TRANSFER AGENT SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 28th day of December,
2001, by and between Alpine Equity Trust, a business trust organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust") and Firstar Mutual Fund Services,
LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of
Wisconsin ("FMFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company which is
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to create separate series, each with its
own separate investment portfolio;
WHEREAS, FMFS is a limited liability company and, among other things, is in
the business of administering transfer and dividend disbursing agent functions
for the benefit of its customers; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain FMFS to provide transfer and dividend
disbursing agent services to each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit A
attached hereto, (each hereinafter referred to as a "Fund") as may be amended
from time to time.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made, the
Trust and FMFS agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Transfer Agent
The Trust hereby appoints FMFS as Transfer Agent of the Trust on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and FMFS hereby accepts
such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in
this Agreement in consideration of the compensation provided for herein
2. Duties and Responsibilities of FMFS
FMFS shall perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent
and 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:
A. Receive orders for the purchase of shares;
B. Process purchase orders with prompt delivery, where appropriate, of
payment and supporting documentation to the Trust's custodian, and
issue the appropriate number of uncertificated shares with such
uncertificated shares being held in the appropriate shareholder
account;
C. Arrange for issuance of shares obtained through transfers of funds
from shareholders' accounts at financial institutions and arrange for
the exchange of shares for shares of other eligible investment
companies, when permitted by Prospectus.
D. Process redemption requests received in good order and, where
relevant, deliver appropriate documentation to the Trust's custodian;
E. Pay monies upon receipt from the Trust's custodian, where relevant, in
accordance with the instructions of redeeming shareholders;
F. Process transfers of shares in accordance with the shareholder's
instructions;
G. Process exchanges between funds and/or classes of shares of funds both
within the same family of funds and with a Firstar Money Market Fund,
if applicable;
H. Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared
by the Trust with respect to a Fund, after deducting any amount
required to be withheld by any applicable laws, rules and regulations
and in accordance with shareholder instructions;
I. Make changes to shareholder records, including, but not limited to,
address changes in plans (i.e., systematic withdrawal, automatic
investment, dividend reinvestment, etc.);
J. Record the issuance of shares of the Fund and maintain, pursuant to
Rule 17ad-10(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), a record of the total number of
shares of the Fund which are authorized, issued and outstanding and
other such records as are required to be maintained by a transfer
agent for open-end registered investment companies by the rules of the
Exchange Act;
K. Prepare shareholder meeting lists and, if applicable, mail, receive
and tabulate proxies;
L. Mail shareholder reports and prospectuses to current shareholders;
M. Prepare and file U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other
appropriate information returns required with respect to dividends and
distributions for all shareholders;
N. Provide shareholder account information upon request and prepare and
mail confirmations and statements of account to shareholders for all
purchases, redemptions and other confirmable transactions as agreed
upon with the Trust;
O. Mail requests for shareholders' certifications under penalties of
perjury and pay on a timely basis to the appropriate Federal
authorities any taxes to be withheld on dividends and distributions
paid by the Trust, all as required by applicable Federal tax laws and
regulations;
P. Provide a Blue Sky System that will enable the Trust to monitor the
total number of shares of the Fund sold in each state. In addition,
the Trust or its agent, including FMFS, shall identify to FMFS in
writing those transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from the
Blue Sky reporting for each state. The responsibility of FMFS for the
Trust's Blue Sky state registration status is solely limited to the
initial compliance by the Trust and the reporting of such transactions
to the Trust or its agent;
Q. Answer correspondence from shareholders, securities brokers and others
relating to FMFS's duties hereunder and such other correspondence as
may from time to time be mutually agreed upon between FMFS and the
Trust.
R. Reimburse the Fund each month for all material losses resulting from
"as of" processing errors for which FMFS is responsible in accordance
with the "as of" processing guidelines set forth in the attached
Exhibit B.
3. Compensation
The Trust agrees to pay FMFS for the performance of the duties listed in
this agreement as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto; the fees and
out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to the following: printing,
postage, forms, stationery, record retention (if requested by the Trust),
mailing, insertion, programming (if requested by the Trust), labels, shareholder
lists and proxy expenses.
These fees and reimbursable expenses may be changed from time to time
subject to mutual written agreement between the Trust and FMFS.
The Trust agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within ten (10)
business days following the receipt of the billing notice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to FMFS
shall only be paid out of assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
4. Representations of FMFS
FMFS represents and warrants to the Trust that:
A. It is a limited liability corporation duly organized, existing and in
good standing under the laws of Wisconsin;
B. It is a registered transfer agent under the Exchange Act.
C. It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of
Wisconsin;
D. It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and bylaws to
enter into and perform this Agreement;
E. All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to
enter and perform this Agreement;
F. It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this Agreement; and
G. It will comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, and any laws,
rules, and regulations of governmental authorities having
jurisdiction.
5. Representations of the Trust
The Trust represents and warrants to FMFS that:
A. The Trust is an open-ended diversified investment company under the
1940 Act;
B. The Trust is a business trust organized, existing, and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Massachusetts;
C. The Trust is empowered under applicable laws and by its Declaration of
Trust and Bylaws to enter into and perform this Agreement;
D. All necessary proceedings required by the Declaration of Trust have
been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;
E. The Trust will comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, and any laws, rules
and regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction; and
F. A registration statement under the Securities Act will be made
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.
6. Performance of Service; Limitation of Liability
A. FMFS shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement. FMFS shall not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in
connection with matters to which this Agreement relates, including
losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of
communication or power supplies beyond FMFS's control, except a loss
arising out of or relating to the FMFS's refusal or failure to comply
with the terms of this Agreement or from bad faith, negligence, or
willful misconduct on its part in the performance of its duties under
this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
if FMFS has exercised reasonable care in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless FMFS
from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and
liabilities (whether with or without basis in fact or law) of any and
every nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees) which FMFS may
sustain or incur or which may be asserted against FMFS by any person
arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
performing the services hereunder, (i) in accordance with the
foregoing standards, or (ii) in reliance upon any written or oral
instruction provided to FMFS by any duly authorized officer of the
Trust, such duly authorized officer to be included in a list of
authorized officers furnished to FMFS and as amended from time to time
in writing by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, except
for any and all claims, demands, losses expenses, and liabilities
arising out of or relating to FMFS's refusal or failure to comply with
the terms of this Agreement or from bad faith, negligence or from
willful misconduct on its part in performance of its duties under this
Agreement.
FMFS shall indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and against any
and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities (whether
with or without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) which the Trust may sustain or
incur or which may be asserted against the Trust by any person arising
out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by FMFS as a result of
FMFS's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement,
its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or
power supplies beyond its control, FMFS shall take all reasonable
steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such
interruption continues beyond FMFS's control. FMFS will make every
reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any
errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of FMFS. FMFS
agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable contingency plans
with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency
use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate
equipment is available. Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled
to inspect FMFS's premises and operating capabilities at any time
during regular business hours of FMFS, upon reasonable notice to FMFS.
Regardless of the above, FMFS reserves the right to reprocess and
correct administrative errors at its own expense.
B. In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section
shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may
be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor
shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning
the situation in question, and it is further understood that the
indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor
promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to
present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor
shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim which
may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the
indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon
the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the
indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other
expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section.
The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any
compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to
indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor's prior written
consent.
C. FMFS is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of
shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust's Declaration of Trust
and agrees that obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this
Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the Trust and its assets,
and if the liability relates to one or more series, the obligations
hereunder shall be limited to the respective assets of such series.
FMFS further agrees that it shall not seek satisfaction of any such
obligation from the shareholder or any individual shareholder of a
series of the Trust, nor from the Trustees or any individual Trustee
of the Trust.
7. Proprietary and Confidential Information
FMFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees
to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records
and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential
shareholders (and clients of said shareholders) and not to use such records and
information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities
and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing
by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be
withheld where FMFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for
failure to comply after being requested to divulge such information by duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
[Further, the FMFS will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Trust
pursuant to Title V of the Xxxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act (the "Act") and
Regulation S-P thereunder, as may be modified from time. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, FMFS will not share any nonpublic personal information
concerning any of the Trust's current or past shareholders to any
nonaffiliated third parties unless necessary to carry out the services
required by this Agreement, or allowed under one of the exceptions noted
under the Act, or as specifically directed by the Trust.]
8. Term of Agreement
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and will
continue in effect for a period of one year. This Agreement may be terminated by
either party upon giving ninety (90) days prior written notice to the other
party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties. However,
this Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the parties. This
Agreement and any right or obligation hereunder may not be assigned by FMFS
without the consent of the Trust.
9. Records
FMFS shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder,
in the form and manner, and for such period as it may deem advisable and is
agreeable to the Trust but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of
appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31 of the 1940 Act,
and the rules thereunder. FMFS agrees that all such records prepared or
maintained by FMFS relating to the services to be performed by FMFS hereunder
are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made
available with such section and rules of the Investment Company Act and will be
promptly surrendered to the Trust on and in accordance with its request.
10. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin. However,
nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or
any rule or regulation promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.
11. Duties in the Event of Termination
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of
FMFS's duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by
written notice to FMFS, FMFS will promptly, upon such termination and at the
expense of the Trust (except where such termination follows a breach of this
Agreement by FMFS), transfer to such successor all relevant books, records,
correspondence, and other data established or maintained by FMFS under this
Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs
from the form in which FMFS has maintained, the Trust shall pay any expenses
associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the
transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance
from FMFS's personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by
such successor.
12. Notices
Notices of any kind to be given by either party to the other party shall be
in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered as follows: Notice to
FMFS shall be sent to:
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:
Alpine Equity Trust
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by a duly authorized officer or one or more counterparts as of the day
and year first written above.
Alpine Equity Trust FIRSTAR MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: ______________________________ By: ________________________________
Print:_____________________________ Print:_______________________________
Title: ____________________________ Title: ______________________________
Date:_____________________________ Date:_______________________________
Attest:____________________________ Attest:______________________________
Transfer Agent and Shareholder Servicing
Annual Fee Schedule
Exhibit A
Separate series of Alpine Equity Trust
Name of Series Date Added
Alpine U.S. Real Estate Equity Fund 12/28/01
Alpine International Real Estate Equity Fund
Alpine Realty Income & Growth Fund
EXHIBIT B
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC As Of Processing Policy
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC (FMFS) will reimburse the Fund(s) for any
net material loss that may exist on the Fund(s) books and for which FMFS is
responsible, at the end of each calendar month. "Net Material Loss" shall be
defined as any remaining loss, after netting losses against any gains, which
impacts a Fund's net asset value per share by more than 1/2 cent. Gains and
losses will be reflected on the Fund's daily share sheet, and the Fund will be
reimbursed for any net material loss on a monthly basis. FMFS will reset the as
of ledger each calendar month so that any losses which do not exceed the
materiality threshold of 1/2 cent will not be carried forward to the next
succeeding month. FMFS will notify the advisor to the Fund(s) on the daily share
sheet of any losses for which the advisor may be held accountable.
ALPINE EQUITY TRUST
Amendment to the transfer agent servicing agreement
THIS AMENDMENT dated as of January 1, 2002 to the Transfer Agent Servicing
Agreement dated as of the 28th day of December, 2001, by and between Alpine
Equity Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of the State of
Massachusetts (the "Trust") and Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC, a Wisconsin
limited liability company shall be as follows:
Effective January 1, 2002, the name Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC has
been changed to U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC. Accordingly, all references to
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC in this Agreement should be replaced with U.S.
Bancorp Fund Services, LLC. Similarly, any references to Firstar Bank, N.A.
should be replaced with U.S. Bank, N.A.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the day
and year first written above.
ALPINE EQUITY TRUST U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: _____________________________ By: _____________________________
