Exhibit 9(a)
TRANSFER AGENCY AND REGISTRAR AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of August 2, 1993 between XXXXXX BROTHERS FUNDS,
INC. (the "Fund"), a corporation organized under the laws of Maryland and
having its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX
00000, and THE SHAREHOLDER SERVICES GROUP, INC. (MA) (the "Transfer Agent"), a
Massachusetts corporation with principal offices at One Exchange Place, 00
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
W I T N E S S E T H
That for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
hereinafter set forth, the Fund and the Transfer Agent agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words
and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following
meanings:
(a) "Articles of Incorporation" shall mean the Articles of
Incorporation, Declaration of Trust, Partnership Agreement, or similar
organizational document as the case may be, of the Fund as the same may be
amended from time to time.
(b) "Authorized Person" shall be deemed to include any person,
whether or not such person is an officer or employee of the Fund, duly
authorized to give Oral Instructions or Written Instructions on behalf of the
Fund as indicated in a certificate furnished to the Transfer Agent pursuant to
Section 4(c) hereof as may be received by the Transfer Agent from time to
time.
(c) "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors, Board
of Trustees or, if the Fund is a limited partnership, the General Partner(s)
of the Fund, as the case may be.
(d) "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(e) "Custodian" refers to any custodian or subcustodian of
securities and other property which the Fund may from time to time deposit, or
cause to be deposited or held under the name or account of such a custodian
pursuant to a Custodian Agreement.
(f) "Fund" shall mean the entity executing this Agreement, and if
it is a series fund, as such term is used in the 1940 Act, such term shall
mean each series of the Fund hereafter created, except that appropriate
documentation with respect to each series must be presented to the Transfer
Agent before this Agreement shall become effective with respect to each such
series.
(g) "1940 Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(h) "Oral Instructions" shall mean instructions, other than
Written Instructions, actually received by the Transfer Agent from a person
reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be an Authorized Person;
(i) "Prospectus" shall mean the most recently dated Fund
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, including any supplements
thereto if any, which has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933
and the 1940 Act.
(j) "Shares" refers collectively to such shares of capital stock,
beneficial interest or limited partnership interests, as the case may be, of
the Fund as may be issued from time to time and, if the Fund is a closed-end
or a series fund, as such terms are used in the 1940 Act any other classes or
series of stock, shares of beneficial interest or limited partnership
interests that may be issued from time to time.
(k) "Shareholder" shall mean a holder of shares of capital stock,
beneficial interest or any other class or series, and also refers to partners
of limited partnerships.
(l) "Written Instructions" shall mean a written communication
signed by a person reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to be an
Authorized Person and actually received by the Transfer Agent. Written
Instructions shall include manually executed originals and authorized
electronic transmissions, including telefacsimile of a manually executed
original or other process.
2. Appointment of the Transfer Agent. The Fund hereby appoints and
constitutes the Transfer Agent as transfer agent, registrar and dividend
disbursing agent for Shares of the Fund and as shareholder servicing agent for
the Fund. The Transfer Agent accepts such appointments and agrees to perform
the duties hereinafter set forth.
3. Compensation.
(a) The Fund will compensate or cause the Transfer Agent to be
compensated for the performance of its obligations hereunder in accordance
with the fees set forth in the written schedule of fees annexed hereto as
Schedule A and incorporated herein. The Transfer Agent will transmit an
invoice to the Fund as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar
month which will be detailed in accordance with Schedule A, and the Fund will
pay to the Transfer Agent the amount of such invoice within thirty (30) days
after the Fund's receipt of the invoice.
In addition, the Fund agrees to pay, and will be billed
separately for, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Transfer
Agent in the performance of its duties hereunder. Out-of-pocket expenses shall
include, but shall not be limited to, the items specified in the written
schedule of out-of-pocket charges annexed hereto as Schedule B and
incorporated herein. Unspecified out-of-pocket expenses shall be limited to
those out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the Transfer Agent in the
performance of its obligations hereunder. Reimbursement by the Fund for
expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent in any month shall be made as soon as
practicable but no later than 15 days after the receipt of an itemized xxxx
from the Transfer Agent.
(b) Any compensation agreed to hereunder may be adjusted from
time to time by attaching to Schedule A, a revised fee schedule executed and
dated by the parties hereto.
4. Documents. In connection with the appointment of the Transfer Agent
the Fund shall deliver or caused to be delivered to the Transfer Agent the
following documents on or before the date this Agreement goes into effect, but
in any case within a reasonable period of time for the Transfer Agent to
prepare to perform its duties hereunder:
(a) If applicable, specimens of the certificates for Shares of
the Fund;
(b) All account application forms and other documents relating to
Shareholder accounts or to any plan, program or service offered by the Fund;
(c) A signature card bearing the signatures of any officer of the
Fund or other Authorized Person who will sign Written Instructions or is
authorized to give Oral Instructions.
(d) A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation, as
amended;
(e) A certified copy of the By-laws of the Fund, as amended;
(f) A copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors
authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement;
(g) A certified list of Shareholders of the Fund with the name,
address and taxpayer identification number of each Shareholder, and the number
of Shares of the Fund held by each, certificate numbers and denominations (if
any certificates have been issued), lists of any accounts against which stop
transfer orders have been placed, together with the reasons therefore, and the
number of Shares redeemed by the Fund; and
(h) An opinion of counsel for the Fund with respect to the
validity of the Shares and the status of such Shares under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
5. Further Documentation. The Fund will also furnish the Transfer
Agent with copies of the following documents promptly after the same shall
become available:
(a) each resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the
issuance of Shares;
(b) any registration statements filed on behalf of the Fund and
all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto filed with the
Commission;
(c) a certified copy of each amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation or the By-laws of the Fund;
(d) certified copies of each resolution of the Board of Directors
or other authorization designating Authorized Persons; and
(e) such other certificates, documents or opinions as the
Transfer Agent may reasonably request in connection with the performance of
its duties hereunder.
6. Representations of the Fund. The Fund represents to the Transfer
Agent that all outstanding Shares are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. When Shares are hereafter issued in accordance with the terms
of the Fund's Articles of Incorporation and its Prospectus, such Shares shall
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
7. Distributions Payable in Shares. In the event that the Board of
Directors of the Fund shall declare a distribution payable in Shares, the Fund
shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Transfer Agent written notice of
such declaration signed on behalf of the Fund by an officer thereof, upon
which the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely for all purposes,
certifying (i) the identity of the Shares involved, (ii) the number of Shares
involved, and (iii) that all appropriate action has been taken.
8. Duties of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall be
responsible for administering and/or performing those functions typically
performed by a transfer agent; for acting as service agent in connection with
dividend and distribution functions; and for performing shareholder account
and administrative agent functions in connection with the issuance, transfer
and redemption or repurchase (including coordination with the Custodian) of
Shares in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and applicable law. The
operating standards and procedures to be followed shall be determined from
time to time by agreement between the Fund and the Transfer Agent and shall
initially be as described in Schedule C attached hereto. In addition, the
Fund shall deliver to the Transfer Agent all notices issued by the Fund with
respect to the Shares in accordance with and pursuant to the Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws of the Fund or as required by law and shall perform
such other specific duties as are set forth in the Articles of Incorporation
including the giving of notice of any special or annual meetings of
shareholders and any other notices required thereby.
9. Record Keeping and Other Information. The Transfer Agent shall
create and maintain all records required of it pursuant to its duties
hereunder and as set forth in Schedule C in accordance with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations, including records required by Section 31(a) of
the 1940 Act. All records shall be available during regular business hours
for inspection and use by the Fund. Where applicable, such records shall be
maintained by the Transfer Agent for the periods and in the places required by
Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
Upon reasonable notice by the Fund, the Transfer Agent shall make
available during regular business hours such of its facilities and premises
employed in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement
for reasonable visitation by the Fund, or any person retained by the Fund as
may be necessary for the Fund to evaluate the quality of the services
performed by the Transfer Agent pursuant hereto.
10. Other Duties. In addition to the duties set forth in Schedule C,
the Transfer Agent shall perform such other duties and functions, and shall be
paid such amounts therefor, as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing
between the Fund and the Transfer Agent. The compensation for such other
duties and functions shall be reflected in a written amendment to Schedule A
or B and the duties and functions shall be reflected in an amendment to
Schedule C, both dated and signed by authorized persons of the parties hereto.
11. Reliance by Transfer Agent; Instructions
(a) The Transfer Agent will have no liability when acting upon
Written or Oral Instructions believed to have been executed or orally
communicated by an Authorized Person and will not be held to have any notice
of any change of authority of any person until receipt of a Written
Instruction thereof from the Fund pursuant to Section 4(c). The Transfer
Agent will also have no liability when processing Share certificates which it
reasonably believes to bear the proper manual or facsimile signatures of the
officers of the Fund and the proper countersignature of the Transfer Agent.
(b) At any time, the Transfer Agent may apply to any Authorized
Person of the Fund for Written Instructions and may seek advice from legal
counsel for the Fund, or its own legal counsel, with respect to any matter
arising in connection with this Agreement, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or not taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with
such Written Instructions or in accordance with the opinion of counsel for the
Fund or for the Transfer Agent. Written Instructions requested by the
Transfer Agent will be provided by the Fund within a reasonable period of
time. In addition, the Transfer Agent, its officers, agents or employees,
shall accept Oral Instructions or Written Instructions given to them by any
person representing or acting on behalf of the Fund only if said
representative is an Authorized Person. The Fund agrees that all Oral
Instructions shall be followed within one business day by confirming Written
Instructions, and that the Fund's failure to so confirm shall not impair in
any respect the Transfer Agent's right to rely on Oral Instructions. The
Transfer Agent shall have no duty or obligation to inquire into, nor shall the
Transfer Agent be responsible for, the legality of any act done by it upon the
request or direction of a person reasonably believed by the Transfer Agent to
be an Authorized Person.
(c) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this
Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be under no duty or obligation to inquire
into, and shall not be liable for: (i) the legality of the issuance or sale
of any Shares or the sufficiency of the amount to be received therefor; (ii)
the legality of the redemption of any Shares, or the propriety of the amount
to be paid therefor; (iii) the legality of the declaration of any dividend by
the Board of Directors, or the legality of the issuance of any Shares in
payment of any dividend; or (iv) the legality of any recapitalization or
readjustment of the Shares.
12. Acts of God, etc. The Transfer Agent will not be liable or
responsible for delays or errors by acts of God or by reason of circumstances
beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority, national
emergencies, labor difficulties, mechanical breakdown, insurrection, war,
riots, or failure or unavailability of transportation, communication or power
supply, fire, flood or other catastrophe.
13. Duty of Care and Indemnification. Each party hereto (the
"Indemnifying Party') will indemnify the other party (the "Indemnified Party")
against and hold it harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses of any sort or kind (including reasonable counsel fees
and expenses) resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit or other
proceeding (a "Claim") unless such Claim has resulted from a negligent failure
to act or omission to act or bad faith of the Indemnified Party in the
performance of its duties hereunder. In addition, the Fund will indemnify the
Transfer Agent against and hold it harmless from any Claim, damages,
liabilities or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) that is a result
of: (i) any action taken in accordance with Written or Oral Instructions, or
any other instructions, or share certificates reasonably believed by the
Transfer Agent to be genuine and to be signed, countersigned or executed, or
orally communicated by an Authorized Person; (ii) any action taken in
accordance with written or oral advice reasonably believed by the Transfer
Agent to have been given by counsel for the Fund or its own counsel; or (iii)
any action taken as a result of any error or omission in any record (including
but not limited to magnetic tapes, computer printouts, hard copies and
microfilm copies) delivered, or caused to be delivered by the Fund to the
Transfer Agent in connection with this Agreement.
In any case in which the Indemnifying Party may be asked to indemnify or
hold the Indemnified Party harmless, the Indemnifying Party shall be advised
of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question. The Indemnified
Party will notify the Indemnifying Party promptly after identifying any
situation which it believes presents or appears likely to present a claim for
indemnification against the Indemnifying Party although the failure to do so
shall not prevent recovery by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party
shall have the option to defend the Indemnified Party against any Claim which
may be the subject of this indemnification, and, in the event that the
Indemnifying Party so elects, such defense shall be conducted by counsel
chosen by the Indemnifying Party and satisfactory to the Indemnified Party,
and thereupon the Indemnifying Party shall take over complete defense of the
Claim and the Indemnified Party shall sustain no further legal or other
expenses in respect of such Claim. The Indemnified Party will not confess any
Claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Indemnifying Party will
be asked to provide indemnification, except with the Indemnifying Party's
prior written consent. The obligations of the parties hereto under this
Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
14. Consequential Damages. In no event and under no circumstances
shall either party under this Agreement be liable to the other party for
indirect loss of profits, reputation or business or any other special damages
under any provision of this Agreement or for any act or failure to act
hereunder.
15. Term and Termination.
(a) This Agreement shall be effective on the date first written
above and shall continue until _____________, and thereafter shall
automatically continue for successive annual periods ending on the anniversary
of the date first written above, provided that it may be terminated by either
party upon written notice given at least 60 days prior to termination.
(b) In the event a termination notice is given by the Fund, it
shall be accompanied by a resolution of the Board of Directors, certified by
the Secretary of the Fund, designating a successor transfer agent or transfer
agents. Upon such termination and at the expense of the Fund, the Transfer
Agent will deliver to such successor a certified list of shareholders of the
Fund (with names and addresses), and all other relevant books, records,
correspondence and other Fund records or data in the possession of the
Transfer Agent, and the Transfer Agent will cooperate with the Fund and any
successor transfer agent or agents in the substitution process.
16. Confidentiality. Both parties hereto agree that any non public
information obtained hereunder concerning the other party is confidential and
may not be disclosed to any other person without the consent of the other
party, except as may be required by applicable law or at the request of the
Commission or other governmental agency. The parties further agree that a
breach of this provision would irreparably damage the other party and
accordingly agree that each of them is entitled, without bond or other
security, to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this
provision.
17. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended or modified by a
written instrument executed by both parties.
18. Subcontracting. The Fund agrees that the Transfer Agent may, in
its discretion, subcontract for certain of the services described under this
Agreement or the Schedules hereto; provided that the appointment of any such
Transfer Agent shall not relieve the Transfer Agent of its responsibilities
hereunder.
19. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. Any notice or other instrument authorized or
required by this Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or the Transfer
Agent, shall be sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by
it at its office set forth below or at such other place as it may from time to
time designate in writing.
To the Fund:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Shearson Investment Funds
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention:Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
To the Transfer Agent:
The Shareholder Services Group
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
with a copy to TSSG Counsel
(b) Successors. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be
binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns,
provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assigned to any person
other than a person controlling, controlled by or under common control with
the assignor without the written consent of the other party, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed exclusively
by the laws of the State of New York without reference to the choice of law
provisions thereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) the Supreme
Court of New York sitting in New York County shall have exclusive jurisdiction
over any and all disputes arising hereunder; (ii) hereby consents to the
personal jurisdiction of such court over the parties hereto, hereby waiving
any defense of lack of personal jurisdiction; and (iii) appoints the person to
whom notices hereunder are to be sent as agent for service of process.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original; but such
counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.
(e) Captions. The captions of this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(f) Use of Transfer Agent's Name. The Fund shall not use the
name of the Transfer Agent in any Prospectus, Statement of Additional
Information, shareholders' report, sales literature or other material relating
to the Fund in a manner not approved prior thereto in writing; provided, that
the Transfer Agent need only receive notice of all reasonable uses of its name
which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or which are
required by any government agency or applicable law or rule. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any reference to the Transfer Agent shall include a statement
to the effect that it is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Data Corporation.
(g) Use of Fund's Name. The Transfer Agent shall not use the
name of the Fund or material relating to the Fund on any documents or forms
for other than internal use in a manner not approved prior thereto in writing;
provided, that the Fund need only receive notice of all reasonable uses of its
name which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Transfer
Agent or which are required by any government agency or applicable law or
rule.
(h) Independent Contractors. The parties agree that they are
independent contractors and not partners or co-venturers.
(i) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement and the
Schedules attached hereto constitute the entire agreement of the parties
hereto relating to the matters covered hereby and supersede any previous
agreements. If any provision is held to be illegal, unenforceable or invalid
for any reason, the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired
thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and
year first above written.
XXXXXX BROTHERS FUNDS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President
THE SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx
Title: Vice President
A-1
Transfer Agent Fee
Schedule A
Class A shares
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an annualized fee of $11.00 per
shareholder account that is open during any monthly period. Such fee shall be
billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears on a prorated basis of 1/12 of
the annualized fee for all accounts that are open during such a month.
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an additional fee of $.125 per closed
account per month applicable to those shareholder accounts which close in a
given month and remain closed through the following month-end billing cycle.
Such fee shall be billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears.
Class B shares
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an annualized fee of $12.50 per
shareholder account that is open during any monthly period. Such fee shall be
billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears on a prorated basis of 1/12 of
the annualized fee for all accounts that are open during such a month.
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an additional fee of $.125 per closed
account per month applicable to those shareholder accounts which close in a
given month and remain closed through the following month-end billing cycle.
Such fee shall be billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears.
Class C shares
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an annualized fee of $8.50 per
shareholder account that is open during any monthly period. Such fee shall be
billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears on a prorated basis of 1/12 of
the annualized fee for all accounts that are open during such a month.
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an additional fee of $.125 per closed
account per month applicable to those shareholder accounts which close in a
given month and remain closed through the following month-end billing cycle.
Such fee shall be billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears.
A-2
Class D shares
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an annualized fee of $9.50 per
shareholder account that is open during any monthly period. Such fee shall be
billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears on a prorated basis of 1/12 of
the annualized fee for all accounts that are open during such a month.
The Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent an additional fee of $.125 per closed
account per month applicable to those shareholder accounts which close in a
given month and remain closed through the following month-end billing cycle.
Such fee shall be billed by the Transfer Agent monthly in arrears.
B-1
Schedule B
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
The Fund shall reimburse the Transfer Agent monthly for applicable
out-of-pocket expenses, including, but not limited to the following items:
- Microfiche/microfilm production
- Magnetic media tapes and freight
- Printing costs, including certificates, envelopes,
checks and stationery
- Postage (bulk, pre-sort, ZIP+4, barcoding, first
class) direct pass through to the Fund
- Due diligence mailings
- Telephone and telecommunication costs, including
all lease, maintenance and line costs
- Proxy solicitations, mailings and tabulations
- Daily & Distribution advice mailings
- Shipping, Certified and Overnight mail and
insurance
- Year-end form production and mailings
- Terminals, communication lines, printers and other
equipment and any expenses incurred in
connection with such terminals and lines
- Duplicating services
- Courier services
- Incoming and outgoing wire charges
- Federal Reserve charges for check clearance
- Record retention, retrieval and destruction costs,
including, but not limited to exit fees
charged by third party record keeping vendors
- Third party audit reviews
- Insurance
- Such other miscellaneous expenses reasonably
incurred by the Transfer Agent in performing its
duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.
The Fund agrees that postage and mailing expenses will be paid on the
day of or prior to mailing as agreed with the Transfer Agent. In addition,
the Fund will promptly reimburse the Transfer Agent for any other unscheduled
expenses incurred by the Transfer
Agent whenever the Fund and the Transfer Agent mutually agree that such
expenses are not otherwise properly borne by the Transfer Agent as part of its
duties and obligations under the Agreement.
C-1
Schedule C
DUTIES OF THE TRANSFER AGENT
1. Shareholder Information. The Transfer Agent or its agent
shall maintain a record of the number of Shares held by each holder of record
which shall include name, address, taxpayer identification and which shall
indicate whether such Shares are held in certificates or uncertificated form.
2. Shareholder Services. The Transfer Agent or its agent will
investigate all inquiries from shareholders of the Fund relating to
Shareholder accounts and will respond to all communications from Shareholders
and others relating to its duties hereunder and such other correspondence as
may from time to time be mutually agreed upon between the Transfer Agent and
the Fund. The Transfer Agent shall provide the Fund with reports concerning
shareholder inquires and the responses thereto by the Transfer Agent, in such
form and at such times as are agreed to by the Fund and the Transfer Agent.
3. Share Certificates.
(a) At the expense of the Fund, it shall supply the Transfer
Agent or its agent with an adequate supply of blank share certificates to meet
the Transfer Agent or its agent's requirements therefor. Such Share
certificates shall be properly signed by facsimile. The Fund agrees that,
notwithstanding the death, resignation, or removal of any officer of the Fund
whose signature appears on such certificates, the Transfer Agent or its agent
may continue to countersign certificates which bear such signatures until
otherwise directed by Written Instructions.
(b) The Transfer Agent or its agent shall issue replacement Share
certificates in lieu of certificates which have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon receipt by the Transfer Agent or its agent of properly
executed affidavits and lost certificate bonds, in form satisfactory to the
Transfer Agent or its agent, with the Fund and the Transfer Agent or its agent
as obligees under the bond.
(c) The Transfer Agent or its agent shall also maintain a record
of each certificate issued, the number of Shares represented thereby and the
holder of record. With respect to Shares held in open accounts or
uncertificated form, i.e., no certificate being issued with respect thereto,
the Transfer Agent or its agent shall maintain comparable records of the
record holders thereof, including their names, addresses and taxpayer
identification. The Transfer Agent or its agent shall further maintain a stop
transfer record on lost and/or replaced certificates.
C-2
4. Mailing Communications to Shareholders; Proxy Materials. The
Transfer Agent or its agent will address and mail to
Shareholders of the Fund, all reports to Shareholders, dividend and
distribution notices and proxy material for the Fund's meetings of
Shareholders. In connection with meetings of Shareholders, the Transfer Agent
or its Agent will prepare Shareholder lists, mail and certify as to the
mailing of proxy materials, process and tabulate returned proxy cards, report
on proxies voted prior to meetings, act as inspector of election at meetings
and certify Shares voted at meetings.
5. Sales of Shares
(a) Suspension of Sale of Shares. The Transfer Agent or its
agent shall not be required to issue any Shares of the Fund where it has
received a Written Instruction from the Fund or official notice from any
appropriate authority that the sale of the Shares of the Fund has been
suspended or discontinued. The existence of such Written Instructions or such
official notice shall be conclusive evidence of the right of the Transfer
Agent or its agent to rely on such Written Instructions or official notice.
(b) Returned Checks. In the event that any check or other order
for the payment of money is returned unpaid for any reason, the Transfer Agent
or its agent will: (i) give prompt notice of such return to the Fund or its
designee; (ii) place a stop transfer order against all Shares issued as a
result of such check or order; and (iii) take such actions as the Transfer
Agent may from time to time deem appropriate.
6. Transfer and Repurchase
(a) Requirements for Transfer or Repurchase of Shares. The
Transfer Agent or its agent shall process all requests to transfer or redeem
Shares in accordance with the transfer or repurchase procedures set forth in
the Fund's Prospectus.
The Transfer Agent or its agent will transfer or repurchase Shares
upon receipt of Oral or Written Instructions or otherwise pursuant to the
Prospectus and Share certificates, if any, properly endorsed for transfer or
redemption, accompanied by such documents as the Transfer Agent or its agent
reasonably may deem necessary.
The Transfer Agent or its agent reserves the right to refuse to
transfer or repurchase Shares until it is satisfied that the endorsement on
the instructions is valid and genuine. The Transfer Agent or its agent also
reserves the right to refuse to transfer or repurchase Shares until it is
satisfied that the requested transfer or repurchase is legally authorized, and
it shall incur no liability for the refusal, in good faith, to make transfers
or repurchases which the Transfer Agent or its agent, in
C-3
its good judgement, deems improper or unauthorized, or until it is reasonably
satisfied that there is no basis to any claims adverse
to such transfer or repurchase.
(b) Notice to Custodian and Fund. When Shares are redeemed, the
Transfer Agent or its agent shall, upon receipt of the instructions and
documents in proper form, deliver to the Custodian and the Fund or its
designee a notification setting forth the number of Shares to be repurchased.
Such repurchased shares shall be reflected on appropriate accounts maintained
by the Transfer Agent or its agent reflecting outstanding Shares of the Fund
and Shares attributed to individual accounts.
(c) Payment of Repurchase Proceeds. The Transfer Agent or its
agent shall, upon receipt of the moneys paid to it by the Custodian for the
repurchase of Shares, pay such moneys as are received from the Custodian, all
in accordance with the procedures described in the written instruction
received by the Transfer Agent or its agent from the Fund.
The Transfer Agent or its agent shall not process or effect any
repurchase with respect to Shares of the Fund after receipt by the Transfer
Agent or its agent of notification of the suspension of the determination of
the net asset value of the Fund.
7. Dividends
(a) Notice to Agent and Custodian. Upon the declaration of each
dividend and each capital gains distribution by the Board of Directors of the
Fund with respect to Shares of the Fund, the Fund shall furnish or cause to be
furnished to the Transfer Agent or its agent a copy of a resolution of the
Fund's Board of Directors certified by the Secretary of the Fund setting forth
the date of the declaration of such dividend or distribution, the ex-dividend
date, the date of payment thereof, the record date as of which shareholders
entitled to payment shall be determined, the amount payable per Share to the
shareholders of record as of that date, the total amount payable to the
Transfer Agent or its agent on the payment date and whether such dividend or
distribution is to be paid in Shares of such class at net asset value.
On or before the payment date specified in such resolution of the
Board of Directors, the Custodian of the Fund will pay to the Transfer Agent
sufficient cash to make payment to the shareholders of record as of such
payment date.
(b) Insufficient Funds for Payments. If the Transfer Agent or
its agent does not receive sufficient cash from the Custodian to make total
dividend and/or distribution payments to all shareholders of the Fund as of
the record date, the Transfer
C-4
Agent or its agent will, upon notifying the Fund, withhold payment to all
Shareholders of record as of the record date until sufficient cash is provided
to the Transfer Agent or its agent.
C-5
Exhibit 1
to
Schedule C
Summary of Services
The services to be performed by the Transfer Agent or its agent shall be
as follows:
A. DAILY RECORDS
Maintain daily the following information with respect to each
Shareholder account as received:
o Name and Address (Zip Code)
o Class of Shares
o Taxpayer Identification Number
o Balance of Shares held by Agent
o Beneficial owner code: i.e., male, female, joint tenant,
etc.
o Dividend code (reinvestment)
o Number of Shares held in certificate form
B. OTHER DAILY ACTIVITY
o Answer written inquiries relating to Shareholder accounts
(matters relating to portfolio management, distribution of Shares and other
management policy questions will be referred to the Fund).
o Process additional payments into established Shareholder
accounts in accordance with Written Instruction from the Agent.
o Upon receipt of proper instructions and all required
documentation, process requests for repurchase of Shares.
o Identify redemption requests made with respect to accounts
in which Shares have been purchased within an agreed-upon period of time for
determining whether good funds have been collected with respect to such
purchase and process as agreed by the Agent in accordance with written
instructions set forth by the Fund.
o Examine and process all transfers of Shares, ensuring that
all transfer requirements and legal documents have been supplied.
C-6
o Issue and mail replacement checks.
o Open new accounts and maintain records of exchanges between
accounts
C. DIVIDEND ACTIVITY
o Calculate and process Share dividends and distributions as
instructed by the Fund.
o Compute, prepare and mail all necessary reports to
Shareholders or various authorities as requested by the Fund. Report to the
Fund reinvestment plan share purchases and determination of the reinvestment
price.
D. MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
o Cause to be mailed proxy and related material for all
meetings of Shareholders. Tabulate returned proxies (proxies must be
adaptable to mechanical equipment of the Agent or its agents) and supply daily
reports when sufficient proxies have been received.
o Prepare and submit to the Fund an Affidavit of Mailing.
o At the time of the meeting, furnish a certified list of
Shareholders, hard copy, microfilm or microfiche and, if requested by the
Fund, Inspection of Election.
E. PERIODIC ACTIVITIES
o Cause to be mailed reports, Prospectuses, and any other enclosures
requested by the Fund (material must be adaptable to mechanical equipment of
Agent or its agents).
o Receive all notices issued by the Fund with respect to the
Preferred Shares in accordance with and pursuant to the Articles of
Incorporation and the Indenture and perform such other specific duties as are
set forth in the Articles of Incorporation including a giving of notice of a
special meeting and notice of redemption in the circumstances and otherwise in
accordance with all relevant provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.
