written policies and procedures
governing the provision of its services to the relevant Trust, the Service
Provider has prepared and delivered to the Trust a summary of core
services that it provides to the Trust or, if no such summary is
available, that it has delivered to the Trust copies of the relevant
policies and procedures.
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2.
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The
Service Provider will provide to the Trust and the CCO any revisions to
its written compliance policies and procedures on at least an annual
basis, or more frequently in the event of a material
revision.
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3.
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The
Service Provider’s written compliance policies and procedures have been
reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations of the
applicable Federal Securities Laws and critical functions related to the
services performed by Service Provider pursuant to the applicable
agreement between the Service Provider and the
Trust.
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4.
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The
Service Provider has established monitoring procedures, and shall review,
no less frequently than annually, the adequacy and effectiveness of its
written compliance policies and procedures to check that they are
reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations of those
applicable Federal Securities Laws and critical functions related to the
services performed by the Service Provider pursuant to the applicable
agreement between the Service Provider and the
Trust.
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IV.
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Annual Review.
The Rule requires that, at least annually, the Trust review its
Compliance Program and that of its Service Providers and the effectiveness
of their respective implementations (the “Annual Review”).
The CCO shall perform the Annual Review for the Trust. The first
Annual Review shall be completed no later than June 30,
2010.
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V.
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Reports to CLIENT;
Escalation
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A. The
CCO shall make regular reports to the CLIENT regarding its administration and
enforcement of the Compliance Program. These regular reports shall address
compliance by the Trust and the Service Providers and such other matters as
CLIENT may reasonably request.
B. In
addition, at least annually, the CCO shall submit a written report to the CLIENT
addressing the following issues:
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1.
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the
operation of the Compliance Program, and the written compliance policies
and procedures of the Service
Providers;
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2.
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any
material changes made to the Compliance Program since the date of the such
last report;
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3.
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any
material changes to the Compliance Program recommended as a result of the
Annual Review; and
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4.
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each
“Material Compliance
Matter”
that occurred since the date of the last report.2
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This
written report shall be based on the Annual Review. The first written report
shall be presented to the CLIENT no later than 60 days after the date of the
first Annual Review.
C. In
the event that the CCO reports a Material Compliance Matter and is not
reasonably satisfied with CLIENT’s efforts to address and remedy the same, the
CCO shall report such Material Compliance Matter to the Trustees, with a copy to
CLIENT.
VI.
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Recordkeeping.
The CCO shall maintain the books and records for the Trust that are
required to be retained by the Rule, which books and records may be
maintained electronically but which shall, in any event, be backed-up and
safeguarded in accordance with ALPS’ regular practices for record
retention.
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VII.
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Meeting with
Regulators. The CCO shall meet with, and reply to inquiries from,
the SEC, the CLIENT and other legal and regulatory authorities with
responsibility for administering Federal Securities Laws as necessary or
as reasonably requested by CLIENT or the
Trustees.
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VIII.
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Amendments to the
Compliance Program. The CCO shall consult with CLIENT and its
representatives as necessary to amend, update and revise the Compliance
Program as necessary, but no less frequently than
annually.
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___________________________
2 “Material Compliance Matter” is
defined as “any compliance matter about which the Trust’s board would reasonably
need to know to oversee fund compliance,” which involves any of the following
(without limitation): (i) a violation of Federal Securities Laws by the Trust or
Distributor; (ii) a violation of the Compliance Program of the Trust, or the
written compliance policies and procedures of its Distributor; or (iii) a
weakness in the design or implementation of the Compliance Program policies and
procedures of the Trust, or the written compliance policies and procedures of
Distributor.
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