SERVICES AGREEMENT DIAMOND HILL FUNDS and CITI FUND SERVICES OHIO, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
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DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||
2.
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SERVICES AND RELATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS | 1 | ||
3.
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INSTRUCTIONS | 3 | ||
4.
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COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; ADVICE | 3 | ||
5.
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COMMUNICATIONS; RECORDS AND ACCESS; CONFIDENTIALITY; PUBLICITY | 4 | ||
6.
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SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY | 5 | ||
7.
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INDEMNITY | 6 | ||
8.
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FEES AND EXPENSES | 7 | ||
9.
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REPRESENTATIONS | 7 | ||
10.
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TERM AND TERMINATION | 8 | ||
11.
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GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION | 10 | ||
12.
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MISCELLANEOUS | 10 |
Schedule 1
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Definitions | |
Schedule 2
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Services | |
Schedule 3
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Dependencies | |
Schedule 4
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Fees and Expenses | |
Schedule 5
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List of Funds |
THIS SERVICES AGREEMENT is made on Aug.
22, 2011, by and between Diamond Hill Funds, an open-end
investment management company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(“1940 Act”) organized under the laws of Ohio , (the “Client”) and Citi Fund
Services Ohio, Inc., an Ohio corporation with its primary place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000 (the “Service Provider” and, with the Client, the “Parties”).
1. | DEFINITIONS | |
Schedule 1 contains capitalized terms that have the meanings set forth therein. Other capitalized terms used but not defined in Schedule 1 will have the meanings set forth herein. | ||
2. | SERVICES AND RELATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS | |
(A) | Services. The Services are described in Schedule 2 (the “Services Schedule”). The Service Provider will perform the Services for the Client for the benefit of the Funds listed on Schedule 5 in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement starting on the Effective Date and ending on the final day of the Term. The Services will be provided only on Business Days, and any functions or duties normally scheduled to be performed on any day that is not a Business Day will be performed on, and as of, the next Business Day. | |
(B) | Service Changes. The Service Provider will be obliged to perform only those Services set forth in the Services Schedule. The Service Provider will not be obliged to change the Services unless it has agreed to do so pursuant to an amendment to the Services Schedule. The Service Provider will reasonably accommodate requests to change the Services that the Service Provider determines in good faith to be non-material taking into account the effort and costs required to effect the requested change; the Client recognizes that isolated requests for changes or adjustments, when combined with other such requests, may in the aggregate have a material effect. Any change to the Services agreed by the Service Provider (a “Service Change”) will be set forth in an amendment to the Services Schedule signed by both Parties; each such amendment will specify (i) the timeline and dependencies, and the parties’ respective obligations, for implementing the Service Change and (ii) any implementation or additional ongoing fees and expenses that may be required to effect such Service Change. The foregoing process is the “Change Control Process.” | |
(C) | Provision of Information; Cooperation. In order to permit the Service Provider to provide the Services, the Client agrees to provide, and to cause each other agent or current or immediately preceding service provider to the Client to provide, to the Service Provider the information (and in such reasonable medium) that the Service Provider may reasonably request in connection with the Services and this Agreement, including, without limitation, any Organic Documents, Offering Documents and Policies and Procedures of the Client and any amendments thereto. Client requests to make a material change to the Services necessitated by a change to the Client’s Organic Documents, Offering Documents or such Policies and Procedures or a change in applicable Law will be effective only upon execution by the parties of an amendment to the Services Schedule, as contemplated by the Change Control Process. | |
(D) | Dependencies. Without prejudice to Section 6(B), the Service Provider will not be liable to the Client or any other Person for any failure to provide any Service in the following circumstances: (i) if any Dependency set forth in Schedule 3 is not met through no fault of the Service Provider; (ii) if the failure is at the written request or with the written consent of an Authorized Person; (iii) if any Law to which the Service Provider is subject prohibits or limits the performance of the Services; and/or (iv) if the failure results from a Force Majeure Event. | |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Service Provider will nevertheless use reasonable efforts to provide the Services while any of the circumstances specified in this Section 2(D) subsist, provided that the Client will reimburse the Service Provider for any extraordinary costs (relative to the costs that it would have incurred in the ordinary course of providing the Services, assuming such failure or inability had not so occurred) to the extent that they have been reasonably incurred or agreed in advance between the Parties. For purposes |
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hereof, “Force Majeure Event” means any event due to any cause beyond the reasonable control of the Service Provider or, as applicable, any Administrative Support Provider, such as unavailability of communications systems, sabotage, fire, flood, explosion, acts of God, civil commotion, strikes or industrial action of any kind, riots, insurrection, war or acts of government, or suspension or disruption of any relevant stock exchange or securities clearance system or market. The Service Provider will use reasonable efforts to minimize the adverse effects to the Client of any Force Majeure Event. | ||
(E) | Information and Data Sources; Liability for Third Parties. For purposes of this Agreement: |
(i) | as between the Client and the Service Provider, the Client is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of (A) the information contained in the Organic Documents, Offering Documents and any Policies and Procedures submitted to the Service Provider pursuant to Section 2(C) above and (B) any data submitted to the Service Provider for processing by the Client or its employees, agents and subcontractors (other than the Service Provider), general and limited partners (if any) and predecessor service providers, including information and data submitted by (1) any investment adviser providing services or acting for the benefit of the Client (“Investment Advisers”) or (2) any intermediaries or distributors, or their agents, acting for the benefit of the Client or its Customers (“Intermediaries”). The Service Provider may charge the Client for additional work required to re-process any such incorrect data at its standard hourly rates or as set forth in the Fee Schedule; | ||
(ii) | Subject to Sections 2(D) and 6, the Service Provider is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of any data prepared and/or produced by the Service Provider or its employees, agents or subcontractors (other than Non-Discretionary Subcontractors); | ||
(iii) | the Service Provider will not be responsible for the errors or failures to act of, or the inaccuracy of any data supplied by, (A) securities pricing services, (B) clearance or settlement systems, (C) custodians that hold the assets of the Client or its Customers that are not affiliates of Service Provider (“Custodians”), (D) any Persons specified in Section (E)(i) above, (E) any Persons who possess information about Client or its Customers reasonably necessary for the Service Provider to provide the Services and with whom the Service Provider is required to engage or contract in order to receive such information, including, without limitation, agents of Investment Advisers, Intermediaries, or Custodians; and (F) third parties engaged by the Service Provider at the request of the Client to provide services to or for the benefit of the Client or its Customers (“Non-Discretionary Subcontractors”), and such Persons will not be considered agents or subcontractors of the Service Provider for purposes of this Agreement; and | ||
(iv) | the Service Provider is permitted to appoint agents and subcontractors to perform any of the duties of the Service Provider under this Agreement (“Administrative Support Providers”). The Service Provider will use reasonable care in the selection and continued appointment of Administrative Support Providers and will be responsible for the actions of such Administrative Support Providers hereunder the same as it would be for its own actions. |
(F) | Other Services and Activities. The Client acknowledges that Service Provider and its affiliates may provide services, including administration, advisory, banking and lending, broker dealer and other financial services, to other Persons. Because the Service Provider may be prohibited under applicable Law or contractually from disclosing to the Client any fact or thing that may come to the knowledge of the Service Provider or such affiliates in the course of providing such services, neither the Service Provider nor such affiliates will be required or expected under this Agreement to do so. Subject to compliance with its confidentiality obligations hereunder, the Service Provider may acquire, hold or deal with, for its own account or for the account of other Persons, any shares or securities in which the Client is authorized to invest (for itself or its Customers), and the Service Provider will not be required to account to the Client for any profit arising therefrom. |
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3. | INSTRUCTIONS | |
(A) | Medium of Transmission. Instructions may be transmitted manually (e.g., via U.S. mail or personal delivery) or through any electronic medium, as agreed by the Parties or, absent such agreement, consistent with the standards and practices of professionals for hire providing services similar to the Services in the jurisdiction in which the Service Provider performs services under this Agreement. | |
(B) | Security Procedures. The Client will comply with reasonable security procedures designed by the Service Provider to verify the origination of Instructions (the “Security Procedures”). The Service Provider’s sole obligation will be to comply with what is contained in the Security Procedures to establish the identity or authority of any Authorized Person to send any Instruction. The Service Provider is not responsible for errors or omissions made by the Client or resulting from fraud or the duplication of any Instruction by the Client. The Service Provider may act on an Instruction if it reasonably believes it contains sufficient information. In addition, the Client authorizes the Service Provider to instruct the DDA Provider and the Custodian regarding the movement of money into, out of and between Client’s accounts. Service Provider is authorized to appoint Service Provider employees to provide such instructions to the DDA Provider and the Custodian. These authorized persons will be identified in advance and provided to the Board for approval. | |
(C) | Requests for Instructions. The Service Provider may request Instructions from an Authorized Person and may refuse to act if such refusal is permitted by this Agreement or otherwise reasonable under the circumstances, including when the Service Provider reasonably doubts the contents, authorization, origination or compliance with any Security Procedures or applicable Law of an Instruction, and will promptly notify the Client of its decision. | |
(D) | Reliance. The Service Provider may rely on the authority of each Authorized Person until the Service Provider has received notice acceptable to it of any change from the Client or any other Authorized Person and the Service Provider has had a reasonable time to act (after which time it may rely on the change). The Service Provider may assume that any Instruction does not conflict with any Law or the Organic Documents or Offering Documents applicable to the Client. | |
(E) | Cut Off Times. The Service Provider is only obligated to act on Instructions received prior to applicable cut off times on a Business Day. Instructions are to be given in the English language unless the Service Provider otherwise agrees in writing. | |
(F) | Deemed Delivery Notices may be sent by overnight courier, registered or certified mail or personal delivery. Unless shown to have been received earlier, such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been delivered, in the case of personal delivery, at the time it is left at the premises of the party, in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five (5) business days after posting and, in the case of fax or electronic means, immediately on dispatch; provided that, if any document is sent by fax or electronic means outside normal business hours, it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence. Evidence that the notice, instruction, or other instrument was properly addressed, stamped, and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting. In proving the service of notice sent by fax or electronic means it shall be sufficient to prove that the fax or electronic communication was properly transmitted. | |
4. | COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; ADVICE | |
(A) | Compliance. The Service Provider will comply in all material respects with all Laws that it is subject to. The Client will comply in all material respects with all Laws applicable to the subject matter of the Services and the Client’s receipt of the Services. Nothing in this Agreement will oblige either Party to take any action that will breach any Law applicable to such Party, or to omit to take an action if such omission will breach any such Law. | |
(B) | No Fiduciary etc. The Service Provider is not, under this Agreement, (i) acting as, and is not required to take any action that would require licensing or registration as, a fiduciary, an investment adviser, a certified public |
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accountant, or a broker or dealer; or (ii) providing investment, legal or tax advice to the Client or any other Person or acting as the Fund’s independent accountants or auditors. | ||
(C) | Laws Applicable to the Client. Except as specifically set forth in the Services Schedule, the Service Provider assumes no responsibility for compliance by the Client with any Laws applicable to the Client; and, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Service Provider assumes no responsibility for compliance by the Client or the Service Provider with the Laws of any jurisdiction other than those governing this Agreement. | |
(D) | Advice of Experts. About any matter related to the Services, the Service Provider may seek advice from Fund counsel or a Fund’s independent accountants. Any costs related to such advice from Fund counsel or a Fund’s independent accountants will be borne by the Client. The Service Provider will not be liable if it relies on advice of Fund counsel or a Fund’s independent accountants. | |
5. | COMMUNICATIONS; RECORDS AND ACCESS; CONFIDENTIALITY; PUBLICITY | |
(A) | Communications and Statements. Communications, notices and invoices from the Service Provider may be sent or made available by electronic form and not in hard copy. The Client will notify the Service Provider promptly in writing of anything incorrect in an invoice or periodic accounting or other report (a “Report”) and, in any case, within sixty (60) business days from the date on which the Report is sent or made available to the Client. Reports to which the Client has not objected within this time period will be deemed accepted by the Client. | |
(B) | Records and Access. Subject to applicable Law, the Service Provider will allow the Client and its independent public accountants, agents or regulators reasonable access to those records of the Client maintained by the Service Provider and relating to the Services (“Client Records”) as are reasonably requested by the Client in connection with an examination of the books and records pertaining to the affairs of the Client, and will seek to obtain such access from each agent or subcontractor of the Service Provider that maintains Client Records. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Service Provider may retain archival copies of Client Records. | |
(C) | Confidentiality. The Service Provider will maintain reasonable controls consistent with, and shall treat, all Confidential Information related to the Client as confidential. The Client, on behalf of itself and on behalf of its employees, agents, subcontractors and Customers, authorizes the transfer or disclosure of any Confidential Information relating to the Client to and between the branches, subsidiaries, representative offices, affiliates and Administrative Support Providers of the Service Provider and third parties selected by any of them, wherever situated, for confidential use in connection with the provision of the Services (including for data processing, statistical and risk analysis purposes), and further acknowledges that any such branch, subsidiary, representative office, affiliate, agent or third party may transfer or disclose any such information (i) to the applicable Customer and the Customer’s accountants, (ii) to the Client’s Investment Advisers, Intermediaries, Custodians and other service providers, (iii) to the Client’s tax authorities and applicable regulators incident to the delivery of any tax filing or reporting services provided under this Agreement, and (iv) as required by any Governmental Authority or pursuant to applicable Law. | |
(D) | Proprietary Information. |
(i) | The Client acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals maintained by the Service Provider and/or its affiliates or Administrative Support Provider constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) of substantial value to the Service Provider or each such third party. The Client agrees to treat all Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Service Provider or such third parties and further agrees that it will not divulge any Proprietary Information or Confidential Information related to Citigroup Organization to any Person or organization or use such information for any purpose, except to receive the Services or as may be |
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specifically permitted under this Agreement or as required under applicable Law. Subject to applicable Law, the Client will treat the terms of this Agreement, including any Fee Schedule, as Confidential Information. | |||
(ii) | Without limitation of the obligations of the Service Provider under Section 5(C), the Service Provider acknowledges that any Customer list and all information related to Customers furnished to or maintained by the Service Provider in connection with this Agreement (collectively, “Customer Data”), the unique investment methods utilized by a Client (“Investment Methods”) and the identities of the portfolio holdings at any time and from time to time of the Client (“Portfolio Data”) constitute proprietary information of substantial value to the Client. The Service Provider agrees to treat, and to require its employees and Administrative Support Providers to treat, all Customer Data, Investment Methods and Portfolio Data as proprietary to the Client and further agrees that it will not divulge any Customer Data, Investment Methods or Portfolio Data to any Person or organization without the Client’s written consent, except as may be specifically permitted under this Agreement. |
(E) | Use of Name. Without the written consent of the Client, the Service Provider may use the name of the Client only (A) to sign any necessary letters or other documents for and on behalf of the Client incident to the delivery of the Services and (B) in client lists used for marketing purposes, but not as an endorsement of services. Subject to the foregoing, neither Party will publicly display the name, trade xxxx or service xxxx of the other without the prior written approval of the other, nor will the Client display that of the Service Provider or any subsidiary of the Service Provider without prior written approval from the Service Provider or the subsidiary concerned or as required under applicable Law. | |
(F) | Communications to Customers. Without the approval of the Service Provider, the Client will not use the name of the Service Provider or describe the Services or the terms or conditions of this Agreement in any Fund registration statement (an “Offering Document”); nor will the Client amend any such references to the Service Provider or the terms or conditions of this Agreement in any Offering Document that has been previously approved by the Service Provider without the Service Provider’s written approval. The Service Provider will not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay any of the foregoing requested approvals. | |
(G) | Privacy. Service Provider acknowledges that certain information made available to it hereunder may be deemed nonpublic personal information under the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act, other U.S. or state privacy laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). Service Provider agrees: (i) not to disclose or use such information except as required to carry out Service Provider’s duties under this Agreement or as otherwise permitted by law in its ordinary course of business, (ii) to establish and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of such nonpublic personal information and (iii) to comply with such Privacy Laws. | |
6. | SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY. | |
(A) | Standard of Care. The Service Provider will perform its obligations with reasonable care as determined in accordance with the standards and practices of professionals for hire providing services similar to the Services in the jurisdiction(s) in which the Service Provider performs services under this Agreement (the “Standard of Care”). The Service Provider will cause each Administrative Support Provider to perform with reasonable care as determined in accordance with such standards. | |
(B) | Responsibility for Losses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary (including Section 6(A)), (i) the Service Provider will not be liable to the Client for any damages or losses save for those resulting from the willful default, fraud or gross negligence of the Service Provider or any Administrative Support Provider, and (ii) the Service Provider’s liability will be subject to the limitations set forth below. |
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(C) | Limitations on Liability. |
(i) | The Service Provider is responsible for the performance of only those duties as are expressly set forth herein and in the Services Schedule. The Service Provider will have no implied duties or obligations. Each Party shall mitigate damages for which the other Party may become responsible hereunder. | ||
(ii) | The Client understands and agrees that (i) the obligations and duties of the Service Provider will be performed only by the Service Provider and are not obligations or duties of any other member of the Citigroup Organization (including any branch or office of the Service Provider) and (ii) the rights of the Client with respect to the Service Provider extend only to the Service Provider and, except as provided by applicable Law, do not extend to any other member of the Citigroup Organization. | ||
(iii) | Except as provided in this Agreement with regard to Administrative Support Providers, the Service Provider is not responsible for the acts, omissions, defaults or insolvency of any third party including, but not limited to, any Investment Advisers, Custodians, Intermediaries, Non-Discretionary Subcontractors or any other Person described in Section 2(E)(iii). | ||
(iv) | EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, SERVICE PROVIDER HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, MADE TO THE CLIENT OR ANY OTHER PERSON, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING QUALITY, SUITABILITY OR OTHERWISE (IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE), OF ANY SERVICES OR ANY GOODS PROVIDED INCIDENTAL TO SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. SERVICE PROVIDER DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT. | ||
(v) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the cumulative liability of Service Provider to the Client for all losses, claims, suits, controversies, breaches or damages for any cause whatsoever (including but not limited to those arising out of or related to this Agreement), and regardless of the form of action or legal theory, shall not exceed the total amount of compensation paid to Service Provider under this Agreement during the twelve (12) months immediately before the date on which the alleged damages were claimed to have been incurred. |
(D) | MUTUAL EXCLUSION OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. | |
EXCEPT FOR ANY LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AGREED BY THE PARTIES RELATED TO AN UNEXCUSED TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS OR DAMAGE, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, BUSINESS, REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, IN RELATION TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER OR NOT THE RELEVANT LOSS WAS FORESEEABLE, OR THE PARTY WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE OR THAT SUCH LOSS WAS IN CONTEMPLATION OF THE OTHER PARTY. | ||
7. | INDEMNITY. | |
(A) | Indemnity by the Client. The Client will indemnify the Service Provider, its affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, employees and representatives (each, an “Indemnitee”) for, and will defend and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, all losses, costs, damages and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) incurred by the Service Provider or such person in any action or proceeding between the Service Provider and the Client or between the Service Provider and any third party arising from or in connection with the performance of this Agreement (each referred to as a “Loss”), imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Service Provider in connection with or arising out of the following: |
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(i) | this Agreement, except any Loss resulting from the willful default, fraud or gross negligence of the Service Provider or any Administrative Support Provider, in each case in connection with the Services; or | ||
(ii) | any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Offering Document of the Client or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in any Offering Document or necessary to make the statements in any Offering Document not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished in writing to the Client by the Service Provider specifically for use in the Offering Document. |
(B) | Indemnity by the Service Provider. The Service Provider shall indemnify the Client and its officers, directors, employees and representatives (each, also an “Indemnitee”) for, and will defend and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, all Losses arising out of a third party claim and relating to Service Provider’s willful default, fraud or gross negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder; except any Losses resulting from the willful default, fraud or gross negligence of the Client or its representatives. | |
(C) | Notification, Participation; Indemnitor Consent. Upon the assertion of a claim for which a Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) may be required to indemnify any Indemnitee, the Indemnitee must promptly notify the Indemnifying Party of such assertion, and will keep the Indemnifying Party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The Indemnifying Party will have the option to participate with the Indemnitee in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Indemnifying Party may be required to indemnify it except with the Indemnifying Party’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; notwithstanding Section 7(A) or (B) hereof, in the event the Indemnitee has not secured such consent the Indemnifying Party will have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnitee. | |
8. | FEES AND EXPENSES | |
(A) | Fee Schedule. The Client will pay all fees, expenses, charges and obligations incurred from time to time in relation to the Services in accordance with the terms of Schedule 4 (the “Fee Schedule”), together with any other amounts payable to the Service Provider under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Service Provider will not be responsible for the fees or expenses of, and the Client will reimburse the Service Provider for any advances or payments made by the Service Provider for the benefit of the Client incident to the proper performance of the Services to, any Investment Manager, Custodian, Non-Discretionary Subcontractor, Intermediary or any other Person listed or described in the Fee Schedule. | |
(B) | Taxes. The Service Provider shall not be liable for any taxes, assessments or governmental charges that may be levied or assessed on any basis whatsoever in connection with the Client or any Customer, excluding taxes, if any, assessed against the Service Provider related to its income or assets. The foregoing clause is subject to any more detailed provisions related to sales, use, excise, value-added, gross receipts, services, consumption and other similar transaction taxes related to the Services or this Agreement set forth in the Fee Schedule (if any). | |
9. | REPRESENTATIONS | |
(A) | General. The Client and the Service Provider each represents at the date this Agreement is entered into and any Service is used or provided that: |
(i) | It is duly organized and in good standing in every jurisdiction where it is required so to be; | ||
(ii) | It has the power and authority to sign and to perform its obligations under this Agreement; |
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(iii) | This Agreement is duly authorized and signed and is its legal, valid and binding obligation, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties generally; | ||
(iv) | Any consent, authorization or instruction required in connection with its execution and performance of this Agreement has been provided by any relevant third party; | ||
(v) | Any act required by any relevant governmental or other authority to be done in connection with its execution and performance of this Agreement has been or will be done (and will be renewed if necessary); and | ||
(vi) | Its performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any applicable law, regulation, contract or other requirement. |
(B) | Client. The Client also represents at the date this Agreement is entered into and any Service is used or provided that: |
(i) | Where it acts as an agent on behalf of any of its own Customers, whether or not expressly identified to the Service Provider from time to time, any such Customers will not be customers or indirect customers of the Service Provider; | ||
(ii) | It has not relied on any oral or written representation made by the Service Provider or any person on its behalf other than those contained in this Agreement; | ||
(iii) | Client’s decision to retain the Service Provider is not conditioned on or influenced by the amount of assets that any affiliate of the Service Provider or any customers of the Service Provider or such affiliates may from time to time invest in or through the Client; and | ||
(iv) | This Agreement has been presented to, reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors or Trustees of the Funds (collectively, the “Board”). |
(C) | Service Provider. The Service Provider also represents at the date this Agreement is entered into and any Service is used or provided: |
(i) | it has commercially reasonable data security and business continuity controls and plans; and | ||
(ii) | it has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement. |
10. | TERM AND TERMINATION | |
(A) | Term. This Agreement will begin on the Effective Date and have an initial term of 3 years from the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”). Thereafter, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to Section 10(B), this Agreement shall be renewed automatically for successive one year periods (“Rollover Periods”). | |
(B) | Termination. Subject to Section 10(C): |
(a) | Either Party may terminate this Agreement with or without cause, by provision of a written notice of non-renewal provided at least 120 days prior to the end of the Initial Term or any Rollover Period (which notice of non-renewal will cause this Agreement to terminate as of the end of the Initial Term or such Rollover Period, as applicable). | ||
(b) | Either Party may terminate this Agreement with cause on at least thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other Party if the other party has materially breached any of its obligations hereunder; provided, |
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however, that (i) the termination notice will describe the breach; (ii) no such termination will be effective if, with respect to any breach that is capable of being cured prior to the date set forth in the termination notice, the breaching Party has reasonably cured such breach; and (iii) subject to applicable Law, no such thirty (30) day notice period shall be required in the event the other Party is insolvent or has submitted a voluntary petition for administration. | |||
(iii) | This Agreement may be further terminated by either party immediately in the event of: |
(a) | the winding up of or the appointment of an examiner or receiver or liquidator to the other party or on the happening of a like event whether at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise; | ||
(b) | the other party no longer being permitted or able to perform its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to applicable law or regulation; or | ||
(c) | the merger or liquidation with another fund complex, provided that this event is after the Initial Term of the Agreement. |
(iv) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement will automatically terminate upon the termination of the separate agreement between Service Provider and Diamond Hill Capital Management, Inc. concerning subadministration and sub-transfer agency services. |
(C) | Termination-related Obligations. Related to termination of this Agreement: |
(i) | If the Client has terminated this Agreement without cause during the Initial Term, the Client will make a one-time cash payment to Service Provider as liquidated damages for such default, an amount equal to the balance that would be due Service Provider for its services under this Agreement during the lesser of (x) the balance of the Initial Term or any applicable Rollover Period, as the case may be, or (y) 12 months, assuming for purposes of the calculation of the one-time payment that the fees that would be earned by Service Provider for each month would be based upon the average fees payable to Service Provider monthly during the 12 months before the date of the event that triggers such payment (“Liquidated Damages”). During the Initial Term only, in the event that the Client is, in part or in whole, liquidated, dissolved, merged into a third party, acquired by a third party, or involved in any other transaction that materially reduces the assets and/or accounts serviced by Service Provider pursuant to this Agreement, the liquidated damages provision set forth above will apply, and will be adjusted ratably if any of the events described above is partial. Any liquidated damages amount payable to Service Provider will be payable on or before the date of the event that triggers the payment obligation. Inasmuch as a default by Client will cause substantial damages to Service Provider and because of the difficulty of estimating the damages that will result, the Parties agree that the Liquidated Damages is a reasonable forecast of probable actual loss to Service Provider and that this sum is agreed to as liquidated damages and not as a penalty. | ||
(ii) | Upon termination, the Service Provider will, at the expense and direction of the Client, transfer to the Client or any successor service provider(s) to the Client copies of all Client Records, subject to the payment by the Client of unpaid and undisputed amounts due to the Service Provider hereunder, including any Liquidated Damages. Such expense to transfer Client Records to another service provider shall not exceed $100,000. If by the termination date the Client has not given Instructions to deliver the Client Records, the Service Provider will keep the Client Records for up to twelve calendar months until the Client provides Instructions to deliver the Client Records, provided that the Service Provider will be entitled to receive from the Client then-standard fees for maintaining the Client Records, including costs associated with administration of the records. Service Provider shall be entitled to destroy the Client Records if: (a) Client has not given Instructions to deliver the Client Records at the end of twelve calendar months after termination or (b) if Client has not paid fees for maintaining such Client Records within thirty days of notice of such unpaid fees. The Service |
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Provider will provide no other services to or for the benefit of the Client or any successor service provider in connection with the termination or expiration of this Agreement unless specifically agreed in writing by the Service Provider or as set forth in the Services Schedule. Notwithstanding the forgoing, should Service Provider discontinue, merge or sell its fund services business in the United States, Client may immediately terminate Agreement without penalty and Service Provider will cooperate with and reasonably assist the Client in transitioning all Services to a new service provider without charging any fees for such transition assistance. In addition, should the termination of the Agreement be the result of a material breach by the Service Provider, the Service Provider will cooperate with and reasonably assist the Client in transitioning all Services to a new service provider without charging any fees for such transition assistance. |
(D) | Surviving Terms. The rights and obligations contained in Sections 2(D), 2(E), 5(A), 5(C)-(F), 6-8, and 10-12 of this Agreement will survive the termination of this Agreement. | |
11. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION | |
(A) | Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws (and not the laws of conflicts) of the State of Ohio. | |
(B) | Jurisdiction. The Parties hereto hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of, and venue in, any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction located in Ohio to hear any disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement. | |
(C) | Venue. Each party hereto waives any objection it may have at any time, to the laying of venue of any actions or proceedings brought in any court specified in Section 11(B) hereof, waives any claim that such actions or proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and further waives the right to object that such court does not have jurisdiction over such party. | |
(D) | Sovereign Immunity. The Client and the Service Provider each irrevocably waives, with respect to itself and its revenues and assets, all immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or similar grounds in respect of its obligations under this Agreement. | |
12. | MISCELLANEOUS | |
(A) | Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement consists exclusively of this document together with any schedules and supersedes any prior agreement related to the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written. In case of inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Schedule, appendix of exhibit hereto, the terms of this Agreement will prevail, provided that in the case of an inconsistency between this Agreement and the Service Schedule, the terms of the Service Schedule will prevail. Except as specified in this Agreement, this Agreement may only be modified by written agreement of the Client and the Service Provider. | |
(B) | Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any applicable law, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect (as will that provision under any other law). | |
(C) | Waiver of Rights. Subject to Section 5(A), no failure or delay of the Client or the Service Provider in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement will constitute a waiver of that right. Any waiver of any right will be limited to the specific instance. The exclusion or omission of any provision or term from this Agreement will not be deemed to be a waiver of any right or remedy the Client or the Service Provider may have under applicable law. |
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(D) | Recordings. The Client and the Service Provider consent to telephonic or electronic recordings for security and quality of service purposes and agree that either may produce telephonic or electronic recordings or computer records as evidence in any proceedings brought in connection with this Agreement. | |
(E) | Assignment. No party may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the other’s prior written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that the Service Provider may make such assignment to a branch, subsidiary or affiliate. | |
(F) | Headings. Titles to Sections of this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and will be disregarded in construing the language contained in this Agreement. | |
(G) | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which will be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement. | |
(H) | Third Party Beneficiaries or Joint Venture. There are no third party beneficiaries to this Agreement. This Agreement does not create a joint venture or partnership between the Parties. | |
(I) | Certain Communications. The Client hereby acknowledges that it has requested the delivery of Reports, Client Records and other information processed and/or maintained by the Service Provider hereunder in an unencrypted manner and accepts the risk that such delivery means may expose such information to disclosure through media and hardware that are not within the control of the Service Provider during the delivery process. | |
(J) | Not Personally Binding. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Client hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, officers, agents or employees of the Client personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Client. |
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their
respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. | Diamond Hill Funds | |||||||||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|||||||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||||||
Title:
|
Vice President | Title: | President | |||||||
Date:
|
August 2, 2011 | Date: | July 22, 2011 |
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Schedule 1 to Services Agreement
Definitions
“Administrative Support Provider” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(E)(iv) of the Agreement.
“affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that is controlled by, controls,
or is under common control with such Person; for purposes hereof, “control” of a Person means (i)
ownership of, or possession of the right to vote, more than 25% of the outstanding voting equity
of that person or (ii) the right to control the appointment of the board of directors, management
or executive officers of that person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the U.S. Government shall not
be deemed to be an affiliate of Service Provider.
“Business Day” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open.
“Agreement” means the Service Agreement to which this Schedule 1 is attached and any appendices
and schedules attached hereto, in each case as they may be amended from time to time.
“Authorized Person” means the Client or any Person authorized by the Client to act on its behalf in
the performance of any act, discretion or duty under the Agreement (including, for the avoidance of
doubt, any officer or employee of such Person) in a notice reasonably acceptable to the Service
Provider.
“Change Control Process” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(B) of the Agreement.
“Citigroup Organization” means Citigroup, Inc. and any company or other entity of which Citigroup,
Inc. is directly or indirectly a shareholder or owner. For purposes of this Agreement, each branch
of Citibank, N.A. will be a separate member of the Citigroup Organization.
“Client Records” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(B) of the Agreement.
“Client” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and includes
successors-in-interest; unless the context will require otherwise.
“Confidential Information” includes all tangible and intangible information and materials being
disclosed in connection with this Agreement by one of the Parties (“Disclosing Party”) to the
other Party (“Receiving Party”), in any form or medium (and without regard to whether the
information is owned by a Party or by a third party), that satisfy at least one of the following
criteria:
(i) information related to the Disclosing Party’s, its affiliates’ or its third party
licensors’ or vendors’
trade secrets, customers, business plans, strategies, forecasts or forecast assumptions,
operations, methods of doing business, records, finances, assets, Proprietary Information,
technology, software, systems data or other proprietary or confidential business or
technical information;
(ii) information designated as confidential in writing by the Disclosing Party or
information that the
Receiving Party should reasonably know to be information that is of a confidential or
proprietary nature; or
(iii) any information derived from, or developed by reference to or use of, any information
described in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii).
provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the following will not be
considered Confidential Information: (A) information that is disclosed to the Receiving Party
without any obligation of confidentiality by a third person who has a right to make such
disclosure; (B) information that is or becomes publicly known without violation of this Agreement
by the Receiving Party; or (C) information that is independently developed by the Receiving Party
or its employees or affiliates without reference to the Disclosing Party’s information.
“Custodian” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(E)(iii) of the Agreement.
“Customer Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(D)(ii) of the Agreement.
“Customer” means any Person to whom the Client sells, directly or indirectly, securities, products
or services the sale or servicing of which are supported by the Services provided under the
Agreement.
Schedule 1 to Services Agreement
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“Dependencies” has the meaning set forth in Schedule 3 to the Agreement.
“Effective Date” means the date that Service Provider commences providing Services pursuant to this
Agreement.
“Fee Schedule” means Schedule 4 to the Agreement.
“Force Majeure Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(D) of the Agreement.
“Governmental Authority” means any regulatory agency, court, other governmental body or
self-regulatory agency with jurisdiction over a Party.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(A) of the Agreement.
“Initial Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(A) of the Agreement.
“Instructions” means any and all instructions (including approvals, consents and notices) received
by the Service Provider from, or reasonably believed by the Service Provider to be from, any
Authorized Person, including any instructions communicated through any manual or electronic medium
or system agreed between the Client and the Service Provider.
“Intermediary” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(E)(i) of the Agreement.
“Investment Adviser” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(E)(i) of the Agreement.
“Investment Methods” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(D)(ii) of the Agreement.
“Laws” means any statutes, rules and regulations of any governmental authority and applicable
judicial or regulatory interpretations thereof.
“Liquidated Damages” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(C)(i) of the Agreement.
“Loss”
has the meaning set forth in Section 7 of the Agreement.
“Non-Discretionary Subcontractors” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(E)(iii) of the Agreement.
“Offering Document” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(F) of the Agreement.
“Organic Documents” means, for any incorporated or unincorporated entity, the documents pursuant to
which the entity was formed as a legal entity, as such documents may be amended from time to time.
“Parties” means the Client and the Service Provider.
“Person” means any natural person or incorporated or unincorporated entity.
“Policies and Procedures” means the written policies and procedures of the Client in any way
related to the Services, including any such policies and procedures contained in the Organic
Documents and the Offering Documents.
“Portfolio Data” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(D)(ii) of the Agreement.
“Proprietary Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(D)(i) of the Agreement.
“Report” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(A) of the Agreement.
“Rollover Periods” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(A) of the Agreement.
“Security Procedures” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(B) of the Agreement.
“Service Change” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(B) of the Agreement.
“Service Provider” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and includes
successors-in-interest.
“Services Schedule” means Schedule 2 to the Agreement.
“Services” means the services set forth in Schedule 2 to the Agreement.
“Standard of Care” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(A) of the Agreement.
Schedule 1 to Services Agreement
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“Term” means the period between the Effective Date and the date this Agreement is terminated.
Schedule 1 to Services Agreement
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Schedule 2 to Services Agreement — Services
Appendix A — Fund Accounting Services
Appendix A — Fund Accounting Services
Service Provider shall provide the Services listed on this Schedule 2 to the Client and any series
thereof listed on Schedule 5 (each, a “Fund”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement
(including the Schedules).
I. | Services | |
1. | Record Maintenance | |
Maintain the following books and records of each Fund pursuant to Rule 31a-l (the “Rule”) under the 1940 Act: |
(a) | Journals containing an itemized daily record in detail of all purchases and sales of securities, all receipts and disbursements of cash and all other debits and credits, as required by subsection (b)(1) of the Rule. | ||
(b) | General and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all asset, liability, reserve, capital, income and expense accounts, including interest accrued and interest received, as required by subsection (b)(2)(i) of the Rule. | ||
(c) | Separate ledger accounts required by subsection (b)(2)(ii) and (iii) of the Rule. | ||
(d) | A monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts (except shareholder accounts) as required by subsection (b)(8) of the Rule. |
2. | Accounting Services | |
Perform the following accounting services for each Fund: |
(a) | Allocate income and expense and calculate the net asset value per share (“NAV”) of each class of shares offered by each Fund in accordance with the relevant provisions of the applicable Prospectus of each Fund and applicable regulations under the 1940 Act. | ||
(b) | Apply securities pricing information as required or authorized under the terms of the valuation policies and procedures of the Client or a Fund (“Valuation Procedures”), including (A) pricing information from independent pricing services, with respect to securities for which market quotations are readily available, (B) if applicable to a particular Fund or Funds, fair value pricing information or adjustment factors from independent fair value pricing services or other vendors approved by the Client (collectively, “Fair Value Information Vendors”) with respect to securities for which market quotations are not readily available, for which a significant event has occurred following the close of the relevant market but prior to the Fund’s pricing time, or which are otherwise required to be made subject to a fair value determination under the Valuation Procedures, and (C) prices obtained from the Client or other designee, as approved by the Board. | ||
(c) | Coordinate the preparation of reports that are prepared or provided by Fair Value Information Vendors which help the Client to monitor and evaluate its use of fair value pricing information under its Valuation Procedures. | ||
(d) | Verify and reconcile with the Funds’ custodian all daily trade activity. | ||
(e) | Compute, as appropriate, each Fund’s net income and capital gains, dividend payables, dividend factors, 7-day yields, 7-day effective yields, 30-day yields, and weighted average portfolio maturity; (and other yields or standard or non-standard performance information as mutually agreed). | ||
(f) | Review daily the net asset value calculation and dividend factor (if any) for each Fund prior to release to shareholders, check and confirm the net asset values and dividend factors for reasonableness and |
Schedule 2 to Services Agreement
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deviations, and distribute net asset values and yields to NASDAQ; and as agreed, in certain cases, to newspapers. | |||
(g) | Determine and report unrealized appreciation and depreciation on securities held in variable net asset value funds. | ||
(h) | Amortize premiums and accrete discounts on fixed income securities purchased at a price other than face value, in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the United States or any successor principles. | ||
(i) | Update fund accounting system to reflect rate changes, as received from the Client or a third party vendor, on variable interest rate instruments. | ||
(j) | Post Fund transactions to appropriate categories. | ||
(k) | Accrue expenses of each Fund according to instructions received from the Client, and submit changes to accruals and expense items to authorized officers of the Client for review and approval. | ||
(1) | Determine the outstanding receivables and payables for all (1) security trades, (2) Fund share transactions and (3) income and expense accounts. | ||
(m) | Provide accounting reports in connection with the Funds’ regular annual audit, and other audits and examinations by regulatory agencies. | ||
(n) | Provide such periodic reports as the parties shall agree upon. | ||
(o) | Assist the Client in identifying instances where market prices are not readily available, or are unreliable, each as set forth within parameters included in the Valuation Procedures. | ||
(p) | Provide web based access to fund accounting reporting systems. |
3. | Financial Statements and Regulatory Filings | |
Perform the following services related to the financial statements and related regulatory filing obligations for each Fund: |
(a) | Provide monthly a hard copy of the unaudited financial statements described below, upon request of the Client. The unaudited financial statements will include the following items: |
(i) | Unaudited Statement of Assets and Liabilities, | ||
(ii) | Unaudited Statement of Operations, | ||
(iii) | Unaudited Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and | ||
(iv) | Unaudited Condensed Financial Information |
(b) | Provide accounting information for the following: (in compliance with Reg. S-X, as applicable): |
(i) | federal and state income tax returns and federal excise tax returns; | ||
(ii) | the Funds’ semi-annual reports with the SEC on Form N-SAR and Form N-CSR; | ||
(iii) | the Funds’ schedules of investments for filing with the SEC on Form N-Q; | ||
(iv) | the Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and quarterly Board meetings; | ||
(v) | registration statements on Form N-1A or Form N-2 and other filings relating to the registration of shares; | ||
(vi) | reports related to Service Provider’s monitoring of each Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; | ||
(vii) | annual audit by the Funds’ auditors; | ||
(viii) | examinations performed by the SEC; and | ||
(ix) | proxy statements and other Shareholder communications. |
(c) | Calculate turnover and expense ratio. |
Schedule 2 to Services Agreement
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(d) | Prepare schedule of Capital Gains and Losses. | ||
(e) | Provide daily cash report. | ||
(f) | Maintain and report security positions and transactions in accounting system. | ||
(g) | Prepare Broker Commission Report. | ||
(h) | Monitor expense limitations. | ||
(i) | Maintain list of failed trades. | ||
(j) | Provide unrealized gain/loss report. |
II. | Notes and Conditions Related to Fund Accounting Services | |
1. | Subject to the provisions of Sections 2 and 6 of the Agreement, Service Provider’s liability with respect to NAV Differences (as defined below) shall be as follows: |
(a) | During each NAV Error Period (as defined below) resulting from a NAV Difference that is at least $0.01 but that is less than 1/2 of 1%, Service Provider shall reimburse each applicable Fund for any net losses to the Fund; and | ||
(b) | During each NAV Error Period resulting from a NAV Difference that is at least 1/2 of 1%, Service Provider shall reimburse each applicable Fund on its own behalf and on behalf of each shareholder of such Fund for any losses experienced by the Fund or any Fund shareholder, as applicable; provided, that Service Provider’s reimbursement responsibility shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the net loss that the Fund incurs or (ii) the costs to the Fund of reprocessing the shareholder transactions during the NAV Error Period; provided, further, however, that Service Provider shall not be responsible for reimbursing reprocessing costs with respect to any shareholder that experiences an aggregate loss during any NAV Error Period of less than $25. |
For purposes of this Section II. 1: the NAV Difference means the difference between the NAV at which a shareholder purchase or redemption should have been effected (“Recalculated NAV’) and the NAV at which the purchase or redemption was effected divided by Recalculated NAV; (B) NAV Error Period means any Fund business day or series of two or more consecutive Fund business days during which an NAV Difference of $0.01 or more exists; (C) NAV Differences and any Service Provider liability therefrom are to be calculated each time a Fund’s (or Class’) NAV is calculated; (D) in calculating any amount for which Service Provider would otherwise be liable under this Agreement for a particular NAV error, Fund (or Class) losses and gains shall be netted; and (E) in calculating any amount for which Service Provider would otherwise be liable under this Agreement for a particular NAV error that continues for a period covering more than one NAV determination, Fund (or Class) losses and gains for the period shall be netted. | ||
2. | The Client acknowledges and agrees that although Service Provider’s services related to fair value pricing are intended to assist the Client and the Board in its obligations to price and monitor pricing of Fund investments, Service Provider is not responsible for the accuracy or appropriateness of pricing information or methodologies, including any fair value pricing information or adjustment factors. |
Schedule 2 to Services Agreement
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Schedule 3 to Services Agreement
Dependencies
The Service Provider’s delivery of the Services is dependent upon:
(A) | The Client and its employees, agents, subcontractors and predecessor service providers (including Investment Advisors, Custodian and Intermediaries) providing information and, as applicable, Instructions to the Service Provider promptly, accurately and in agreed formats and by agreed media that are documented and communicated via work plans or other identifiable and appropriate documents. | |
(B) | The Client and its employees, agents, subcontractors and predecessor service providers cooperating where reasonably required with the Service Provider. | |
(C) | The communications systems operated by the Client and third parties (other than Administrative Support Providers) in respect of activities that interface with the Services remaining fully operational. | |
(D) | The authority, accuracy, truth and completeness of any information or data provided by the Client and its employees, agents, subcontractors and predecessor service providers (including Investment Advisors, Custodian and Intermediaries) that is reasonably requested by the Service Provider or is otherwise provided to the Service Provider by Persons for whom the Service Provider is not responsible under the Agreement. | |
(E) | The Client and its employees, agents, subcontractors and predecessor service providers (including Investment Advisors, Custodian and Intermediaries) providing the Service Provider with any reasonable assistance and cooperation requested by the Service Provider in connection with the management and resolution of discrepancies requiring escalation between the Parties. | |
(F) | The Client informing the Service Provider on a timely basis of any modification to, or replacement of, any agreement to which it is a party that is relevant to the provision of the Services. | |
(G) | The Client and any third parties that are not the agents or employees of the Service Provider meeting their respective responsibilities, as set forth in the Agreement and, with respect to such third parties, as listed in the Services Schedule or agreed by the Client or such third parties from time to time, including applicable cut-off times. |
Schedule 3 to Services Agreement
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Schedule 4 to Services Agreement
Fee Schedule
1. FEES
Notwithstanding the Effective Date, the parties agree that the fees listed herein will not commence
until September
1, 2011. The Client shall pay the following fees to Service Provider as compensation for the
Services rendered
hereunder. All fees shall be aggregated and paid monthly.
a. Basis Point Fees
The Client shall pay Service Provider fees (to be billed in equal monthly installments) of:
0.01% of the first $5 billion in aggregate net assets of all
Funds*, plus
0.0075% of the next $5 billion in aggregate net assets of all Funds*, plus
0.0050% of the aggregate net assets of all Funds* in excess of $10 billion.
0.0075% of the next $5 billion in aggregate net assets of all Funds*, plus
0.0050% of the aggregate net assets of all Funds* in excess of $10 billion.
b. Minimum Fee
Basis point fees are subject to an annual minimum fee equal to the total number of Funds*
multiplied by $37,500.
* For the purposes of calculating Basis Point Fees and the Minimum Fee, references to Funds shall
include both the Funds and Diamond Hill Financial Trends Fund, Inc.
c. Additional Charges
Each Fund will bear an additional charge of $2,200 per annum for the following:
Electronic Transmissions
Security Issuer Information
CUSIP distribution
Security Issuer Information
CUSIP distribution
2. Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Miscellaneous Charges
In addition to the above fees, Service Provider shall be entitled to receive payment for the
following out-of-pocket expenses and miscellaneous charges:
A. Reimbursement of Expenses. The Client shall reimburse Service Provider for its
out-of-pocket
expenses reasonably incurred in providing Services, including, but not limited to:
(i) | All freight and other delivery and bonding charges incurred by Service Provider in delivering materials to and from the Client; | ||
(ii) | All direct telephone, telephone transmission, and telecopy or other electronic transmission and remote system access expenses incurred by Service Provider in communication with the Client or a Fund’s dealers, or other intermediaries as required for Service Provider to perform the Services on Appendix A to Schedule 2; | ||
(iii) | The cost of CD-ROM, computer disks, microfilm, or microfiche, and storage of records or other materials and data; | ||
(iv) | Costs of postage, couriers, stock computer paper, statements, labels, envelopes, reports, notices, or other form of printed material (including the cost of preparing and printing all printed material) which shall be required by Service Provider for the performance of the |
Schedule 4 to Services Agreement
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services on Appendix A to Schedule 2 to be provided hereunder, including print production charges incurred; | |||
(v) | Any expenses Service Provider shall incur at the written direction of the Client or a duly authorized officer of the Client; | ||
(vi) | All systems-related expenses associated with the provision of special reports; | ||
(vii) | Charges for the pricing information obtained from third party vendors for use in pricing the securities and other investments of the Funds’ portfolios (no matter how many Funds hold the security or investment, there will be only one charge per adviser); and | ||
(viii) | Any additional expenses reasonably incurred by Service Provider in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement as mutually agreed upon. |
Client shall only reimburse Service Provider for actual expenses incurred by Service Provider from
an unaffiliated third party. Service Provider shall not gross up or over allocate expenses to
Client other than the Client’s pro-rata share of actual expenses incurred by Service Provider. In
addition, Client is not responsible for any banking fees or DDA charges.
B. Miscellaneous Service Fees and Charges. In addition to the amounts set forth in
paragraphs (1)
and 2(A) above, Service Provider shall be entitled to receive the following amounts from the
Client:
(i) | System development fees, billed at the rate of $150 per hour, as requested and pre-approved by the Client, and all systems-related expenses, agreed in advance, associated with the provision of special reports pursuant to any of the Schedules hereto; provided that Service Provider will build at no additional cost: (A) all existing data feeds and reporting currently received by Client from its current service provider and (B) the trade-date tax lot/position file that will be used by the Client to feed its order management/trading system; Ad hoc reporting fees pre-approved by the Client, billed at the rate of $150 per hour; | ||
(ii) | Fees for development of custom interfaces pre-approved by the Client, billed at the rate of $150 per hour; and | ||
(iii) | Fees for reprocessing trades due to errors not caused by Service Provider or its affiliates. |
3. Annual Fee Increase:
Commencing after the Initial Term and annually thereafter, the Service Provider may annually
increase the fixed fees and other fees expressed as stated dollar amounts in this Agreement by up
to an amount equal to the greater of: (a) the most recent annual percentage increase in consumer
prices for services as measured by the United States Consumer Price Index entitled “All Services
Less Rent of Shelter” or a similar index should such index no longer be published, and (b) 10%.
4. Reimbursement to Client
Service Provider shall provide Client with a copy of Service Provider’s annual SAS 70 or SSAE 16
report. Should Service Provider fail to provide such report to Client, Service Provider will
reimburse expenses up to $50,000 necessary to cover costs incurred by the Fund’s auditor in
performing additional control testing.
Schedule 4 to Services Agreement
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Schedule 5 to Services Agreement
List of Funds
SMALL CAP FUND
SMALL-MID CAP FUND
LARGE CAP FUND
SELECT FUND
LONG-SHORT FUND
FINANCIAL LONG-SHORT FUND
STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
SMALL-MID CAP FUND
LARGE CAP FUND
SELECT FUND
LONG-SHORT FUND
FINANCIAL LONG-SHORT FUND
STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
Client may add up to two additional Funds and/or one additional share class in each Fund, without
incurring any start-up expenses or fees.
Schedule 5 to Services Agreement
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