ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of May 23, 1995 between The Tuscarora Investment
Trust (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust, and MGF Service Corp.
("MGF"), an Ohio corporation.
WHEREAS, the Trust is an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to employ the services of MGF to provide the
Trust with certain accounting and pricing services; and
WHEREAS, MGF wishes to provide such services under the conditions
set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
contained in this Agreement, the Trust and MGF agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT.
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The Trust hereby appoints and employs MGF as agent to perform
those services described in this Agreement for the Trust. MGF shall act under
such appointment and perform the obligations thereof upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.
2. CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE.
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MGF will calculate the net asset value of each series of the
Trust and the per share net asset value of each series of the Trust, in
accordance with the Trust's current prospectus and statement of additional
information, once daily as of the time selected by the Trust's Board of
Trustees. MGF will prepare and maintain a daily valuation of all securities and
other assets of the Trust in accordance with instructions from a designated
officer of the Trust or its investment adviser and in the manner set forth in
the Trust's current prospectus and statement of additional information. In
valuing securities of the Trust, MGF may contract with, and rely upon market
quotations provided by, outside services.
3. BOOKS AND RECORDS.
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MGF will maintain and keep current the general ledger for each
series of the Trust, recording all income and expenses, capital share activity
and security transactions of the Trust. MGF will maintain such further books and
records as are necessary
to enable it to perform its duties under this Agreement, and will periodically
provide reports to the Trust and its authorized agents regarding share purchases
and redemptions and trial balances of each series of the Trust. MGF will prepare
and maintain complete, accurate and current all records with respect to the
Trust required to be maintained by the Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and under the rules and regulations of the 1940 Act, and will
preserve said records in the manner and for the periods prescribed in the Code
and the 1940 Act. The retention of such records shall be at the expense of the
Trust.
All of the records prepared and maintained by MGF pursuant to this
Section 3 which are required to be maintained by the Trust under the Code and
the 1940 Act will be the property of the Trust. In the event this Agreement is
terminated, all such records shall be delivered to the Trust at the Trust's
expense, and MGF shall be relieved of responsibility for the preparation and
maintenance of any such records delivered to the Trust.
4. PAYMENT OF TRUST EXPENSES.
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MGF shall process each request received from the Trust or its
authorized agents for payment of the Trust's expenses. Upon receipt of written
instructions signed by an officer or other authorized agent of the Trust, MGF
shall prepare checks in the appropriate amounts which shall be signed by an
authorized officer of MGF and mailed to the appropriate party.
5. FORM N-SAR.
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MGF shall maintain such records within its control and shall
be requested by the Trust to assist the Trust in fulfilling the requirements of
Form N-SAR.
6. COOPERATION WITH ACCOUNTANTS.
-----------------------------
MGF shall cooperate with the Trust's independent public
accountants and shall take all reasonable action in the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement to assure that the necessary information is
made available to such accountants for the expression of their unqualified
opinion where required for any document for the Trust.
7. FURTHER ACTIONS.
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Each party agrees to perform such further acts and execute
such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof.
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8. FEES.
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For the performance of the services under this Agreement, each
series of the Trust shall pay MGF a monthly fee in accordance with the schedule
attached hereto as Schedule A. The fees with respect to any month shall be paid
to MGF on the last business day of such month. The Trust shall also promptly
reimburse MGF for the cost of external pricing services utilized by MGF.
9. COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
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The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that nothing
contained herein shall be construed to require MGF to perform any services for
the Trust which services could cause MGF to be deemed an "investment adviser" of
the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(20) of the 1940 Act or to supersede
or contravene the Trust's prospectus or statement of additional information or
any provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement and except for the accuracy of information furnished
to it by MGF, the Trust assumes full responsibility for complying with all
applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and any other laws, rules and regulations of governmental authorities having
jurisdiction.
10. EQUIPMENT FAILURES.
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MGF shall take all steps necessary to minimize or avoid
service interruptions, and has entered into one or more agreements making
provision for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment. MGF shall
have no liability with respect to equipment failures beyond its control.
11. INDEMNIFICATION OF MGF.
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A. MGF may rely on information reasonably believed by it to be accurate
and reliable. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act and the rules
thereunder, neither MGF nor its officers, directors, employees, agents, control
persons or affiliates of any thereof shall be subject to any liability for, or
any damages, expenses or losses incurred by the Trust in connection with, any
error of judgment, mistake of law, any act or omission connected with or arising
out of any services rendered under or payments made pursuant to this Agreement
or any other matter to which this Agreement relates, except by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on the part of any such persons in the
performance of the duties of MGF under this Agreement or by reason of reckless
disregard by any of such persons of the obligations and duties of MGF under this
Agreement.
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B. Any person, even though also a director, officer, employee, or agent
of MGF, or any of its affiliates, who may be or become an officer, trustee,
employee or agent of the Trust, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the
Trust or acting on any business of the Trust, to be rendering such services to
or acting solely as an officer, trustee, employee or agent of the Trust and not
as a director, officer, employee, shareholder or agent of or one under the
control or direction of MGF or any of its affiliates, even though paid by one of
those entities.
C. The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless MGF, its directors,
officers, employees, agents, control persons and affiliates from and against any
and all claims, demands, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature which
MGF may sustain or incur or which may be asserted against MGF by any person by
reason of, or as a result of: (i) any action taken or omitted to be taken by MGF
in good faith in reliance upon any certificate, instrument, order or share
certificate reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed,
countersigned or executed by any duly authorized person, upon the oral
instructions or written instructions of an authorized person of the Trust or
upon the opinion of legal counsel for the Trust or its own counsel; or (ii) any
action taken or omitted to be taken by MGF in connection with its appointment in
good faith in reliance upon any law, act, regulation or interpretation of the
same even though the same may thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or
repealed. However, indemnification under this subparagraph shall not apply to
actions or omissions of MGF or its directors, officers, employees, shareholders
or agents in cases of its or their own negligence, willful misconduct, bad
faith, or reckless disregard of its or their own duties hereunder.
12. INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUST.
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MGF shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, its trustees,
officers and employees from and against any and all claims, demands, expenses
and liabilities of any and every nature which the Trust or such persons may
sustain or incur by reason of, or as a result of MGF's negligence, willful
misconduct, bad faith, or reckless disregard of its duties hereunder.
13. TERMINATION.
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A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be effective on the
date first above written, shall continue in effect for two years from that date
and shall continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only so long as
such continuance is approved (1) by MGF, (2) by vote, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose, of a majority of the Trust's trustees who are
not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 0000 Xxx)
of any such party, and (3) by vote of a majority of the Trust's Board of
Trustees or a majority of the Trust's outstanding voting securities.
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B. Either party may terminate this Agreement on any date by
giving the other party at least sixty (60) days' prior written notice of such
termination specifying the date fixed therefore. Upon termination of this
Agreement, the Trust shall pay to MGF such compensation as may be due as of the
date of such termination, and shall likewise reimburse MGF for any out-of-pocket
expenses and disbursements reasonably incurred by MGF to such date.
C. In the event that in connection with the termination of
this Agreement a successor to any of MGF's duties or responsibilities under this
Agreement is designated by the Trust by written notice to MGF, MGF shall,
promptly upon such termination and at the expense of the Trust, transfer all
records maintained by MGF under this Agreement and shall cooperate in the
transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance
from MGF's cognizant personnel in the establishment of books, records and other
data by such successor.
14. SERVICES FOR OTHERS.
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Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent MGF or any affiliated
person (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of MGF from providing services for any other
person, firm or corporation (including other investment companies); provided,
however, that MGF expressly represents that it will undertake no activities
which, in its judgment, will adversely affect the performance of its obligations
to the Trust under this Agreement.
15. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
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It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust
hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees,
officers, agents or employees of the Trust, personally, but bind only the trust
property of the Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and signed by an officer of the Trust,
acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such
execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any
of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but
shall bind only the trust property of the Trust.
16. SEVERABILITY.
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In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to
be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of
this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.
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17. QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION.
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This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Ohio. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement
having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the
1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940
Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States Courts or in
the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations
or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued pursuant to said 1940
Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected
in any provision of this Agreement, is revised by rule, regulation or order of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, such provision shall be deemed to
incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
18. NOTICES.
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All notices, requests, consents and other communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing (including telex
and telegraphic communication) and shall be (as elected by the person giving
such notice) hand delivered by messenger or courier service, telecommunicated,
or mailed (airmail if international) by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid), return receipt requested, addressed to:
To the Trust: The Tuscarora Investment Trust
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
To MGF: MGF Service Corp.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
or to such other address as any party may designate by notice complying with the
terms of this Section 18. Each such notice shall be deemed delivered (a) on the
date delivered if by personal delivery; (b) on the date telecommunicated if by
telegraph; (c) on the date of transmission with confirmed answer back if by
telex, telefax or other telegraphic method; and (d) on the date upon which the
return receipt is signed or delivery is refused or the notice is designated by
the postal authorities as not deliverable, as the case may be, if mailed.
19. AMENDMENT.
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This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a
written agreement executed by both parties.
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20. BINDING EFFECT.
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Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that
he has the full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the
party indicated, and that his signature will operate to bind the party indicated
to the foregoing terms.
21. COUNTERPARTS.
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This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
22. FORCE MAJEURE.
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If MGF shall be delayed in its performance of services or
prevented entirely or in part from performing services due to causes or events
beyond its control, including and without limitation, acts of God, interruption
of power or other utility, transportation or communication services, acts of
civil or military authority, sabotages, national emergencies, explosion, flood,
accident, earthquake or other catastrophe, fire, strike or other labor problems,
legal action, present or future law, governmental order, rule or regulation, or
shortages of suitable parts, materials, labor or transportation, such delay or
non-performance shall be excused and a reasonable time for performance in
connection with this Agreement shall be extended to include the period of such
delay or non-performance.
23. MISCELLANEOUS.
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The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
THE TUSCARORA INVESTMENT TRUST
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Its: President
MGF SERVICE CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Its: Chairman of the Board
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Schedule A
COMPENSATION
The Xxx Xxxxx Fund series of the Trust will pay MGF a monthly fee,
according to the average net assets of such series during such month, as
follows:
Monthly Fee Average Net Assets During Month
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$2,000 $0 - $50,000,000
$2,500 50,000,000 - $100,000,000
$3,500 $100,000,000 - $250,000,000
$4,500 Over $250,000,000
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