TRANSFER, DIVIDEND DISBURSING, SHAREHOLDER SERVICE
AND PLAN AGENCY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of April 1, 1997 between the Xxxx Family of Funds,
an Ohio business trust (the "Trust"), and Countrywide Fund Services, Inc.
("Countrywide"), an Ohio corporation.
WHEREAS, the Trust is an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to employ the services of Countrywide to
serve as its transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder service and plan agent;
and
WHEREAS, Countrywide wishes to provide such services under the
conditions set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained in this Agreement, the Trust and Countrywide agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT.
The Trust hereby appoints and employs Countrywide as agent to
perform those services described in this Agreement for the Trust. Countrywide
shall act under such appointment and perform the obligations thereof upon the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. DOCUMENTATION.
The Trust will furnish from time to time the following
documents:
A. Each resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust
authorizing the original issue of its shares;
B. Each Registration Statement filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and amendments
thereof;
C. A certified copy of each amendment to the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws of the Trust;
D. Certified copies of each resolution of the Board of
Trustees authorizing officers to give instructions to
Countrywide;
E. Specimens of all new forms of share certificates
accompanied by Board of Trustees' resolutions approving
such forms;
- 1 -
F. Such other certificates, documents or opinions which
Countrywide may, in its discretion, deem necessary or
appropriate in the proper performance of its duties;
G. Copies of all Underwriting and Dealer Agreements in
effect;
H. Copies of all Investment Advisory Agreements in effect;
and
I. Copies of all documents relating to special investment
or withdrawal plans which are offered or may be offered
in the future by the Trust and for which Countrywide is
to act as plan agent.
3. COUNTRYWIDE TO RECORD SHARES.
Countrywide shall record the issuance of shares of the Trust
and maintain pursuant to applicable rules of the SEC a record of the total
number of shares of the Trust which are authorized, issued and outstanding,
based upon data provided to it by the Trust. Countrywide shall also provide the
Trust on a regular basis or upon reasonable request the total number of shares
which are authorized, issued and outstanding, but shall have no obligation when
recording the issuance of the Trust's shares, except as otherwise set forth
herein, to monitor the issuance of such shares or to take cognizance of any laws
relating to the issue or sale of such shares, which functions shall be the sole
responsibility of the Trust.
4. COUNTRYWIDE TO VALIDATE TRANSFERS.
Upon receipt of a proper request for transfer and upon
surrender to Countrywide of certificates, if any, in proper form for transfer,
Countrywide shall approve such transfer and shall take all necessary steps to
effectuate the transfer as indicated in the transfer request. Upon approval of
the transfer, Countrywide shall notify the Trust in writing of each such
transaction and shall make appropriate entries on the shareholder records
maintained by Countrywide.
5. SHARE CERTIFICATES.
If the Trust authorizes the issuance of share certificates and
an investor requests a share certificate, Countrywide will countersign and mail,
by insured first class mail, a share certificate to the investor at his address
as set forth on the transfer books of the Trust, subject to any other
instructions for delivery of certificates representing newly purchased shares
and subject to the limitation that no certificates representing newly purchased
shares shall be mailed to the investor until the cash purchase price of such
shares has
- 2 -
been collected and credited to the account of the Trust maintained by the
Custodian. The Trust shall supply Countrywide with a sufficient supply of blank
share certificates and from time to time shall renew such supply upon request of
Countrywide. Such blank share certificates shall be properly signed, manually
or, if authorized by the Trust, by facsimile; and notwithstanding the death,
resignation or removal of any officers of the Trust authorized to sign share
certificates, Countrywide may continue to countersign certificates which bear
the manual or facsimile signature of such officer until otherwise directed by
the Trust. In case of the alleged loss or destruction of any share certificate,
no new certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof, unless there shall first be
furnished an appropriate bond satisfactory to Countrywide and the Trust, and
issued by a surety company satisfactory to Countrywide and the Trust.
6. RECEIPT OF FUNDS.
Upon receipt of any check or other instrument drawn or
endorsed to it as agent for, or identified as being for the account of, the
Trust or 2480 Securities LLC, as underwriter of the Trust (the "Underwriter"),
Countrywide shall stamp the check or instrument with the date of receipt,
determine the amount thereof due the Trust and shall forthwith process the same
for collection. Upon receipt of notification of receipt of funds eligible for
share purchases in accordance with the Trust's then current prospectus and
statement of additional information, Countrywide shall notify the Trust, at the
close of each business day, in writing of the amount of said funds credited to
the Trust and deposited in its account with the Custodian, and shall similarly
notify the Underwriter of the amount of said funds credited to the Underwriter
and deposited in its account with its designated bank.
7. PURCHASE ORDERS.
Upon receipt of an order for the purchase of shares of the
Trust, accompanied by sufficient information to enable Countrywide to establish
a shareholder account, Countrywide shall, as of the next determination of net
asset value after receipt of such order in accordance with the Trust's then
current prospectus and statement of additional information, compute the number
of shares due to the shareholder, credit the share account of the shareholder,
subject to collection of the funds, with the number of shares so purchased,
shall notify the Trust in writing or by computer report at the close of each
business day of such transactions and shall mail to the shareholder and/or
dealer of record a notice of such credit when requested to do so by the Trust.
- 3 -
8. RETURNED CHECKS.
In the event that Countrywide is notified by the Trust's
Custodian that any check or other order for the payment of money is returned
unpaid for any reason, Countrywide will:
A. Give prompt notification to the Trust and the
Underwriter of the non-payment of said check;
B. In the absence of other instructions from the Trust or the
Underwriter, take such steps as may be necessary to redeem any shares purchased
on the basis of such returned check and cause the proceeds of such redemption
plus any dividends declared with respect to such shares to be credited to the
account of the Trust and to request the Trust's Custodian to forward such
returned check to the person who originally submitted the check; and
C. Notify the Trust and Underwriter of such actions and
correct the Trust's records maintained by Countrywide pursuant to this
Agreement.
9. SALES CHARGE.
In computing the number of shares to credit to the account of
a shareholder, Countrywide will calculate the total of the applicable sales
charges with respect to each purchase as set forth in the Trust's current
prospectus and statement of additional information and in accordance with any
notification filed with respect to combined and accumulated purchases.
Countrywide will also determine the portion of each sales charge payable by the
Underwriter to the dealer of record participating in the sale in accordance with
such schedules as are from time to time delivered by the Underwriter to
Countrywide; provided, however, that Countrywide shall have no liability
hereunder arising from the incorrect selection by Countrywide of the gross rate
of sales charges except that this exculpation shall not apply in the event the
rate is specified by the Underwriter or the Trust and Countrywide fails to
select the rate specified.
10. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
The Trust shall furnish Countrywide with appropriate evidence
of trustee action authorizing the declaration of dividends and other
distributions. Countrywide shall establish procedures in accordance with the
Trust's then current prospectus and statement of additional information and with
other authorized actions of the Trust's Board of Trustees under which it will
have available from the Custodian or the Trust any required information for each
dividend and other distribution. After deducting any amount required to be
withheld by any applicable laws, Countrywide shall, as agent for each
shareholder who so
- 4 -
requests, invest the dividends and other distributions in full and fractional
shares in accordance with the Trust's then current prospectus and statement of
additional information. If a shareholder has elected to receive dividends or
other distributions in cash, then Countrywide shall disburse dividends to
shareholders of record in accordance with the Trust's then current prospectus
and statement of additional information. Countrywide shall, on or before the
mailing date of such checks, notify the Trust and the Custodian of the estimated
amount of cash required to pay such dividend or distribution, and the Trust
shall instruct the Custodian to make available sufficient funds therefor in the
appropriate account of the Trust. Countrywide shall mail to the shareholders
periodic statements, as requested by the Trust, showing the number of full and
fractional shares and the net asset value per share of shares so credited. When
requested by the Trust, Countrywide shall prepare and file with the Internal
Revenue Service, and when required, shall address and mail to shareholders, such
returns and information relating to dividends and distributions paid by the
Trust as are required to be so prepared, filed and mailed by applicable laws,
rules and regulations.
11. UNCLAIMED DIVIDENDS AND UNCLAIMED REDEMPTION PROCEEDS.
Countrywide shall, at least annually, furnish in writing to
the Trust the names and addresses, as shown in the shareholder accounts
maintained by Countrywide, of all shareholders for which there are, as of the
end of the calendar year, dividends, distributions or redemption proceeds for
which checks or share certificates mailed in payment of distributions have been
returned. Countrywide shall use its best efforts to contact the shareholders
affected and to follow any other written instructions received from the Trust
concerning the disposition of any such unclaimed dividends, distributions or
redemption proceeds.
12. REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES.
A. Countrywide shall process, in accordance with the Trust's
then current prospectus and statement of additional information, each order for
the redemption of shares accepted by Countrywide. Upon its approval of such
redemption transactions, Countrywide, if requested by the Trust, shall mail to
the shareholder and/or dealer of record a confirmation showing trade date,
number of full and fractional shares redeemed, the price per share and the total
redemption proceeds. For each such redemption, Countrywide shall either: (a)
prepare checks in the appropriate amounts for approval and verification by the
Trust and signature by an authorized officer of Countrywide and mail the checks
to the appropriate person, or (b) in the event redemption proceeds are to be
wired through the Federal Reserve Wire System or by bank wire, cause such
proceeds to be wired in
- 5 -
federal funds to the bank account designated by the shareholder, or (c)
effectuate such other redemption procedures which are authorized by the Trust's
Board of Trustees or its then current prospectus and statement of additional
information. The requirements as to instruments of transfer and other
documentation, the applicable redemption price and the time of payment shall be
as provided in the then current prospectus and statement of additional
information, subject to such supplemental instructions as may be furnished by
the Trust and accepted by Countrywide. If Countrywide or the Trust determines
that a request for redemption does not comply with the requirements for
redemptions, Countrywide shall promptly notify the shareholder indicating the
reason therefor.
B. If shares of the Trust are eligible for exchange with
shares of any other investment company, Countrywide, in accordance with the then
current prospectus and statement of additional information and exchange rules of
the Trust and such other investment company, or such other investment company's
transfer agent, shall review and approve all exchange requests and shall, on
behalf of the Trust's shareholders, process such approved exchange requests.
C. Countrywide shall notify the Trust, the Custodian and the
Underwriter on each business day of the amount of cash required to meet payments
made pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph 12, and, on the basis of such
notice, the Trust shall instruct the Custodian to make available from time to
time sufficient funds therefor in the appropriate account of the Trust.
Procedures for effecting redemption orders accepted from shareholders or dealers
of record by telephone or other methods shall be established by mutual agreement
between Countrywide and the Trust consistent with the Trust's then current
prospectus and statement of additional information.
D. The authority of Countrywide to perform its
responsibilities under Xxxxxxxxx 0, Xxxxxxxxx 10, and this Paragraph 12 shall be
suspended with respect to any series of the Trust upon receipt of notification
by it of the suspension of the determination of such series' net asset value.
13. AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLANS.
Countrywide will process automatic withdrawal orders pursuant
to the provisions of the withdrawal plans duly executed by shareholders and the
current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Trust.
Payments upon such withdrawal order shall be made by Countrywide from the
appropriate account maintained by the Trust with the Custodian on approximately
the last business day of each month in which a payment has been requested, and
Countrywide will withdraw from a shareholder's account and present for
repurchase or redemption as
- 6 -
many shares as shall be sufficient to make such withdrawal payment pursuant to
the provisions of the shareholder's withdrawal plan and the current prospectus
and statement of additional information of the Trust. From time to time on new
automatic withdrawal plans a check for payment date already past may be issued
upon request by the shareholder.
14. LETTERS OF INTENT.
Countrywide will process such letters of intent for investing
in shares of the Trust as are provided for in the Trust's current prospectus and
statement of additional information. Countrywide will make appropriate deposits
to the account of the Underwriter for the adjustment of sales charges as therein
provided and will currently report the same to the Underwriter.
15. WIRE-ORDER PURCHASES.
Countrywide will send written confirmations to the dealers of
record containing all details of the wire-order purchases placed by each such
dealer by the close of business on the business day following receipt of such
orders by Countrywide or the Underwriter, with copies to the Underwriter. Upon
receipt of any check drawn or endorsed to the Trust (or Countrywide, as agent)
or otherwise identified as being payment of an outstanding wire-order,
Countrywide will stamp said check with the date of its receipt and deposit the
amount represented by such check to Countrywide's deposit accounts maintained
with the Custodian. Countrywide will compute the respective portions of such
deposit which represent the sales charge and the net asset value of the shares
so purchased, will cause the Custodian to transfer federal funds in an amount
equal to the net asset value of the shares so purchased to the Trust's account
with the Custodian, and will notify the Trust and the Underwriter before noon of
each business day of the total amount deposited in the Trust's deposit accounts,
and in the event that payment for a purchase order is not received by
Countrywide or the Custodian on the tenth business day following receipt of the
order, will prepare an NASD "notice of failure of dealer to make payment" and
forward such notification to the Underwriter.
16. OTHER PLANS.
Countrywide will process such accumulation plans, group
programs and other plans or programs for investing in shares of the Trust as are
now provided for in the Trust's current prospectus and statement of additional
information and will act as plan agent for shareholders pursuant to the terms of
such plans and programs duly executed by such shareholders.
- 7 -
17. RECORDKEEPING AND OTHER INFORMATION.
Countrywide shall create and maintain all records required by
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to records
required by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, as the same
may be amended from time to time, pertaining to the various functions performed
by it and not otherwise created and maintained by another party pursuant to
contract with the Trust. All such records shall be the property of the Trust at
all times and shall be available for inspection and use by the Trust. Where
applicable, such records shall be maintained by Countrywide for the periods and
in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. The retention of such
records shall be at the expense of the Trust. Countrywide shall make available
during regular business hours all records and other data created and maintained
pursuant to this Agreement for reasonable audit and inspection by the Trust, any
person retained by the Trust, or any regulatory agency having authority over the
Trust.
18. SHAREHOLDER RECORDS.
Countrywide shall maintain records for each shareholder
account showing the following:
A. Names, addresses and tax identifying numbers;
B. Name of the dealer of record, if any;
C. Number of shares held of each series;
D. Historical information regarding the account of each
shareholder, including dividends and distributions in
cash or invested in shares;
E. Information with respect to the source of all dividends
and distributions allocated among income, realized
short-term gains and realized long-term gains;
F. Any instructions from a shareholder including all forms
furnished by the Trust and executed by a shareholder
with respect to (i) dividend or distribution elections
and (ii) elections with respect to payment options in
connection with the redemption of shares;
G. Any correspondence relating to the current maintenance
of a shareholder's account;
H. Certificate numbers and denominations for any
shareholder holding certificates;
I. Any stop or restraining order placed against a
shareholder's account;
- 8 -
J. Information with respect to withholding in the case of
a foreign account or any other account for which
withholding is required by the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended; and
K. Any information required in order for Countrywide to
perform the calculations contemplated under this
Agreement.
19. TAX RETURNS AND REPORTS.
Countrywide will prepare in the appropriate form, file with
the Internal Revenue Service and appropriate state agencies and, if required,
mail to shareholders of the Trust such returns for reporting dividends and
distributions paid by the Trust as are required to be so prepared, filed and
mailed and shall withhold such sums as are required to be withheld under
applicable federal and state income tax laws, rules and regulations.
20. OTHER INFORMATION TO THE TRUST.
Subject to such instructions, verification and approval of the
Custodian and the Trust as shall be required by any agreement or applicable law,
Countrywide will also maintain such records as shall be necessary to furnish to
the Trust the following: annual shareholder meeting lists, proxy lists and
mailing materials, shareholder reports and confirmations and checks for
disbursing redemption proceeds, dividends and other distributions or expense
disbursements.
21. ACCESS TO SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION.
Upon request, Countrywide shall arrange for the Trust's
investment adviser to have direct access to shareholder information contained in
Countrywide's computer system, including account balances, performance
information and such other information which is available to Countrywide with
respect to shareholder accounts.
22. COOPERATION WITH ACCOUNTANTS.
Countrywide shall cooperate with the Trust's independent
public accountants and shall take all reasonable action in the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement to assure that the necessary information is
made available to such accountants for the expression of their unqualified
opinion where required for any document for the Trust.
- 9 -
23. SHAREHOLDER SERVICE AND CORRESPONDENCE.
Countrywide will provide and maintain adequate personnel,
records and equipment to receive and answer all shareholder and dealer inquiries
relating to account status, share purchases, redemptions and exchanges and other
investment plans available to Trust shareholders. Countrywide will answer
written correspondence from shareholders relating to their share accounts and
such other written or oral inquiries as may from time to time be mutually agreed
upon, and Countrywide will notify the Trust of any correspondence or inquiries
which may require an answer from the Trust.
24. PROXIES.
Countrywide shall assist the Trust in the mailing of proxy
cards and other material in connection with shareholder meetings of the Trust,
shall receive, examine and tabulate returned proxies and shall, if requested by
the Trust, provide at least one inspector of election to attend and participate
as required by law in shareholder meetings of the Trust.
25. FURTHER ACTIONS.
Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute
such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.
26. COMPENSATION.
For the performance of Countrywide's obligations under this
Agreement, each series of the Trust shall pay Countrywide, on the first business
day following the end of each month, a monthly fee in accordance with the
schedule attached hereto as Schedule A. The Trust shall promptly reimburse
Countrywide for any out-of-pocket expenses and advances which are to be paid by
the Trust in accordance with Paragraph 27.
27. EXPENSES.
Countrywide shall furnish, at its expense and without cost to
the Trust (i) the services of its personnel to the extent that such services are
required to carry out its obligations under this Agreement and (ii) the use of
data processing equipment. All costs and expenses not expressly assumed by
Countrywide under this Paragraph 27 shall be paid by the Trust, including, but
not limited to, costs and expenses of officers and employees of Countrywide in
attending meetings of the Board of Trustees and shareholders of the Trust, as
well as costs and expenses for postage, envelopes, checks, drafts, continuous
forms, reports, communications, statements and other materials, telephone,
telegraph and remote transmission lines, use of
- 10 -
outside pricing services, use of outside mailing firms, necessary outside record
storage, media for storage of records (e.g., microfilm, microfiche, computer
tapes), printing, confirmations and any other shareholder correspondence and any
and all assessments, taxes or levies assessed on Countrywide for services
provided under this Agreement. Postage for mailings of dividends, proxies,
reports and other mailings to all shareholders shall be advanced to Countrywide
three business days prior to the mailing date of such materials.
28. COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that nothing
contained herein shall be construed to require Countrywide to perform any
services for the Trust which services could cause Countrywide to be deemed an
"investment adviser" of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(20) of the
1940 Act or to supersede or contravene the Trust's prospectus or statement of
additional information or any provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules
thereunder. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and except for the
accuracy of information furnished to it by Countrywide, the Trust assumes full
responsibility for complying with all applicable requirements of the 1940 Act,
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any other laws, rules and
regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction.
29. REFERENCES TO COUNTRYWIDE.
The Trust shall not circulate any printed matter which
contains any reference to Countrywide without the prior written approval of
Countrywide, excepting solely such printed matter as merely identifies
Countrywide as Administrative Services Agent, Transfer, Shareholder Servicing
and Dividend Disbursing Agent and Accounting Services Agent. The Trust will
submit printed matter requiring approval to Countrywide in draft form, allowing
sufficient time for review by Countrywide and its counsel prior to any deadline
for printing.
30. EQUIPMENT FAILURES.
Countrywide shall take all steps necessary to minimize or
avoid service interruptions, and has entered into one or more agreements making
provision for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment. Countrywide
shall have no liability with respect to equipment failures beyond its control.
31. INDEMNIFICATION OF COUNTRYWIDE.
A. Countrywide may rely on information reasonably believed by
it to be accurate and reliable. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940
Act and the rules thereunder, neither Countrywide nor its shareholders,
officers, directors, employees, agents, control persons or affiliates of any
thereof shall be subject to any liability for, or any damages, expenses or
losses incurred by the Trust in connection with, any error of
- 11 -
judgment, mistake of law, any act or omission connected with or arising out of
any services rendered under or payments made pursuant to this Agreement or any
other matter to which this Agreement relates, except by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of any such persons in
the performance of the duties of Countrywide under this Agreement or by reason
of reckless disregard by any of such persons of the obligations and duties of
Countrywide under this Agreement.
B. Any person, even though also a director, officer, employee,
shareholder or agent of Countrywide, or any of its affiliates, who may be or
become an officer, trustee, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be deemed,
when rendering services to the Trust or acting on any business of the Trust, to
be rendering such services to or acting solely as an officer, trustee, employee
or agent of the Trust and not as a director, officer, employee, shareholder or
agent of or one under the control or direction of Countrywide or any of its
affiliates, even though paid by one of these entities.
C. The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless Countrywide,
its directors, officers, employees, shareholders, agents, control persons and
affiliates from and against any and all claims, demands, expenses and
liabilities (whether with or without basis in fact or law) of any and every
nature which Countrywide may sustain or incur or which may be asserted against
Countrywide by any person by reason of, or as a result of: (i) any action taken
or omitted to be taken by Countrywide in good faith in reliance upon any
certificate, instrument, order or share certificate reasonably believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed, countersigned or executed by any duly authorized
person, upon the oral instructions or written instructions of an authorized
person of the Trust or upon the opinion of legal counsel for the Trust or its
own counsel; or (ii) any action taken or omitted to be taken by Countrywide in
connection with its appointment in good faith in reliance upon any law, act,
regulation or interpretation of the same even though the same may thereafter
have been altered, changed, amended or repealed. However, indemnification under
this subparagraph shall not apply to actions or omissions of Countrywide or its
directors, officers, employees, shareholders or agents in cases of its or their
own gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, or reckless disregard of
its or their own duties hereunder.
32. TERMINATION
A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be effective on the
date first above written, shall continue in effect for two years from that date
and shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only so long as
such continuance is approved (1) by Countrywide, (2) by vote, cast in person at
a meeting called for the purpose, of a majority of the
- 12 -
Trust's trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) of any such party, and (3) by vote of a majority of the
Trust's Board of Trustees or a majority of the Trust's outstanding voting
securities.
B. Either party may terminate this Agreement on any date by
giving the other party at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice of such
termination specifying the date fixed therefor. Upon termination of this
Agreement, the Trust shall pay to Countrywide such compensation as may be due as
of the date of such termination, and shall likewise reimburse Countrywide for
any out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements reasonably incurred by Countrywide
to such date.
C. In the event that in connection with the termination of
this Agreement a successor to any of Countrywide's duties or responsibilities
under this Agreement is designated by the Trust by written notice to
Countrywide, Countrywide shall, promptly upon such termination and at the
expense of the Trust, transfer all records maintained by Countrywide under this
Agreement and shall cooperate in the transfer of such duties and
responsibilities, including provision for assistance from Countrywide's
cognizant personnel in the establishment of books, records and other data by
such successor.
33. SERVICES FOR OTHERS.
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Countrywide or any
affiliated person (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of Countrywide from providing
services for any other person, firm or corporation (including other investment
companies); provided, however, that Countrywide expressly represents that it
will undertake no activities which, in its judgment, will adversely affect the
performance of its obligations to the Trust under this Agreement.
34. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust
hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees,
officers, agents or employees of the Trust, personally, but bind only the trust
property of the Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and signed by an officer of the Trust,
acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such
execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any
of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but
shall bind only the trust property of the Trust.
- 13 -
35. SEVERABILITY.
In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to
be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of
this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.
36. QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Ohio. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement
having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the
1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940
Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States Courts or in
the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations
or orders of the SEC issued pursuant to said 1940 Act. In addition, where the
effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this
Agreement, is revised by rule, regulation or order of the SEC, such provision
shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
37. NOTICES.
All notices, requests, consents and other communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing (including telex
and telegraphic communication) and shall be (as elected by the person giving
such notice) hand delivered by messenger or courier service, telecommunicated,
or mailed (airmail if international) by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid), return receipt requested, addressed to:
To the Trust: Xxxx Family of Funds
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
To Countrywide: Countrywide Fund Services, Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
or to such other address as any party may designate by notice complying with the
terms of this Section 37. Each such notice shall be deemed delivered (a) on the
date delivered if by personal delivery; (b) on the date telecommunicated if by
telegraph; (c) on the date of transmission with confirmed answer back if by
telex, telefax or other telegraphic method; and (d) on the date upon which the
return receipt is signed or delivery is refused or the notice is designated by
the postal authorities as not deliverable, as the case may be, if mailed.
- 14 -
38. AMENDMENT.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a
written agreement executed by both parties.
39. BINDING EFFECT.
Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that
he has the full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the
party indicated, and that his signature will operate to bind the party indicated
to the foregoing terms.
40. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
41. FORCE MAJEURE.
If Countrywide shall be delayed in its performance of services
or prevented entirely or in part from performing services due to causes or
events beyond its control, including and without limitation, acts of God,
interruption of power or other utility, transportation or communication
services, acts of civil or military authority, sabotages, national emergencies,
explosion, flood, accident, earthquake or other catastrophe, fire, strike or
other labor problems, legal action, present or future law, governmental order,
rule or regulation, or shortages of suitable parts, materials, labor or
transportation, such delay or non-performance shall be excused and a reasonable
time for performance in connection with this Agreement shall be extended to
include the period of such delay or non-performance.
42. MISCELLANEOUS.
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
- 15 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
XXXX FAMILY OF FUNDS
By: /S/ XXXXX X. XXXXX
Its: President
COUNTRYWIDE FUND SERVICES, INC.
By: /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
Its: President
- 16 -
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1997 SCHEDULE A
COMPENSATION
SERVICES FEE
As Transfer Agent,
Dividend Disbursing Agent
and Shareholder Servicing Agent: (Per Account)
Large Cap Value Fund Payable monthly at
rate of $20.00/year;
subject to a minimum
of $1,200 per class
per month
Small Cap Value Fund Payable monthly at
rate of $20.00/year;
subject to a minimum
of $1,200 per class
per month
Balanced Fund Payable monthly at
rate of $20.00/year;
subject to a minimum
of $1,200 per class
per month
International Value Fund Payable monthly at
rate of $20.00/year;
subject to a minimum
of $1,200 per class
per month
- 17 -
