COMPASS AND TRAK 2000 SERVICE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of this 1st day of October, 1995, by and
between XXXXXXX TRUST COMPANY, a New Hampshire banking corporation ("Trust
Company") and XXXXXXX EQUITY TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Fund").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Trust Company is engaged in the business of providing certain
recordkeeping and other services; and
WHEREAS, Trust Company and the Fund entered into a "Compass Service
Agreement," dated January 1, 1990 (the "Former Agreement") under which Trust
Company has been providing certain recordkeeping and other services, and Trust
Company also has been performing certain recordkeeping and other services for
the Fund in connection with the TRAK 2000 system; and
WHEREAS, the Fund is engaged in business as an open-end investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, Trust Company is willing to continue to provide to the Fund
such recordkeeping and other services in connection with the COMPASS and TRAK
2000 systems and in addition is willing to provide certain order processing
services as agent for the Fund; and
WHEREAS, Trust Company and the Fund wish to amend, restate and replace
the Former Agreement with this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
of the parties hereto as herein set forth, the parties covenant and agree as
follows:
1. Terms of Appointment; Performance of Duties.
1.1. Appointment. Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the Fund hereby employs and appoints Trust Company (i)
to act as, and Trust Company agrees to act as, recordkeeping agent with respect
to the authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest of the Fund
("Shares") or units representing such Shares ("Units"), and (ii) to act as an
agent of the Fund for the purpose of receiving requests for the purchase and
redemption of Shares or Units (collectively, "Shares") and communicating such
requests to the Fund's transfer agent ("Transfer Agent"), in connection with
certain retirement and employee benefit plans established under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 including but not limited to defined contribution plans,
Section 403(b) plans, individual retirement accounts and deferred compensation
plans (each a "Plan" or collectively the "Plans"), utilizing the Comprehensive
Participant Accounting Services ("COMPASS") or TRAK 2000 system, and established
by plan administrators, employers, trustees, custodians and other persons (each
individually an "Administrator" or collectively the "Administrators") on behalf
of employers (each individually an "Employer" or collectively the "Employers")
and individuals for certain participants in such Plans (each individually a
"Participant" or collectively the "Participants").
1.2. Recordkeeping. Trust Company agrees that it will perform
the following recordkeeping services in connection with the COMPASS and TRAK
2000 systems in accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund and Trust Company. Subject to instructions from the
Administrators, Trust Company shall:
(i) receive from Administrators instructions for the
purchase of Shares of the Fund, confirm compliance with such instructions and,
as agent of the respective Administrators, deliver within a reasonable time such
instructions and any appropriate documentation therefor to the Transfer Agent of
the Fund duly appointed by the Trustees of the Fund (the "Transfer Agent");
(ii) record the purchase by Plans of the appropriate
number of Shares or Units and within a reasonable time allocate such Shares or
Units among the Participants' accounts;
(iii) record dividends and capital gains
distributions on behalf of Participants;
(iv) receive from Administrators instructions for
redemption and repurchase requests and directions, confirm compliance with such
instructions and as agent of the respective Administrators deliver within a
reasonable time such instructions and any appropriate documentation therefor to
the Transfer Agent;
(v) record the redemption or repurchase by Plans of
the appropriate number of Shares or Units and within a reasonable time make the
appropriate adjustments among the Participants' accounts;
(vi) certify to the Fund no less frequently than
annually the number of Participants accounts for which records are maintained
hereunder;
(vii) maintain records of account for and advise the
Fund and Administrators and Participants, when appropriate, as to the foregoing;
(viii) maintain all Plan and Participant accounts
other than accounts maintained by the Transfer Agent; and
(ix) maintain and mail administrative reports and
Participant statements.
Procedures applicable to certain of these services may be established
from time to time by agreement between the Fund and Trust Company.
1.3. Order Processing.
(a) In addition to the recordkeeping to be performed
in accordance with Section 1.02 above, the Fund hereby appoints Trust Company,
and Trust Company agrees to act, as the Fund's agent for the purpose of
receiving requests for the purchase and redemption of Shares or Units and
communicating such requests to the Fund's Transfer Agent, subject to and in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and as follows:
(i) Trust Company shall receive from the Plans, Plan
participants, Plan sponsors, authorized Plan committees or Plan trustees,
according to Trust Company's agreement with each Plan, by the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Close of Trading") each business
day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business ("Business Day")
instructions for the purchase and redemption of Shares (together,
"Instructions"). Instructions received by Trust Company after the Close of
Trading on any Business Day shall be treated as received on the next Business
Day.
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(ii) In connection with the COMPASS system, Trust
Company shall compute net purchase requests or net redemption requests to the
extent practicable for Shares of the Fund for each Plan based on Instructions
received each Business Day.
(iii) Trust Company shall communicate purchase and
redemption requests for Shares of the Fund, netted to the extent practicable in
accordance with (ii) above in the case of COMPASS ("Orders"), to the Transfer
Agent, for acceptance by the Fund or its agents, in the manner specified herein,
and promptly deliver, or instruct the Plans (or the Plans' trustees as the case
may be) to deliver, appropriate documentation and, in the case of purchase
requests, payment therefor to the Transfer Agent. Orders shall be based solely
on Instructions received by Trust Company from the Plans, Plan participants,
Plan sponsors, authorized Plan committees or Plan trustees.
(b) Trust Company shall maintain adequate records
related to, and advise the Transfer Agent as to, the foregoing, as instructed by
the Fund, or by the Transfer Agent or other person designated to act on the
Fund's behalf. To the extent required under the 1940 Act and rules thereunder,
Trust Company agrees that such records maintained by it hereunder will be
preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with the provisions of
the 1940 Act and rules thereunder, and copies or, if required, originals will be
surrendered promptly to the Fund, Transfer Agent or other person designated to
act on the Fund's behalf, on and in accordance with its request. Records
surrendered hereunder shall be in machine readable form, except to the extent
that Trust Company has maintained such records only in paper form. This
provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
(c) Trust Company shall perform its duties hereunder
subject to the terms and conditions of the Fund's current prospectus; the Fund
and the Trust Company may establish such additional procedures for order
processing not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement as they reasonably
determine to be necessary or advisable from time to time.
(d) Trust Company acknowledges that it is not
authorized by the Fund to register the transfer of the Fund's Shares or to
transfer record ownership of the Fund's Shares, and that only the Transfer Agent
is authorized to perform such activities.
1.4. Agents of Trust Company. Trust Company may engage one or
more individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts or other entities
(including affiliates of Trust Company) to act as its subcontractor(s) or
agent(s) ("Agents") in providing the services contemplated hereunder. Any such
Agent shall be required to comply with the terms of this Agreement applicable to
the performance of such services it is performing as though it were the Trust
Company. Further, the Trust Company shall be solely responsible for, and assumes
all liability for, the actions and inactions of such Agents in connection with
their performance of such services.
2. Fees and Expenses.
2.1. Fees. For performance by Trust Company of services
pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund agrees to pay Trust Company an annual
maintenance fee for each Participant account as set out in the fee schedule, as
amended from time to time. Such fee schedule and out-of-pocket expenses and
advances identified under Section 2.2 below may be changed from time to time by
mutual agreement between the Fund and Trust Company. The parties hereto
acknowledge that the fees payable hereunder are for administrative and
recordkeeping services only and do not constitute payment in any manner for
investment advisory or distribution services.
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2.2. Expenses. In addition to the fee paid under Section 2.1
above, the Fund agrees to reimburse Trust Company for out-of-pocket expenses or
advances incurred by Trust Company for the items set out in the fee schedule. In
addition, any other expenses incurred by Trust Company, at the request or with
the consent of the Fund, will be reimbursed by the Fund. The Fund agrees to pay
all fees and reimbursable expenses promptly. Postage and the cost of materials
for mailing of administrative reports, Participant statements and other mailings
to all Employer accounts or Participants shall be advanced to Trust Company by
the Fund at least two (2) days prior to the mailing date of such materials or
paid within two (2) days of the receipt by the Fund of a xxxx therefor.
3. Representations and Warranties of Trust Company.
Trust Company represents and warrants to the Fund that:
(i) It is a banking corporation duly organized and
existing and in good standing under the laws of The State of New Hampshire.
(ii) It has the legal power and authority to carry on
its business in any jurisdiction where it does business.
(iii) It is empowered under applicable laws and by
its charter and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(iv) All requisite corporate proceedings have been
taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(v) It has and will continue to have access to the
necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and
obligations under this Agreement.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Fund.
The Fund represents and warrants to Trust Company that:
(i) It is a business trust duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(ii) It is empowered under applicable laws and by its
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
(iii) All proceedings required by said Declaration of Trust
and By-Laws have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
(iv) It is an investment company registered under the
1940 Act.
(v) It makes available its Shares in connection with
certain Plans.
(vi) A majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are
not interested persons have made findings to the effect that:
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(a) the Agreement is in the best interest of the Fund
and its shareholders;
(b) the services to be performed pursuant to the
Agreement are services required for the operation of the Fund;
(c) Trust Company can provide services the nature and
quality of which are at least equal to those provided by others offering the
same or similar services; and
(d) the fees charged by Trust Company for such
services are fair and reasonable in the light of the usual and customary charges
made by others for services of the same nature and quality.
(vii) A registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "33 Act"), has been filed and has become effective, and
appropriate state securities law filings have been made with respect to all
Shares of the Fund being offered for sale. The Fund shall notify Trust Company
(i) if such registration statement or any state securities registration or
qualification has been terminated or a stop order has been entered with respect
to the Shares or (ii) if such registration statement shall have been amended to
cover Shares of any additional Series (as hereinafter defined in Section 8.1).
5. Indemnification.
5.1. By Fund. Trust Company shall not be responsible
for, and the Fund shall indemnify and hold Trust Company 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 Trust Company or its agents
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 reliance on or use by Trust Company or its
agents of information, records and documents which (i) are received by Trust
Company or its agents and furnished to it by or on behalf of the Fund, and (ii)
have been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or any other person or firm
(except Trust Company) on behalf of the Fund.
(d) The reliance on or the carrying out by Trust
Company or its agents of any written instructions or requests of the Fund or any
person acting on behalf of the Fund.
(e) 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.
5.2. By Trust Company. Trust Company 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
attributable to Trust Company's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of
this Agreement, or which arise out of Trust Company's lack of good faith,
negligence or willful misconduct or which arise out of the breach of any
representation or warranty of Trust Company hereunder.
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5.3. Reliance. At any time Trust Company may apply to
any officer of the Fund for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel
(which may also be legal counsel for the Fund) with respect to any matter
arising in connection with the services to be performed by Trust Company under
this Agreement, and Trust Company 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. Trust Company and its agents
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 Trust Company or its agents by
telephone, in person, 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.
5.4. Acts of God. 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 to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or
otherwise from such causes.
5.5. Procedures. 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.
6. Covenants of the Fund and Trust Company.
6.1. Adequate Facilities. Trust Company hereby agrees
to establish and maintain facilities, personnel, and computer and other
facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of
records, for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such records,
and for order processing.
6.2. Insurance. Trust Company shall at all times
maintain insurance coverage which is reasonable and customary in light of its
duties hereunder and its other obligations and activities, and shall notify the
Fund of any changes in its insurance coverage unless the Fund is covered by the
same policy and such change is also applicable to the Fund.
6.3. Records. Trust Company shall keep records
relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it
may deem advisable.
6.4. Confidentiality. Trust Company 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.
6.5. Inspection. In case of any requests or demands
for the inspection of the records relating to Plan accounts and Participant
accounts with the Fund, Trust Company will endeavor to notify the Fund and to
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secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection. Trust Company reserves the right, however, to exhibit such records
to any person whenever it is reasonably advised by counsel to the Fund that it
may be held liable for the failure to exhibit such records to such person.
6.6. Laws Applicable to Fund. Trust Company
acknowledges that the Fund, as a registered investment company under the 1940
Act, is subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and that the offer and sale of the Fund's Shares are subject to the
provisions of federal and state laws and regulations applicable to the offer and
sale of securities. The Fund acknowledges that Trust Company is not responsible
for the Fund's compliance with such laws, rules and regulations. If the Fund
advises Trust Company that a procedure of Trust Company related to the discharge
of its obligations hereunder has or may have the effect of causing the Fund to
violate any of such laws or regulations, Trust Company shall use its best
efforts to develop an alternative procedure which does not have such effect.
6.7. Relationship to Plans. Trust Company
acknowledges to the Fund that, as the offeror of COMPASS and TRAK 2000, Trust
Company does not act as a plan administrator or as a fiduciary under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time,
with respect to any Plan. Trust Company shall not be responsible for determining
whether the terms of a particular Plan or the Shares of the Fund are appropriate
for the Plan or Participant and does not guarantee the performance of the Fund.
7. Termination of Agreement.
This Agreement may be terminated by either party on the last day of the
month next commencing after thirty (30) days written notice to the other party.
Upon termination of this Agreement, the Fund shall pay to Trust Company such
fees and expenses as may be due as of the date of such termination. Should the
Fund exercise its right to terminate this Agreement, Trust Company reserves the
right to charge for any other reasonable expenses associated with such
termination.
8. Additional Series of the Fund.
8.1. Establishment of Series. Shares of the Fund are of a
single class; however, Shares may be divided into additional series ("Series")
that may be established from time to time by action of the Trustees of the Fund.
If the context requires and unless otherwise specifically provided herein, the
term "Fund" as used in this Agreement shall mean in addition each separate
Series currently existing or subsequently created, and the term "Shares" shall
mean all shares of beneficial interest of the Fund, whether of a single class or
divided into separate Series of the Fund currently existing or hereinafter
created.
8.2. Notice to Trust Company. In the event that the Fund
establishes one or more or additional Series of Shares in addition to the
original Series with respect to which it desires to have Trust Company render
services as recordkeeping agent under the terms hereof, it shall so notify Trust
Company in writing, and upon the effectiveness of a registration statement under
the 33 Act relating to such Series of Shares and unless Trust Company objects in
writing to providing such services, such Series shall be subject to this
Agreement.
8.3. Suspension. In the event that the Fund suspends
the offering of Shares of any one or more Series, it shall so notify Trust
Company in writing to such effect.
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9. Assignment.
Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be
assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective permitted successors and assigns.
10. Amendment.
This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement
executed by both parties.
11. Massachusetts Law to Apply.
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
12. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
hereto.
13. Correspondence.
Trust Company will answer correspondence from Administrators relating
to Plan and Plan participant accounts and such other correspondence as may from
time to time be mutually agreed upon and notify the Fund of any correspondence
which may require an answer from the Fund.
14. Further Actions.
Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute such further
documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.
15. Interpretive Provisions.
In connection with the operation of this Agreement, Trust Company and
the Fund may agree from time to time on such provisions interpretive of or in
addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be
consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or
additional provisions are to be signed by the parties and annexed hereto, but no
such provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state law or
regulation and no such interpretive or additional provision shall be deemed to
be an amendment of this Agreement.
16. Miscellaneous.
The name Xxxxxxx Equity Trust is the designation of the Trustees for
the time being under a Declaration of Trust dated March 18, 1988, as amended,
and all persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the Fund property for
the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the Trustees,
officers, agents nor shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations
entered into on behalf of the Fund. No Series of the Fund shall be liable for
any claims against any other Series of the Fund.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their officers designated below as of the day and year first above
written.
XXXXXXX TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
XXXXXXX EQUITY TRUST
By: /s/Xxxxx X. Xxx
Xxxxx X. Xxx
Title: Vice President
