Exhibit 9(a)
Form of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Orbitex Group of Funds
and State Street Bank and Trust Company
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
between
Orbitex Group of Funds
and
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
1C-Domestic Trust/Series
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
1. Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Fees and Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. Representations and Warranties of the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. Representations and Warranties of the Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5. Data Access and Proprietary Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6. Indemnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7. Standard of Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
8. Covenants of the Fund and the Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
9. Termination of Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
10. Additional Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
11. Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
12. Amendment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
13. Massachusetts Law to Apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
14. Force Majeure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
15. Consequential Damages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
16. Merger of Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
17. Limitations of Liability of the Trustees
or Shareholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
18. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the day of , 1996 , by and between
Orbitex Group of Funds, business trust, having its principal office and place
of business at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (the "Fund"), and
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company having its
principal office and place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Bank").
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each
such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and
other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to initially offer shares in series, the
(NAME EACH PORTFOLIO) (each such series, together with all other series
subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement in
accordance with Article 10, being herein referred to as a "Portfolio", and
collectively as the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, the Fund on behalf of the Portfolios desires to appoint the Bank as
its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian of certain
retirement plans and agent in connection with certain other activities, and
the Bank desires to accept such appointment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERMS OF APPOINTMENT; DUTIES OF THE BANK
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Fund,
on behalf of the Portfolios, hereby employs and appoints the Bank to act
as, and the Bank agrees to act as its transfer agent for the Fund's
authorized and issued shares of its common stock, $ par value,
("Shares"), dividend disbursing agent, custodian of certain retirement
plans and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account or
similar plans provided to the shareholders of each of the respective
Portfolios of the Fund ("Shareholders") and set out in the currently
effective prospectus and statement of additional information ("prospectus")
of the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, including without
limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.
1.2 The Bank agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios, as
applicable and the Bank, the Bank shall:
(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and
promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation thereof
to the Custodian of
the Fund authorized pursuant to the Declaration of Trust of
the Fund (the "Custodian");
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of
Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder
account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation thereof to
the Custodian;
(iv) In respect to the transactions in items (i), (ii) and (iii)
above, the Bank shall execute transactions directly with
broker-dealers authorized by the Fund who shall thereby be
deemed to be acting on behalf of the Fund;
(v) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to
it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or
cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as
instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;
(vi) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vii) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions
declared by the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio;
(viii) Issue replacement certificates for those certificates alleged
to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon receipt by the Bank
of indemnification satisfactory to the Bank and protecting the
Bank and the Fund, and the Bank at its option, may issue
replacement certificates in place of mutilated stock
certificates upon presentation thereof and without such
indemnity;
(ix) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its
Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
(x) Record the issuance of shares of the Fund and maintain pursuant
to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total number of shares
of the Fund which are authorized, based upon data provided to
it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. The Bank shall
also provide the Fund on a regular basis with the total number
of shares which are authorized and issued and outstanding and
shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of
shares, to monitor the issuance of such shares or to take
cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of such
Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the
Fund.
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(b) In addition to and neither in lieu nor in contravention of the
services set forth in the above paragraph (a), the Bank shall: (i)
perform the customary services of a transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent, custodian of certain retirement plans and, as
relevant, agent in connection with accumulation, open-account or
similar plans (including without limitation any periodic investment
plan or periodic withdrawal program), including but not limited to:
maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting
lists, mailing proxies, mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses
to current Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and
non-resident alien accounts, preparing and filing U.S. Treasury
Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms required with
respect to dividends and distributions by federal authorities for all
Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements
of account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares
and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing
and mailing activity statements for Shareholders, and providing
Shareholder account information and (ii) provide a system which will
enable the Fund to monitor the total number of Shares sold in each
State.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to the Bank in writing those
transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from blue sky
reporting for each State and (ii) verify the establishment of
transactions for each State on the system prior to activation and
thereafter monitor the daily activity for each State. The
responsibility of the Bank for the Fund's blue sky State registration
status is solely limited to the initial establishment of transactions
subject to blue sky compliance by the Fund and the reporting of such
transactions to the Fund as provided above.
(d) Procedures as to who shall provide certain of these services in
Section 1 may be established from time to time by agreement between
the Fund on behalf of each Portfolio and the Bank per the attached
service responsibility schedule. The Bank may at times perform only a
portion of these services and the Fund or its agent may perform these
services on the Fund's behalf.
(e) The Bank shall provide additional services on behalf of the Fund
(i.e., escheatment services) which may be agreed upon in writing
between the Fund and the Bank.
2. FEES AND EXPENSES
2.1 For the performance by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund agrees
on behalf of each of the Portfolios to pay the Bank an annual maintenance
fee for each Shareholder account as set out in the initial fee schedule
attached hereto. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and advances
identified under Section 2.2 below may be changed from time to time subject
to mutual written agreement between the Fund and the Bank.
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2.2 In addition to the fee paid under Section 2.1 above, the Fund agrees on
behalf of each of the Portfolios to reimburse the Bank for out-of-pocket
expenses, including but not limited to confirmation production, postage,
forms, telephone, microfilm, microfiche, tabulating proxies, records
storage, or advances incurred by the Bank for the items set out in the fee
schedule attached hereto. In addition, any other expenses incurred by the
Bank at the request or with the consent of the Fund, will be reimbursed by
the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio.
2.3 The Fund agrees on behalf of each of the Portfolios to pay all fees and
reimbursable expenses within five days following the receipt of the
respective billing notice. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund
reports and other mailings to all shareholder accounts shall be advanced to
the Bank by the Fund at least seven (7) days prior to the mailing date of
such materials.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BANK
The Bank represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.1 It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
3.2 It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
3.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-Laws to
enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to
enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.5 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 the Bank that:
4.1 It is a business trust duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of .
4.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Declaration of Trust and
By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
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4.3 All corporate proceedings required by said Declaration of Trust and By-Laws
have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.4 It is an open-end and diversified management investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended on
behalf of each of the Portfolios is currently effective and will remain
effective, and appropriate state securities law filings have been made and
will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund being
offered for sale.
5. DATA ACCESS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
5.1 The Fund acknowledges that the data bases, computer programs, screen
formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation
manuals furnished to the Fund by the Bank as part of the Fund's ability to
access certain Fund-related data ("Customer Data") maintained by the Bank
on data bases under the control and ownership of the Bank or other third
party ("Data Access Services") constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or
other proprietary information (collectively, "Proprietary Information") of
substantial value to the Bank or other third party. In no event shall
Proprietary Information be deemed Customer Data. The Fund agrees to treat
all Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Bank and further agrees
that it shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or
organization except as may be provided hereunder. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Fund agrees for itself and its employees and agents:
(a) to access Customer Data solely from locations as may be designated in
writing by the Bank and solely in accordance with the Bank's
applicable user documentation;
(b) to refrain from copying or duplicating in any way the Proprietary
Information;
(c) to refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the
Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained,
to inform in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such
information in accordance with the Bank's instructions;
(d) to refrain from causing or allowing the data acquired hereunder from
being retransmitted to any other computer facility or other location,
except with the prior written consent of the Bank;
(e) that the Fund shall have access only to those authorized transactions
agreed upon by the parties;
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(f) to honor all reasonable written requests made by the Bank to protect
at the Bank's expense the rights of the Bank in Proprietary
Information at common law, under federal copyright law and under other
federal or state law.
Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their
obligations pursuant to this Section 5. The obligations of this Section shall
survive any earlier termination of this Agreement.
5.2 If the Fund notifies the Bank that any of the Data Access Services do not
operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user
documentation for such services, the Bank shall endeavor in a timely manner
to correct such failure. Organizations from which the Bank may obtain
certain data included in the Data Access Services are solely responsible
for the contents of such data and the Fund agrees to make no claim against
the Bank arising out of the contents of such third-party data, including,
but not limited to, the accuracy thereof. DATA ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL
COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS IS, AS AVAILABLE BASIS. THE BANK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES EXCEPT THOSE EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
5.3 If the transactions available to the Fund include the ability to originate
electronic instructions to the Bank in order to (i) effect the transfer or
movement of cash or Shares or (ii) transmit Shareholder information or
other information, then in such event the Bank shall be entitled to rely
on the validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking
any further inquiry as long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity
with security procedures established by the Bank from time to time.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 The Bank shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall on behalf of the
applicable Portfolio indemnify and hold the Bank harmless from and against,
any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments,
expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to:
(a) All actions of the Bank or its agents or subcontractors required to be
taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken
in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct which
arise out of the breach of any representation or warranty of the Fund
hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by the Bank or its agents or subcontractors of
information, records, documents or services which (i) are received by
the Bank or its agents or
6
subcontractors, and (ii) have been prepared, maintained or performed
by the Fund or any other person or firm on behalf of the Fund
including but not limited to any previous transfer agent or registrar.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by the Bank or its agents or
subcontractors of any instructions or requests of the Fund on behalf
of the applicable Portfolio.
(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.
(f) The negotiation and processing by the Bank of checks not made payable
to the order of the Bank, the Fund, the Fund's management company,
transfer agent or distributor or the retirement account custodian or
trustee for a plan account investing in Shares, which checks are
tendered to the Bank for the purchase of Shares (i.e., checks made
payable to prospective or existing Shareholders, such checks are
commonly known as "third party checks").
6.2 At any time the Bank may apply to any officer of the Fund for instructions,
and may consult with legal counsel with respect to any matter arising in
connection with the services to be performed by the Bank under this
Agreement, and the Bank and its agents or subcontractors shall not be
liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio for any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon such
instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. The Bank, its agents and
subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any paper
or document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund, reasonably believed to
be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons, or upon
any instruction, information, data, records or documents provided the Bank
or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, telex, CRT data
entry or other similar means authorized by the Fund, 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. The Bank, its agents and
subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in recognizing stock
certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the proper manual or
facsimile signatures of the officers of the Fund, and the proper
countersignature of any former transfer agent or former registrar, or of a
co-transfer agent or co-registrar.
6.3 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section 6
shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which the Fund may be
required to indemnify the Bank, the Bank shall promptly notify the Fund of
such assertion, and shall keep the Fund advised with respect to all
developments concerning such claim. The Fund shall have the option to
participate with the Bank in the defense of such claim or to defend against
said claim in its own name or in the name of the Bank. The Bank shall in
no case confess any claim or
7
make any compromise in any case in which the Fund may be required to
indemnify the Bank except with the Fund's prior written consent.
7. STANDARD OF CARE
The Bank shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best
efforts within reasonable limits to insure the accuracy of all services
performed under this Agreement, but assumes no responsibility and shall
not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless said errors are
caused by its negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its
employees.
8. COVENANTS OF THE FUND AND THE BANK
8.1 The Fund shall on behalf of each of the Portfolios promptly furnish to the
Bank the following:
(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the
Fund authorizing the appointment of the Bank and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement.
(b) A copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund and all
amendments thereto.
8.2 The Bank hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and procedures
reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of stock certificates,
check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any; and for the
preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates, forms
and devices.
8.3 The Bank shall keep records relating to the services to be performed
hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. To the extent
required by Section 31 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and the Rules thereunder, the Bank agrees that all such records prepared or
maintained by the Bank relating to the services to be performed by the Bank
hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be preserved, maintained
and made available in accordance with such Section and Rules, and will be
surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.
8.4 The Bank 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.
8.5 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the Shareholder
records of the Fund, the Bank will endeavor to notify the Fund and to
secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection. The Bank reserves the right,
8
however, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any person whenever it is
advised by its counsel that it may be held liable for the failure to
exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
9.1 This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one hundred twenty
(120) days written notice to the other.
9.2 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket expenses
associated with the movement of records and material will be borne by the
Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s). Additionally, the Bank
reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable expenses associated
with such termination and/or a charge equivalent to the average of three
(3) months' fees.
10. ADDITIONAL FUNDS
In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in
addition to (LIST FUNDS) with respect to which it desires to have the
Bank render services as transfer agent under the terms hereof, it shall so
notify the Bank in writing, and if the Bank agrees in writing to provide
such services, such series of Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder.
11. ASSIGNMENT
11.1 Except as provided in Section 11.3 below, neither this Agreement nor any
rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the
written consent of the other party.
11.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
11.3 The Bank may, without further consent on the part of the Fund, subcontract
for the performance hereof with (i) Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., a
Massachusetts corporation ("BFDS") which is duly registered as a transfer
agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended ("Section 17A(c)(2)"), (ii) a BFDS subsidiary duly registered
as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) or (iii) a BFDS
affiliate; provided, however, that the Bank shall be as fully responsible
to the Fund for the acts and omissions of any subcontractor as it is for
its own acts and omissions.
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12. AMENDMENT
This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement executed
by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund.
13. 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.
14. FORCE MAJEURE
In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the
terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or
transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other
causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for
damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform
or otherwise from such causes.
15. CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for
consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any
consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder.
16. MERGER OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter
hereof whether oral or written.
17. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF THE TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given
that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as
Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument
are not binding upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually but
are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.
18. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of
counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed
to constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly
authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
BY:__________________________________
ATTEST:
__________________________________
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY:__________________________________
Executive Vice President
ATTEST:
__________________________________
STATE STREET BANK & TRUST COMPANY
FUND SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES*
Service Performed Responsibility
----------------- --------------
Bank Fund
---- ----
1. Receives orders for the purchase
of Shares.
2. Issue Shares and hold Shares in
Shareholders accounts.
3. Receive redemption requests.
4. Effect transactions 1-3 above
directly with broker-dealers.
5. Pay over monies to redeeming
Shareholders.
6. Effect transfers of Shares.
7. Prepare and transmit dividends
and distributions.
8. Issue Replacement Certificates.
9. Reporting of abandoned property.
10. Maintain records of account.
11. Maintain and keep a current and
accurate control book for each
issue of securities.
12. Mail proxies.
13. Mail Shareholder reports.
14. Mail prospectuses to current
Shareholders.
15. Withhold taxes on U.S. resident
and non-resident alien accounts.
Service Performed Responsibility
----------------- --------------
Bank Fund
---- ----
16. Prepare and file U.S. Treasury
Department forms.
17. Prepare and mail account and
confirmation statements for
Shareholders.
18. Provide Shareholder account
information.
19. Blue sky reporting.
* Such services are more fully described in Section 1.2 (a), (b) and (c) of
the Agreement.
BY:__________________________________
ATTEST:
__________________________________
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
BY:__________________________________
Executive Vice President
ATTEST:
__________________________________
