EXHIBIT 99.9
FREEDOM INVESTMENT TRUST III
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
DATED AUGUST 10, 1992
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 10th day of August, 1992 by and between
Freedom Investment Trust III, a Massachusetts business trust having its
principal office and place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx (the "Fund"), and Xxxx Xxxxxxx Fund Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation having its principal office and place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 ("JHFSI").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint JHFSI as its transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with certain other activities,
and JHFSI desires to accept such appointment;
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest
in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate
portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund presently offers shares in two series, such series,
together with all other series subsequently established by the Fund and made
subject to this Agreement in accordance with Article 8, being herein referred to
as the "Fund(s)";
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article 1 Terms of Appointment: Duties of JHFSI
1.01 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
the Fund hereby, employs and appoints JHFSI to act as, and JHFSI agrees to act
as transfer agent for the Fund's authorized and issued shares of beneficial
interest ("Shares"), with any accumulation, open-account or similar plans
provided to the shareholders of the Fund ("Shareholders") and set out in the
currently effective prospectus of the Fund, including without limitation any
periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.
1.02 JHFSI agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund and JHFSI, JHFSI shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares,
and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the
Custodian of the Fund authorized pursuant to the By-Laws of the Fund as in
effect on the date thereof (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 Fund; and (vii) Maintain records of account for
and advise the Fund and its Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
(viii) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain
pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total
number of Shares of the Fund which are authorized, based upon data provided to
it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. JHFSI shall also provide the Fund 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 Fund.
(b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in the
above paragraph (a), JHFSI 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 U.S.
resident and non-resident 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 confirmations forms and statements of account to
Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable
transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity statements
for Shareholders, and providing Shareholder account information and (ii) provide
a system which will enable the Fund to monitor the total number of Shares sold
in each State.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to JHFSI in writing those
transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from the 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 JHFSI for the Fund's blue sky State
registration status is solely limited to the initial establishment of
transactions subject to blue sky compliance by the Fund and the reporting of
such transactions to the Fund as provided above.
(d) Additionally, JHFSI shall:
(i) 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 of such transactions
so identified on a daily and cumulative basis.
(ii) If upon any day the cumulative net effect of such transactions
upon the Fund is negative and exceed a dollar amount equivalent to 1/2 of 1 cent
per share, JHFSI shall promptly make a payment to the Fund in cash or through
the use of a credit, in the manner described in paragraph (iv) below, in such
amount as may be necessary to reduce the negative cumulative net effect to less
than 1/2 of 1 cent per share.
(iii) If on the last business day of any month the cumulative net
effect upon the Fund (adjusted by the amount of all prior payments and credits
by JHFSI and the Fund) is negative, the Fund shall be entitled to a reduction in
the fee next payable under the Agreement by an equivalent amount, except as
provided in paragraph (iv) below. If on the last business day in any month the
cumulative net effect upon the Fund (adjusted by the amount of all prior
payments and credits by JHFSI and the Fund) is positive, JHFSI shall be entitled
to recover certain past payments and reductions in fees, and to credit against
all future payments and fee reductions that may be required under the Agreement
as herein described in paragraph (iv) below.
(iv) At the end of each month, any positive cumulative net effect upon
the Fund shall be deemed to be a credit to JHFSI which shall first be applied to
permit JHFSI to recover any prior cash payments and fee reductions made by it to
the Fund under paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above during the calendar year, by
increasing the amount of the monthly fee under the Agreement next payable in an
amount equal to prior payments and fee reductions made by JHFSI during such
calendar year, but not exceeding the sum of that month's credit and credits
arising in prior months during such calendar year to the extent such prior
credits have not previously been utilized as contemplated by this paragraph. Any
portion of a credit to JHFSI not so used by it shall remain as a credit to be
used as payment against the amount of any future negative cumulative net effects
that would otherwise require a cash payment or fee reduction to be made to the
Fund pursuant to paragraphs (ii) or (iii) above (regardless of whether or not
the credit or any portion thereof arose in the same calendar year as that in
which the negative cumulative net effects or any portion thereof arose).
(v) JHFSI shall supply to the Fund from time to time, as mutually
agreed upon, reports summarizing the transactions identified pursuant to
paragraph (i) above, and the daily and cumulative net effects of such
transactions, and shall advise the Fund at the end of each month of the net
cumulative effect at such time. JHFSI shall promptly advise the Fund if at any
time the cumulative net effect exceeds a dollar amount equivalent to 1/2 of 1
cent per share.
(vi) In the event that this Agreement is terminated for whatever cause,
the Fund shall promptly pay to JHFSI an amount in cash equal to the amount by
which the cumulative net effect upon the Fund is positive or, if the cumulative
net effect upon the Fund is negative, JHFSI shall promptly pay to the Fund an
amount in cash equal to the amount of such cumulative net effect.
Procedures applicable to certain of these services may be establishes
from time to time by agreement between the Fund and JHFSI but the failure of the
Fund to establish such procedures with respect to any service shall not in any
way diminish the duty and obligation of JHFSI to perform such services
hereunder.
Article 2 Fees and Expenses
2.01 For performance by JHFSI pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund
agrees to pay JHFSI monthly a fee based on the average daily net assets of the
Fund as set out in the initial fee schedule attached hereto. Such fees and
out-of-pocket expenses and advances identified under Section 2.02 below may be
changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the Fund
and JHFSI.
2.02 In addition to the fee paid under Section 2.01 above the Fund
agrees to reimburse JHFSI for out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by
JHFSI for the items set out in the fee schedule attached hereto. In addition,
any other expenses incurred by JHFSI at the request or with the consent of the
Fund, will be reimbursed by the Fund.
2.03 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses promptly
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 JHFSI by the Fund at least seven (7) days prior to the
mailing date of such materials.
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of JHFSI
JHFSI represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.01 It is a Delaware corporation duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and as a Foreign
Corporation under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
3.02 It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
3.03 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and
By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.04 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize
it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.05 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 4 Representations and Warranties of the Fund
The Fund represents and warrants to JHFSI that:
4.01 It is a trust duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the state of Massachusetts.
4.02 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its declaration of
trust and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.03 All corporate proceedings required by said declaration of trust
and By-Laws have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
4.04 It is an open-end and diversified investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
4.05 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 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 Fund being offered for sale.
Article 5 Indemnification
5.01 JHFSI shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall indemnify
and hold JHFSI harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs,
charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liabilities arising out of or
attributable to:
(a) All actions of JHFSI or its agent or subcontractors required to be
taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in good
faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this
Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's lack of good faith, negligence or
willful misconduct or which arise out of the breach of any representation or
warranty of the Fund hereunder.
(c) The offer or sale of Shares 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 unless such
violation results from any action or omission by JHFSI or any of its agents or
sub-contractors which fails to comply with written instructions of the Fund or
any officer of the Fund that no offers or sales be made in general or to the
residents of a particular state.
5.02 JHFSI shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from and against
any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses
and liabilities arising out of or attributed to any action or failure or
omission to act by JHFSI as a result of JHFSI's lack of good faith, negligence
or willful misconduct.
5.03 At any time JHFSI may apply to any officer of the Fund for
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel with respect to any matter
arising in connection with the services to be performed by JHFSI under this
Agreement, and JHFSI and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and
shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in
reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. JHFSI, its
agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any
paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund, 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 JHFSI or its
agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, telex, CRT data entry or
other similar means authorized by the Fund, 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. JHFSI, its agents and subcontractors shall also be
protected and indemnified in recognizing share certificates which are reasonably
believed to bear the proper manual or facsimile signatures of the officer of the
Fund, and the proper countersignature of any former transfer agent or registrar,
or of a co-transfer agent or co-registrar.
5.04 In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations
under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or
transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes
reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the
other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from
such causes.
5.05 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.
5.06 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this
Article 5 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may
be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking 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.
Article 6 Covenants of the Fund and JHFSI
6.01 The Fund shall promptly furnish to JHFSI the following:
(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees
authorizing both the appointment of JHFSI and the execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
(b) A copy of the Master Trust Agreement and By-Laws of the Fund and
all amendments thereto.
6.02 JHFSI hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and
procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of share
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.
6.03 JHFSI shall keep records relating to the services to be performed
hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. To the extent
required by Section 31 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and
the Rules thereunder, JHFSI agrees that all such records prepared or maintained
by JHFSI relating to the services to be performed by JHFSI hereunder are the
property of the Fund and will be preserved, maintained and made available in
accordance with such Section and Rules, and will be surrendered to the Fund on
and in accordance with its request.
6.04 JHFSI and the Fund 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.
6.05 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the
Shareholder records of the Fund, JHFSI will endeavor to notify the Fund and to
secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
instruction. JHFSI 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 7 Termination of Agreement
7.01 This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one hundred
twenty (120) days written notice to the other.
7.02 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket
expenses associated with the movement of records and material will be borne by
the Fund. Additionally, JHFSI reserves the right to charge for any other
reasonable expenses associated with such termination.
Article 8 Additional Funds
8.01 In the event that the Fund establishes one or more of series of
Shares in addition to the present series with respect to which it desires to
have JHFSI render services as a transfer agent under the terms hereof, it shall
so notify JHFSI in writing, and if JHFSI agrees in writing to provide such
services, such series of Shares shall become a Fund hereunder.
Article 9 Assignment
9.01 Except as provided in Section 9.03 below, neither this Agreement
nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without
the written consent of the other party.
9.02 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
9.03 JHFSI may, without further consent on the part of the Fund,
subcontract for the performance hereof with (i) Boston Financial Data Services,
Inc., a Massachusetts corporation ("BFDS") which is duly registered as a
transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A (c)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Section 17A (c)(1)"), (ii) or any other entity JHFSI deems appropriate in
order to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided,
however, that JHFSI shall be as fully responsible to the Fund for the acts and
omissions of any subcontractor as it is for its own acts and omissions.
Article 10 Amendment
10.01 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement
executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of the Board
of Trustees of the Fund.
Article 11 Massachusetts Law to Apply
11.01 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
Article 12 Merger of Agreement
12.01 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.
Article 13 Limitation on Liability
13.01 The Master Trust Agreement establishing the Fund, dated June 16,
1989 as amended and restated through May 14, 1991, a copy of which, together
with all amendments thereto (the "Declaration"), is on file in the Office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides all persons extending
credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Fund shall look only
to the assets of the Fund, and neither the shareholders nor the Trustees, nor
any of the Fund's officers, employees, or agents shall be personally liable
therefore.
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 year first above written.
ATTEST: FREEDOM INVESTMENT TRUST III
/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx BY: /s/Xxxx X. Xxxxxx. Jr.
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Assistant Secretary President
ATTEST: XXXX XXXXXXX FUND SERVICES, INC.
/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx BY: /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxx
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Assistant Secretary President
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