TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
REPUBLIC FUNDS
AND
INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT effective as of the 29 day of August, 1995 by and between
REPUBLIC FUNDS, on behalf of the portfolios listed on Appendix A hereto, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), and INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY,
a Massachusetts trust company (the "Bank").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to appoint the Bank as its transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with certain other activities,
and the Bank desires to accept such appointment;
WHEREAS, the Bank is duly registered as a transfer agent as provided in
Section 17A(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "1934
Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with
each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities
and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to initially offer shares in each of the
portfolios listed on Appendix A hereto, (such series, together with all other
series subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Agreement
in accordance with Article 17, being herein referred to as the "Funds");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein set forth,
the Trust and the Bank agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. TERMS OF APPOINTMENT; DUTIES OF THE BANK
1.01 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Trust on behalf of the Funds, hereby employs and appoints the Bank to act as,
and the Bank agrees to act as, transfer agent for each of the Fund(s)'
authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest ("Shares"), dividend
disbursing agent and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or
similar plans provided to the shareholders of the Trust ("Shareholders") and set
out in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional
information, as each may be amended from time to time, (the "Prospectus") of the
Trust, including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic
withdrawal program.
1.02 The Bank agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In connection with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Trust and the Bank, the Bank shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and
promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to
the custodian of the Trust appointed by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust (the "Custodian");
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of
Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder
account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance, redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to
the Custodian;
(iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid
to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or
cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as
instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;
(v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions
declared by the Trust on behalf of a Fund; and
(vii) Create and maintain all necessary records including those
specified in Article 10 hereof, in accordance with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to records
required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Trust Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), and those records pertaining to the
various functions performed by it hereunder. All records shall be
available for inspection and use by the Trust. Where applicable,
such records shall be maintained by the Bank for the periods and
in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
(viii) 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, or any person
retained by the Trust. Upon reasonable notice by the Trust, the
Bank shall make available during regular business hours its
facilities and premises employed in connection with its
performance of this Agreement for reasonable visitation by the
Trust, or any person retained by the Trust.
(ix) At the expense of and at the request of the Trust, the Bank
shall maintain an adequate supply of blank share certificates for
each Fund providing for the issuance of certificates to meet the
Bank's requirements therefor. Such share certificates shall be
properly signed by facsimile. The Trust agrees that,
notwithstanding the death, resignation, or removal of any officer
of the Trust whose signature appears on such certificates, the
Bank may continue to countersign certificates which bear such
signatures until otherwise directed by the Trust. Share
certificates may be issued and accounted for entirely by the Bank
and do not require any third party registrar or other endorsing
party.
(x) Issue replacement share certificates in lieu of certificates
which have been lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, without any
further action by the Board of Trustees or any officer of the
Trust, upon receipt by the Bank of properly executed affidavits
and lost certificate bonds, in form satisfactory to the Bank with
the Trust and the Bank as obligees under the bond. At the
discretion of the Bank, and at its sole risk, the Bank may issue
replacement certificates without requiring the affidavits and lost
certificate bonds described above and the Bank agrees to indemnify
the Trust against any and all losses or claims which may arise by
reason of the issuance of such new certificates in the place of
the ones allegedly lost, stolen or destroyed.
(xi) Record the issuance of Shares of the Trust and maintain,
pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the 1934 Act, a record of the
total number of Shares of the Trust which are authorized, based
upon data provided to it by the Trust, and issued and outstanding.
The Bank shall also provide the Trust on a regular basis with the
total number of Shares which are authorized and issued and
outstanding and shall have no obligation, when recording the
issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such Shares or to
take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such
Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the
Trust.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in the
above paragraph (a) or in any Schedule hereto, the Bank shall: (i) perform all
of the customary services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as
relevant, agent in connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plans
(including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic
withdrawal program); including but not limited to maintaining all Shareholder
accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting lists, mailing proxies, receiving and
tabulating proxies, mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses to current
Shareholders, withholding taxes on all accounts, including nonresident alien
accounts, preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other
appropriate forms required with respect to dividends and distributions by
federal authorities for all Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation
forms and statements of account to Shareholders for all purchases and
redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder
accounts, responding to Shareholder telephone calls and Shareholder
correspondence, preparing and mailing activity statements for Shareholders, and
providing Shareholder account information; and (ii) provide a system which will
enable the Trust to monitor the total number of shares sold in each State. The
Trust shall (i) identify to the Bank in writing those transactions and assets to
be treated as exempt from blue sky reporting for each State and (ii) verify the
establishment of transactions for each State on the system prior to activation
and thereafter monitor the daily activity for each State. The responsibility of
the Bank for a Fund's blue sky state registration status is solely limited to
the initial establishment of transactions subject to blue sky compliance by such
Fund(s) and the reporting of such transactions to the Fund(s) as provided above.
(c) Additionally, the Bank shall utilize a system to identify all share
transactions which involve purchase and redemption orders that are processed at
a time other than the time of the computation of net asset value per share next
computed after receipt of such orders, and shall compute the net effect upon the
Fund(s) of such transactions so identified on a daily and cumulative basis.
ARTICLE 2. SALE OF TRUST SHARES
2.01 Whenever the Trust shall sell or cause to be sold any Shares of a
Fund, the Trust shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Bank a document
duly specifying: (i) the name of the Fund whose Shares were sold; (ii) the
number of Shares sold, trade date, and price; (iii) the amount of money to be
delivered to the Custodian for the sale of such Shares and specifically
allocated to such Fund; and (iv) in the case of a new account, a new account
application or sufficient information to establish an account.
2.02 The Bank will, upon receipt by it of a check or other payment
identified by it as an investment in Shares of one of the Funds and drawn or
endorsed to the Bank as agent for, or identified as being for the account of,
one of the Funds, promptly deposit such check or other payment to the
appropriate account postings necessary to reflect the investment. The Bank will
notify the Trust, or its designee, and the Custodian of all purchases and
related account adjustments.
2.03 Under procedures as established by mutual agreement between the Trust
and the Bank, the Bank shall issue to the purchaser or his authorized agent such
Shares, computed to the nearest three decimal points, as he is entitled to
receive, based on the appropriate net asset value of the Funds' Shares,
determined in accordance with the prospectus and applicable Federal law or
regulation. In issuing Shares to a purchaser or his authorized agent, the Bank
shall be entitled to rely upon the latest directions, if any, previously
received by the Bank from the purchaser or his authorized agent concerning the
delivery of such Shares.
2.04 The Bank shall not be required to issue any Shares of the Trust where
it has received a written instruction from the Trust or written notification
from any appropriate Federal or State authority that the sale of the Shares of
the Fund(s) in question has been suspended or discontinued, and the Bank shall
be entitled to rely upon such written instructions or written notification.
2.05 Upon the issuance of any Shares of any Fund(s) in accordance with
foregoing provisions of this Section, the Bank shall not be responsible for the
payment of any original issue or other taxes, if any, required to be paid by the
Trust in connection with such issuance.
2.06 The Bank may establish such additional rules and regulations governing
the transfer or registration of Shares as it may deem advisable and consistent
with such rules and regulations generally adopted by transfer agents, or with
the written consent of the Trust, any other rules and regulations.
ARTICLE 3. RETURNED CHECKS
3.01 In the event that any check or other order for the transfer of money
is returned unpaid for any reason, the Bank will take such steps as the Bank
may, in its discretion, deem appropriate to protect the Trust from financial
loss or as the Trust or its designee may instruct. Provided that the standard
procedures, as agreed upon from time to time, between the Trust and the Bank,
regarding purchases and redemptions of Shares, are adhered to by the Bank, the
Bank shall not be liable for any loss suffered by a Fund as a result of returned
or unpaid purchase or redemption transactions. Legal or other expenses incurred
to collect amounts owed to a Fund as a consequence of returned or unpaid
purchase or redemption transactions shall be an expense of that Fund.
ARTICLE 4. REDEMPTIONS
4.01 Shares of any Fund may be redeemed in accordance with the procedures
set forth in the Prospectus of the Trust and the Bank will duly process all
redemption requests.
ARTICLE 5. TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
5.01 The Bank is authorized to review and process transfers of Shares of
each Fund, exchanges between Funds on the records of the Funds maintained by the
Bank, and exchanges between the Trust and any other entity as may be permitted
by the Prospectus of the Trust. if Shares to be transferred are represented by
outstanding certificates, the Bank will, upon surrender to it of the
certificates in proper form for transfer, and upon cancellation thereof,
countersign and issue new certificates for a like number of Shares and deliver
the same. if the Shares to be transferred are not represented by outstanding
certificates, the Bank will, upon an order therefor by or on behalf of the
registered holder thereof in proper form, credit the same to the transferee on
its books. if Shares are to be exchanged for Shares of another Fund, the Bank
will process such exchange in the same manner as a redemption and sale of
Shares, except that it may in its discretion waive requirements for information
and documentation.
ARTICLE 6. RIGHT TO SEEK ASSURANCES
6.01 The Bank 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 Bank, in its judgment, deems improper or
unauthorized, or until it is satisfied that there is no basis for any claims
adverse to such transfer or redemption. The Bank may, in effecting transfers,
rely upon the 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, which in the opinion of legal counsel for the Trust or of its
own legal counsel protect it in not requiring certain documents in connection
with the transfer or redemption of Shares of any Fund, and the Trust shall
indemnify the Bank for any act done or omitted by it in reliance upon such laws
or opinions of counsel of the Trust or of its own counsel.
ARTICLE 7. DISTRIBUTIONS
7.01 The Trust will promptly notify the Bank of the declaration of any
dividend or distribution. The Trust shall furnish to the Bank a resolution of
the Board of Trustees of the Trust certified by the Secretary (a "Certificate"):
(i) authorizing the declaration of dividends on a specified periodic basis and
authorizing the Bank to rely on oral instructions or a Certificate specifying
the date of the declaration of such dividend or distribution, the date of
payment thereof, the record date as of which Shareholders entitled to payment
shall be determined and the amount payable per share to Shareholders of record
as of the date and the total amount payable to the Bank on the payment date; or
(ii) setting forth the date of the declaration of any dividend or distribution
by a Fund, the date of payment thereof, the record date as of which Shareholders
entitled to payment shall be determined, and the amount payable per share to the
Shareholders of record as of that date and the total amount payable to the Bank
on the payment date.
7.02 The Bank, on behalf of the Trust, shall instruct the Custodian to
place in a dividend disbursing account funds equal to the cash amount of any
dividend or distribution to be paid out. The Bank will calculate, prepare and
mail checks to (at the address as it appears on the records of the Bank), or
(where appropriate) credit such dividend or distribution to the account of, Fund
Shareholders, and maintain and safeguard all underlying records.
7.03 The Bank will replace lost checks at its discretion and in conformity
with regular business practices.
7.04 The Bank will maintain all records necessary to reflect the crediting
of dividends which are reinvested in Shares of the Trust, including without
limitation daily dividends.
7.05 The Bank shall not be liable for any improper payments made in
accordance with a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
7.06 If the Bank shall not receive from the Custodian sufficient cash to
make payment to all Shareholders of the Trust as of the record date, the Bank
shall, upon notifying the Trust, withhold payment to all Shareholders of record
as of the record date until such sufficient cash is provided to the Bank.
ARTICLE 8. OTHER DUTIES
8.01 In addition to the duties expressly provided for herein, the Bank
shall perform such other duties and functions and shall be paid such amounts
therefor as may from time to time be agreed to in writing.
ARTICLE 9. TAXES
9.01 It is understood that the Bank shall file such appropriate information
returns concerning the payment of dividends and capital gain distributions and
tax withholding with the proper Federal, State and local authorities as are
required by law to be filed by the Trust and shall withhold such sums as are
required to be withheld by applicable law.
ARTICLE 10. BOOKS AND RECORDS
10.01 The Bank shall maintain confidential records showing for each
Shareholder's account the following: (i) names, addresses and tax identification
numbers; (ii) numbers of Shares held; (iii) historical information (as available
from prior transfer agents) regarding the account of each Shareholder, including
dividends paid and date and price of all transactions on a Shareholder's
account; (iv) any stop or restraining order placed against a Shareholder's
account; (v) information with respect to withholdings; (vi) any capital gain or
dividend reinvestment order, plan application, dividend address and
correspondence relating to the current maintenance of a Shareholder's account;
(vii) certificate numbers and denominations for any Shareholders holding
certificates; (viii) any information required in order for the Bank to perform
the calculations contemplated or required by this Agreement; and (ix) such other
information and data as may be required by applicable law.
10.02 Any records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940
Act will be preserved for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940
Act. Such records may be inspected by the Trust at reasonable times. The Bank
may, at its option at any time, and shall forthwith upon the Trust's demand,
turn over to the Trust and cease to retain in the Bank's files, records and
documents created and maintained by the Bank in performance of its service or
for its protection. At the end of the six-year retention period, such periods
and documents will either be turned over to the Trust, or destroyed in
accordance with the Trust's authorization.
10.03 Procedures applicable to the services to be performed hereunder may
be established from time to time by agreement between the Fund(s) and the Bank.
The Bank shall have the right to utilize any shareholder accounting and
recordkeeping systems which, in its opinion, qualifies to perform any services
to be performed hereunder. The Bank shall keep records relating to the services
performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable.
ARTICLE 11. FEES AND EXPENSES.
11.01 For performance by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund(s)
agree to pay the Bank an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account as
set out in the initial fee schedule attached hereto. Such fees and out-of-pocket
expenses and advances identified under Section 11.02 below may be changed from
time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the Fund(s) and the
Bank.
11.02 In addition to the fee paid under Section 11.01 above, the Fund(s)
agree to reimburse the Bank for out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by
the Bank for the items set out in the fee schedule attached hereto. In addition,
any other expenses incurred by the Bank at the request or with the consent of
the Fund(s) including, without limitation, any equipment or supplies
specifically ordered by the Trust or required to be purchased by the Trust, will
be reimbursed by the Fund(s).
11.03 The Fund(s) agree to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within
thirty days following the mailing of the respective billing notice. Postage for
mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other mailings to all
shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the Bank by the Fund(s) at least seven
(7) days prior to the mailing date of such material.
ARTICLE 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BANK
The Bank represents and warrants to the Trust that:
12.01 It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
12.02 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and by-laws
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
12.03 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
12.04 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 13. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRUST
The Trust represents and warrants to the Bank that:
13.01 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of its incorporation as set forth in the preamble
hereto.
13.02 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter documents
and by-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
13.03 All proceedings required by said charter documents and by-laws have
been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
13.04 It is an open-end investment trust registered under the 0000 Xxx.
13.05 A registration statement on Form N-1A (including a prospectus and
statement of additional information) under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
1940 Act is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state
securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect
to all Shares of the Trust being offered for sale.
13.06 When Shares are hereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the
Prospectus, such Shares shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable by
the Fund(s).
ARTICLE 14. INDEMNIFICATION
14.01 Except as set forth in subparagraph (f) hereof, the Bank shall not be
responsible for, and the Trust shall indemnify and hold the Bank harmless from
and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees,
payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to:
(a) All actions taken or omitted to be taken by the Bank or its agent
or subcontractors in good faith in reliance on or use by the Bank or its agents
or subcontractors of information, records and documents which (i) are received
by the Bank or its agents or subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf
of the Fund(s), (ii) have been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund(s) or any
other person or firm on behalf of the Fund(s), and (iii) were received by the
Bank or its agents or subcontractors from a prior transfer agent.
(b) Any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Bank 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.
(c) The Fund(s)' refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, or which arise out of the Funds' lack of good faith, negligence or
willful misconduct or which arise out of the breach of any representation or
warranty of the Fund(s) hereunder.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by the Bank or its agents or
subcontractors of any instructions or requests, whether written or oral, of the
Fund(s).
(e) The offer or sale of Shares by the Trust in violation of any
requirement under the federal securities laws or regulations or the securities
laws or regulations of any State that such Shares be registered in such State or
in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal
agency or any State with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares in such
state.
(f) In addition to any other limitation provided herein, or by law,
indemnification under this Agreement shall not apply to actions or omissions of
the Bank or its trustees, officers, employees, agents or subcontractors in cases
its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard of
its duties or their own duties hereunder, knowing violation of law or fraud.
14.02 The Bank shall indemnify and hold the Fund(s) harmless from and
against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments,
expenses and liability arising out of or attributed to any action or failure or
omission to act by the Bank as a result of the Bank's lack of good faith,
negligence, willful misconduct, knowing violation of law or fraud.
14.03 At any time the Bank may apply to any officer of the Trust for
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel with respect to any matter
arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Bank under this
Agreement, and the Bank and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and
shall be indemnified by the Trust for any action taken or omitted by it in
reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel except for a
knowing violation of law. The Bank, its agents and subcontractors shall be
protected and indemnified in acting upon any paper or document furnished by or
on behalf of the Fund(s), reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been
signed by the proper person or persons, or upon any instruction, information,
data, records or documents provided the Bank or its agents or subcontractors by
machine readable input, telex, CRT data entry or other similar means authorized
by the Fund(s), and shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority
of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund(s). The
Bank, its agents and subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in
recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the proper
manual or facsimile signatures of an officer of the Trust, and one proper
countersignature of any former transfer agent or registrar, or of a co-transfer
agent or co-registrar.
14.04 In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under
the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, interruption of
electrical power or other utilities, equipment or transmission failure or damage
reasonably beyond its control, or other causes reasonably beyond its control,
such party shall not be liable to the other for any damages resulting from such
failure to perform or otherwise from such causes.
14.05 Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party
for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any act
or failure to act hereunder as contemplated by this Agreement.
14.06 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this
Article 14 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may
be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking the indemnification shall
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other
party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party
who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the
party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The party seeking
indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any
case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the
other party's prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
ARTICLE 15. COVENANTS OF THE TRUST AND THE BANK
15.01 The Trust shall promptly furnish to the Bank the following:
(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Trustees of the Trust
authorizing the appointment of the Bank and the execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
(b) A copy of the charter documents and by-laws of the Trust and all
amendments thereto.
(c) Copies of each vote of the Trustees designating authorized persons
to give instructions to the Bank, and a Certificate providing specimen
signatures for such authorized persons.
(d) Certificates as to any change in any officer or Director of the
Trust.
(e) If applicable a specimen of the certificate of Shares in each Fund
of the Trust in the form approved by the Trustees, with a Certificate as to such
approval.
(f) Specimens of all new certificates for Shares, accompanied by the
Trustees' resolutions approving such forms.
(g) All account application forms and other documents relating to
shareholder accounts or relating to any plan, program or service offered by the
Trust.
(h) A list of all Shareholders of the Fund(s) with the name, address
and tax identification number of each Shareholder, and the number of Shares of
the Fund(s) held by each, certificate numbers and denominations ( if any
certificates have been issued), lists of any account against which stops have
been placed, together with the reasons for said stops, and the number of Shares
redeemed by the Fund(s).
(i) An opinion of counsel for the Trust with respect to the validity of
the Shares and the status of such Shares under the Securities Act of 1933.
(j) Copies of the Fund(s) registration statement on Form N-1A as
amended and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission and all
post-effective amendments thereto.
(k) Such other certificates, documents or opinions as may mutually be
deemed necessary or appropriate for the Bank in the proper performance of its
duties.
15.02 The Bank hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and
procedures reasonably acceptable to the Trust for safekeeping of stock
certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any;
and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates,
forms and devices.
15.03 The Bank shall keep records relating to the services to be performed
hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. To the extent
required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the Rules thereunder, the Bank agrees
that all such records prepared or maintained by the Bank relating to the
services to be performed by the Bank hereunder are the confidential property of
the Trust and will be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance
with such Section and Rules, and will be surrendered to the Trust on and in
accordance with its request.
15.04 The Bank and the Trust agree that all books, records, information and
data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or
received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall
remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person,
except as may be required by law.
15.05 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the
Shareholder records of the Trust, the Bank will endeavor to notify the Trust and
to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Trust as to such
instruction. The Bank reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder
records to any person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be held
liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
ARTICLE 16. Term of Agreement
16.01 This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof (the
"Effective Date") and shall continue in effect for twelve months from the
Effective Date ( the "Initial Term") and from year to year thereafter with
respect to each Fund, provided that subsequent to the Initial Term, this
Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time without payment of any
penalty upon ninety (90) days written notice to the other. In the event such
notice is given by the Trust, it shall be accompanied by a resolution of the
Board of Trustees, certified by the Secretary, electing to terminate this
Agreement and designating a successor transfer agent.
16.02 Should the Trust exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket
expenses associated with the movement of records and material will be borne by
the Trust. Additionally, the Bank reserves the right to charge for any other
reasonable expenses associated with such termination.
ARTICLE 17. ADDITIONAL FUNDS
17.01 In the event that the Trust establishes one or more series of Shares
in addition to the initial series with respect to which it desires to have the
Bank render services as transfer agent under the terms hereof, it shall so
notify the Bank in writing, and if the Bank agrees in writing to provide such
services, such series of Shares shall become a Fund hereunder.
ARTICLE 18. ASSIGNMENT
18.01 Except as provided in Section 18.03 below, neither this Agreement nor
any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the
written consent of the other party.
18.02 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
18.03 The Bank, may without further consent on the part of the Trust,
subcontract for the performance of any of the services to be provided hereunder
to third parties, including any affiliate of the Bank, provided that the Bank
shall remain liable hereunder for any acts or omissions of any subcontractor as
if performed by the Bank.
ARTICLE 19. AMENDMENT
19.01 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement
executed by both parties.
ARTICLE 20. MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY
20.01 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
ARTICLE 21. MERGER OF AGREEMENT AND SEVERABILITY
21.01 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject hereof
whether oral or written.
21.02 In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held
unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remainder of the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect.
21.03 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.
ARTICLE 22. NOTICES
22. 01 Any notice or other instrument in writing authorized or required by
this Agreement to be given to either party hereto will be sufficiently given if
addressed to such party and mailed or delivered to it at its office at the
address set forth below:
For the Funds: Republic Funds
c/o Signature Financial Group, Inc.
0 Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
For the Bank: Investors Bank & Trust Company
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed in their names and on their behalf under their seals by and through
their duly authorized officers, as of the day and the year first above written.
Republic Funds
Name: /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Title: President
ATTEST: /S/ XXXXX X. MUGLER
Investors Bank & Trust Company
Name: /S/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Title: President
ATTEST:
DATE: 8/29/95
APPENDIX A
Republic U.S. Government Money Market Fund
Republic New York Tax Free Money Market Fund
Republic New York Tax Free Bond Fund
Republic International Equity Fund
Republic Fixed Income Fund
Republic Equity Fund
