TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
Exhibit
10 under Item 601/Reg. S-K
BETWEEN
EACH OF
THE FEDERATED FUNDS LISTED ON EXHIBIT A HERETO
AND
STATE
STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Page
1. Definitions 1
2. Terms
of Appointment and Duties 3
3. Fees
and Expenses 11
4. Representations
and Warranties of the Transfer Agent 12
5. Representations
and Warranties of the Fund 12
6. Wire
Transfer Operating Guidelines/Article 4A 13
7. Data
Access and Proprietary Information 14
8. Indemnification 16
9. Standard
of Care/Limitation of Liability 17
10. Fund
Confidential Information 18
11. Covenants
of the Fund and the Transfer Agent 19
12. Termination
of Agreement 20
13. Assignment
and Third Party Beneficiaries 22
14. Subcontractors 22
15. Miscellaneous 23
16. Additional
Funds 24
17. Limitation
of Liabilities of Trustees and Shareholders of the Fund 24
EXHIBIT
A Federated
Funds
EXHIBIT
B Uncertificated
Securities Account Control Agreement
SCHEDULE
A Federated
Funds
SCHEDULE
2.1 Service
Level Standards
SCHEDULE
2.2(f) AML Delegation
SCHEDULE
2.2(g) Checkwriting Services Support
SCHEDULE
2.2(h) Debit Card Services/ACH Transactions Support
SCHEDULE
2.4 Functional
Matrix
SCHEDULE
3.1 Fees
SCHEDULE
3.2 Out-Of-Pocket
Expenses
AGREEMENT
made as of the 1st day of July, 2004 (the “Agreement”), by and between each
entity that has executed this agreement, as listed on the signature pages
hereto, each company having its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, collectively, (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, XX 00000
(the “Transfer
Agent”). This Agreement shall be considered a separate
agreement between the Transfer Agent and each Fund and references to “the Fund”
shall refer to each Fund separately. No Fund shall be liable for the
obligations of, nor entitled to the benefits of, any other Fund under this
agreement.
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;
WHEREAS,
the Fund offers shares in various series, such series shall be named in the
attached Schedule A
which may be amended by the parties from time to time (each such series and all
classes thereof, together with all other series and all classes thereof
subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this Agreement in
accordance with Section
16, being herein referred to as a “Portfolio”, and
collectively as the “Portfolios”);
and
WHEREAS,
the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, desires to appoint the Transfer Agent as
its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with
certain other activities, and the Transfer Agent desires to accept such
appointment.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
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Definitions
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“Affiliate” has the
meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act.
“Agreement” shall have
the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.
“AML” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.2(f)
hereof.
“AML Program” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.2(f)
hereof.
“Annual Report” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.5
hereof.
“Applicable Law” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Bank” shall mean
State Street Bank and Trust Company, acting in its capacity as a bank only for
purposes of Section 6.8
hereof.
“Board” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Boston Financial”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 14.1
hereof.
“Chief Compliance
Officer” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.5
hereof.
“Custodian” shall have
the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(A)(1)
hereof.
“Data Access Services”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1
hereof.
“Deconversion” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 12.2
hereof.
“Delegated Duties”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Schedule 2.2(f)
hereto.
“Disclosure Documents”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(E)(4)
hereof.
“Distribution Payment
Date” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(C)(1)
hereof.
“Fee Schedule” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.1
hereof.
“Functional Matrix”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.4
hereof.
“Fund” and “Funds” shall have the
meanings ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Fund Confidential
Information” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 10.1
hereof.
“Fund/SERV” shall have
the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.2(c)
hereof.
“Good Purchase Orders”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(A)(1)
hereof.
“Good Redemption
Orders” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(B)(1)
hereof.
“Good Transfer/Exchange
Orders” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(B)(3)
hereof.
“Initial Term” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 12.1
hereof.
“IRAs” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.3
hereof.
“NAV” shall mean the
net asset value per share of a Fund.
“Networking” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.2(c)
hereof.
“Next Calculated NAV”
shall mean the NAV next calculated by each Fund’s
fund accountant after receipt by Transfer Agent (or any agent of the Transfer
Agent or Funds identified in the registration statement of such Fund or in
Proper Instructions (each, a “22c-1 Agent”)) of a (i) Good Purchase Order or (ii) Good
Redemption Order, as applicable.
“NSCC” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.2(c)
hereof.
“OFAC” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Schedule 2.2(f)
hereto.
“Oral Instruction”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Policies” shall have
meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.5
hereof.
“Portfolio” shall have
the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Prior Transfer Agent”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.4
hereof.
“Processing
Guidelines” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(A)(1)
hereof
“Proper Instructions”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Prospectus” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Recordkeeping
Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1(F)(4)
hereof.
“Renewal Term” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 12.1
hereof.
“Retirement Accounts”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.3
hereof.
“SAR” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Schedule 2.2(f)
hereto.
“Security Procedure”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.1
hereof.
“Service Level
Standards” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Shares” shall have
the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Shareholders” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.1
hereof.
“Super Sheet” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.2(b)
hereof.
“TA 2000 System” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.2(c)
hereof.
“Term” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section 12.1
hereof.
“TIN” shall have the
meaning ascribed thereto in Schedule 2.2(f)
hereto.
“Transfer Agent” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“Transfer Agent Proprietary
Information” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1
hereof.
“USA PATRIOT Act”
shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Schedule 2.2(f)
hereto.
2. Terms of Appointment and
Duties
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2.1
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Transfer Agency
Services. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement, the Fund, on behalf of its respective Portfolios,
hereby employs and appoints the Transfer Agent to act as, and the Transfer
Agent agrees to act as, its transfer agent for the Fund’s authorized and
issued shares of its common stock or beneficial interest, as applicable
(“Shares”),
dividend disbursing agent and agent in connection with any accumulation,
open-account or similar plan 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 of the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, as the same
may be modified or amended from time to time and provided by the Fund to
the Transfer Agent (“Prospectus”),
including without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic
withdrawal program and in connection therewith, to perform the following
services in accordance with (i) Proper Instructions, (ii) federal and
state laws, rules and regulations applicable to the performance of the
services enumerated in Sections 2.1 through 2.6 and
Sections 6.1 through 6.9 hereof (together with any incorporated
Schedules and/or Exhibits) and/or to which Transfer Agent is subject
(“Applicable
Law”), (iii) the terms of the Prospectus of each Fund or Portfolio,
as applicable, and (iv) the service level standards set forth in Schedule 2.1 attached
hereto (the “Service Level
Standards”). When used in this Agreement, the term
“Proper
Instructions” shall mean a writing signed or initialed by one or
more persons as shall have been authorized from time to time by the board
of directors/trustees of each Fund (the “Board”) and
with respect to which a written confirmation of such authorization shall
have been filed with the Transfer Agent by the Fund. Each such
writing shall set forth the specific transaction or type of transaction
involved. Oral instructions (“Oral Instructions”) will be
deemed to be Proper Instructions if (a) they otherwise comply with the
definition thereof and (b) the Transfer Agent reasonably believes them to
have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with
respect to the transaction involved. The Fund shall promptly
confirm all Oral Instructions or cause such Oral Instructions given by a
third party who is authorized to give such Oral Instructions, to be
promptly confirmed in writing. Proper Instructions may include
communications effected through electro-mechanical or electronic
devices. Proper Instructions, oral or written, may only be
amended or changed in writing, including without limitation through
electro-mechanical or electronic
device.
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A. Purchases
(1) The
Transfer Agent shall receive orders and payment for the purchase of Shares and,
with respect to orders and payment which are in good order (“Good Purchase
Orders”) according to the then current processing guidelines of the
Transfer Agent, as the same may be changed from time to time upon provision of a
revised version thereof to the administrator of the Fund (the “Processing
Guidelines”), promptly deliver the payments received therefor to the
custodian of the relevant Fund (the “Custodian”), for credit to the account of
such Fund. The Transfer Agent shall notify each Custodian, on a daily
basis, of the total amount of Good Purchase Orders received. Orders
which are not Good Purchase Orders will be promptly rejected by the Transfer
Agent, absent Proper Instructions to the contrary, and the Shareholder or
would-be Shareholder, as applicable, will be promptly notified of such
action.
(2) Subject
to the deduction of any front-end sales charge, where applicable, as the
Transfer Agent is instructed in accordance with the provisions of subsection
2.1(A)(3) hereof, but based upon the Next Calculated NAV, the Transfer Agent
shall compute and issue the appropriate number of Shares of each Fund and/or
Class and credit such Shares to the appropriate Shareholder
accounts.
(3) The
Transfer Agent shall deduct, and remit to the appropriate party according to
Proper Instructions, all applicable sales charges according to (i) the
Prospectus of the Fund, (ii) the relevant information contained in any Good
Purchase Orders, and (iii) Proper Instructions, as applicable.
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B.
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Redemptions,
Transfers and Exchanges
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(1)
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The
Transfer Agent shall receive redemption requests and, with respect to
requests which are in good order according to the Processing Guidelines
(“Good
Redemption Orders”), promptly deliver the appropriate instructions
therefor to the Custodian. The Transfer Agent shall notify each
Custodian, on a daily basis, of the total amount of Good Redemption Orders
received and/or estimated, as the case may be. Redemption
orders which are not in good order, will be promptly rejected by the
Transfer Agent, absent Proper Instructions to the contrary, and the
Shareholder will be promptly notified of such
action.
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(2)
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Upon
receipt of redemption proceeds from the Custodian with respect to any Good
Redemption Order, in an amount equal to the product of the number of
Shares to be redeemed times the Next Calculated NAV, the Transfer Agent
shall pay or cause to be paid such redemption proceeds in the manner
instructed by the redeeming
Shareholders.
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(3)
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The
Transfer Agent shall effect transfers and/or exchanges of Shares from time
to time as instructed by the registered owners thereof, to the extent that
such transfer and/or exchange instructions are in good order according to
the Processing Guidelines (“Good Transfer/Exchange
Orders”). All exchanges shall be processed as a
redemption from the Fund in which the Shareholder is currently invested
and a purchase of Shares in the Fund into which the Shareholder wishes to
exchange. All instructions for transfer and/or exchange of
Shares which are not Good Transfer/Exchange Orders shall be promptly
rejected by the Transfer Agent, absent Proper Instructions to the
contrary, and the Shareholder will be promptly notified of such
action.
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(4) The
Transfer Agent shall deduct from all redemption proceeds, and remit to the
appropriate party according to Proper Instructions, any applicable redemption
fees, contingent deferred sales charges, and other appropriate fees according to
(i) the Prospectus of the Fund, (ii) the relevant information contained in any
Good Redemption Orders, and (iii) Proper Instructions, as
applicable.
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C.
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Distributions
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(1)
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Upon
receipt by the Transfer Agent of Proper Instructions as to any
distributions declared in respect of Shares, the Transfer Agent shall act
as Dividend Disbursing Agent for the Funds and shall either credit the
amount of any such distribution to Shareholders of record on the record
date for such distribution, or pay such distribution in cash to such
Shareholders on the payable date, pursuant to instructions from such
Shareholders and in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s governing
document and its Prospectus. Such credits or payments, as the
case may be, shall be made by the Transfer Agent on the date established
for same in the Proper Instructions (the “Distribution Payment
Date”). As the Dividend Disbursing Agent, the Transfer
Agent shall, on or before the Distribution Payment Date, notify the
Custodian of the estimated amount required to pay any portion of said
distribution which is payable in cash and instruct the Custodian to make
sufficient funds available to pay such amounts. The Transfer
Agent shall reconcile instructions given to the Custodian against amounts
received from the Custodian, on a daily basis. If a Shareholder
has not elected to receive any such distribution in cash, the Transfer
Agent shall credit the Shareholder’s account with a number of Shares equal
to the product of the aggregate dollar amount of such distribution divided
by the Next Calculated NAV for Shares, determined as of the date set forth
in the Proper Instructions; and
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(2)
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The
Transfer Agent shall maintain records of account for each Fund and
Portfolio, and the classes thereof, and advise each Fund, each Portfolio,
and the classes thereof, and their respective Shareholders as to the
foregoing.
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D.
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Recordkeeping
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(1)
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The
Transfer Agent shall record the issuance of Shares of each Fund, and/or
Class, and maintain a record of the total number of Shares of the Fund
and/or Class which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the
Fund, and issued and outstanding. The Transfer Agent shall also
provide the Fund on a regular basis or upon reasonable request with the
total number of Shares which are authorized and issued and outstanding,
but shall have no obligation when recording the issuance of Shares, except
as otherwise set forth herein, 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
Funds.
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(2)
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The
Transfer Agent shall establish and maintain records relating to the
services to be performed hereunder in the form and manner as agreed to by
the Funds including but not limited to, for each Shareholder’s account,
the following:
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(a)
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Relevant,
required account ownership, including name, address, date of birth and
social security/tax identification number (and whether such number has
been certified);
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(b)
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Number
of Shares owned of record;
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(c)
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Historical
information regarding the account, including dividends paid and time, date
and price for all transactions;
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(d)
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Any
stop or restraining order placed against the
account;
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(e)
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Information
with respect to withholding in the case of a foreign account or an account
for which backup or other withholding is required by the Internal Revenue
Code;
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(f)
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Any
dividend reinvestment instructions, systematic investment or withdrawal
plan applications and instructions, cash dividend payment address and any
and all correspondence relating to the current registration or other
effective instructions with respect to such
account;
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(g)
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Any
information required in order for the Transfer Agent to perform the
calculations contemplated or required by this Agreement;
and
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(h)
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Any
such other records as are required to be maintained under Applicable Law
with respect to the services to be provided by the Transfer Agent
hereunder.
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(3)
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The
Transfer Agent shall preserve any such records that are required to be
maintained for the periods for which they are required by Applicable Law
to be maintained. The Transfer Agent acknowledges that any and
all such records are the property of the Fund, and the Transfer Agent
shall forthwith upon Proper Instructions, turn over to the Fund or to the
person designated in the Proper Instructions, and cease to retain in the
Transfer Agent’s files, records and documents created and maintained by
the Transfer Agent pursuant to this Agreement, which are no longer needed
by the Transfer Agent in performance of its services or for its
protection. If not so required to be turned over, such records
and documents will be retained by the Transfer Agent for six years from
the year of creation, during the first two of which such documents will be
in readily accessible form and in a readily accessible
location. At the end of the six-year period, such records and
documents will either be turned over to the Fund or, absent contrary
Proper Instructions, destroyed in accordance with the then current
record-retention policy of the Transfer
Agent.
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E.
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Confirmations
and Reports
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(1) The
Transfer Agent shall furnish the following information to the Fund, or other
party at the direction of the Fund pursuant to Proper Instructions, upon
request:
(a)
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A
copy of the transaction register;
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(b)
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Dividend
and reinvestment blotters;
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(c)
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Shareholder
lists and statistical information;
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(d)
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Information
as to payments to third parties relating to distribution agreements,
allocations of sales loads, redemption fees, or other transaction- or
sales-related payments;
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(e)
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The
total number of Shares issued and outstanding in each state for “blue sky”
purposes as determined according to Proper Instructions delivered from
time to time by the Fund to the Transfer Agent;
and
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(f) Such
other information as may be agreed upon from time to time.
(2) The
Transfer Agent shall prepare and timely file with the United States Internal
Revenue Service, and appropriate state agencies, all required information
reports as to dividends and distributions paid to Shareholders. The
Transfer Agent shall prepare and timely mail to Shareholders, to the extent
required, all information and/or notices with respect to dividends and
distributions paid to such Shareholder, the sale price of any Shares sold and
such other information as shall be necessary for the Shareholders to determine
the amount of any taxable gain or loss in respect of the sale of
Shares.
(3) The
Transfer Agent shall prepare and mail confirmation statements and statements of
account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other
confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts.
(4) The
Transfer Agent shall provide to all Shareholders, such prospectuses, semi-annual
reports, annual reports, proxy statements and, only as requested, statements of
additional information (“Disclosure
Documents”) as are provided to Transfer Agent by the Funds, at the times
and in the form directed by the Funds from time to time. The Funds
shall provide the Transfer Agent with such quantities of the Disclosure
Documents as the Transfer Agent shall reasonably request for purposes of
permitting the Transfer Agent to fulfill this obligation.
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F.
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Other
Rights and Duties
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(1)
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To
the extent required under the Functional Matrix, the Transfer Agent shall
answer correspondence from Shareholders relating to their Share accounts
and such other correspondence as may from time to time be addressed to the
Transfer Agent or forwarded to the Transfer Agent for response by the
administrator or other service provider for the
Fund.
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(2)
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The
Transfer Agent shall engage a subcontractor to (a) prepare
Shareholder meeting lists, mail proxy cards and other material supplied to
it by the Fund in connection with shareholder meetings of each Fund; and
(b) receive, examine and tabulate returned proxies, and certify the
vote of the Shareholders.
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(3)
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The
Transfer Agent shall establish and maintain facilities and procedures for
(a) the safekeeping of check forms and facsimile signature imprinting
devices, if any; and (b) the preparation or use, and for keeping
account of, such certificates, forms and
devices.
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(4) The
Transfer Agent shall: (a) operationally support transactions with the registered
owners of omnibus accounts with whom the Funds have an agreement for the
provision of services necessary for the recordkeeping or sub-accounting of share
positions held in underlying sub-accounts (each, a “Recordkeeping Agreement”),
by agreeing to perform, pursuant to Proper Instructions, those obligations of
the Funds under such Recordkeeping Agreements as are set forth in the written
agreement between the Fund and the Recordkeeping Agent and (b) enter into
account control agreements, for, on behalf of, and in the name of, the Funds for
the purpose of perfecting the security interest of a lender in Shares pledged as
collateral by a Shareholder under and pursuant to an Uncertificated Securities
Account Control Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, and to
perform the obligations of the Issuer (as defined therein) thereunder in
accordance with the terms thereof. It is expressly acknowledged and
agreed, however, that to the extent that any Recordkeeping Agreement contains
terms or conditions that are not contained in, or are materially different from,
the terms and conditions set forth in the form of Recordkeeeping Agreement
reviewed by the Transfer Agent as of the date hereof, the Funds shall afford
Transfer Agent a reasonable opportunity, not to exceed one week, within which to
review such modified Recordkeeping Agreement and indicate any required
changes.
(5) The
Transfer Agent shall identify and process abandoned accounts and uncashed checks
for state escheat requirements on an annual basis and report such actions to the
Fund.
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2.2
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Additional
Services. In addition to, and neither in lieu nor in
contravention of, the services set forth in Section 2.1, the
Transfer Agent shall perform the following
services:
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(a) Other Customary
Services. Perform the customary services of a transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, agent in connection with
accumulation, open-account or similar plan (including without limitation any
periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program);
(b) Control Book (also known as
“Super
Sheet”). Maintain a
daily record and produce a daily report for the Fund of all transactions and
receipts and disbursements of money and securities and deliver a copy of such
report for the Fund for each business day to the Fund no later than 9:00 AM
Eastern Time, or such earlier time as the Fund may reasonably require, on the
next business day;
(c) National Securities Clearing
Corporation (the “NSCC”). In accordance with the rules and procedures of
the NSCC in effect from time to time during the Term, (i) accept and effectuate
(A) the registration and maintenance of accounts through the NSCC’s
services known as networking (“Networking”) and (B) the purchase, redemption,
transfer and exchange of shares in such accounts through the NSCC’s services
known as Fund/SERV (“Fund/SERV”), (ii) accept and process instructions
transmitted to, and received by, the Transfer Agent by transmission from the
NSCC on behalf of broker dealers and banks which have been established by, or in
accordance with Proper Instructions, and instructions of persons designated on
the appropriate dealer file maintained by the Transfer Agent as authorized by
the Fund to give such instructions, (iii) issue instructions to Fund’s banks for
the settlement of transactions between the Fund and NSCC (acting on behalf of
its broker-dealer and bank participants); (iv) provide account and transaction
information from the affected Fund’s records on DST Systems, Inc. computer
system TA2000 (“TA2000 System”) in accordance with NSCC’s Networking and
Fund/SERV rules for those broker-dealers; and (v) maintain
Shareholder accounts on TA2000 System through Networking;
(d) New
Procedures. New procedures as to who shall provide certain of
these services in Section 2
may be established through an amendment to this Agreement from time to
time, such that the Transfer Agent may at times perform some of these services
and the Fund or its agent may perform other of these services;
(e) Telephone Support
Services. To the extent contemplated in the Functional Matrix,
provide telephone support services and, to the extent agreed upon by the
Transfer Agent and the Fund, provide additional telephone
support services under this Agreement; and
(f) Anti-Money Laundering
(“AML”)
Delegation. Perform certain of the Fund’s obligations under
the USA PATRIOT Act, including the obligation to perform all duties under the
Fund’s duly-adopted Anti-Money Laundering Program (the “AML Program”), on the
terms stated in Schedule
2.2(f) attached hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time by
mutual written agreement of the parties.
(g) Checkwriting Services
Support. Perform the services set forth on Schedule 2.2(g) hereto, as the
same may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties hereto from time to time,
in connection with the checkwriting privileges, if any, extended by the
Fund.
(h) Debit Card Services
Support. Perform the services set forth on Schedule 2.2(h) hereto, as the
same may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties hereto from time to time,
in connection with the debit card privileges, if any, extended by the
Fund:
2.3
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Retirement
Accounts. With respect to certain retirement plans or
accounts (such as individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), SIMPLE
IRAs, SEP IRAs, Xxxx IRAs, Education IRAs, and 403(b) Plans (such
accounts, “Retirement
Accounts”), the Transfer Agent, at the request and expense of the
Fund, shall arrange for the provision of appropriate prototype plans as
well as provide or arrange for the provision of various services to such
plans and/or accounts, which services may include custodial services to be
provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company, in its capacity as a
bank, account set-up maintenance, and disbursements as well as such other
services as the parties hereto shall mutually agree
upon.
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2.4
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Specific Duties and Allocation
Thereof. The Transfer Agent and Federated Services
Company, the prior transfer agent for the Fund (the “Prior Transfer
Agent”) have reviewed the functions performed for the Fund by the
Prior Transfer Agent and have set forth on Schedule 2.4 (as amended
from time to time, the “Functional
Matrix”) all of such functions which after the date hereof the
Transfer Agent shall perform for the Fund for the fees set forth on Schedule
3.1. Whether or not specifically enumerated herein, the
Transfer Agent shall, for the fees set forth in the Fee Schedule, perform
all of the functions specified in the Functional Matrix. In the
event of any conflict between the description of said function contained
in this Section 2
and the Functional Matrix, the Functional Matrix shall
control.
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2.5
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Periodic Review of Compliance
Policies and Procedures. During the Term, Transfer Agent
shall periodically assess its compliance policies and procedures (the
“Policies”). Transfer
Agent shall provide, (i) no less frequently than annually, a copy of its
Policies to the chief compliance officer of the Fund (the “Chief Compliance
Officer”), and/or any individual designated by the Fund or such
Chief Compliance Officer, including but not limited to members of the
internal compliance and audit departments of Federated Investors, Inc.,
(ii) at such reasonable times as he or she shall request, access by such
Chief Compliance Officer to such individuals as may be necessary for the
Chief Compliance Officer to conduct an annual review of the operation of
such Policies for purposes of making his or her annual report to the Board
of the Fund (the “Annual
Report”), (iii) promptly upon enactment, notification of, and
a copy of, any material change in such Policies, and (iv) promptly upon
request, such other information as may be reasonably requested by such
Chief Compliance Officer for purposes of making such Annual
Report.
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2.6
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Cooperation with Respect to
Examinations and Audits. Transfer Agent shall provide
assistance to and cooperate with the Fund with respect to any federal or
state government-directed examinations and with the Fund’s internal or
external auditors in connection with any Fund-directed
audits. For purposes of such examinations and audits, at the
request of the Fund, the Transfer Agent will use all reasonable efforts to
make available, during normal business hours of the Transfer Agent’s
facilities, all records and Policies solely as they directly pertain to
the Transfer Agent’s activities under or pursuant to this
Agreement. Such audits and examinations shall be conducted at
the Fund’s expense and in a manner that will not interfere with the
Transfer Agent’s normal and customary conduct of its business
activities. To the extent practicable, the Fund shall make
every effort to (i) coordinate Fund-directed audits so as to minimize the
inconvenience to the Transfer Agent and (ii) conduct Fund-directed audits
of the Transfer Agent simultaneously. With respect to
Fund-directed audits, the Transfer Agent shall provide such assistance in
accordance with reasonable procedures and at reasonable frequencies, and
the Fund shall provide reasonable advance notice of not less than
forty-eight (48) hours to the Transfer Agent of such audits, and to the
extent possible, of such examinations. The Transfer Agent may require any
persons seeking access to its facilities to provide reasonable evidence of
their authority. With respect to Fund-directed audits, the
Transfer Agent may require such persons to execute a confidentiality
agreement before granting access. On an annual basis, the
Transfer Agent will provide the Fund with copies of its SAS 70
report.
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3. Fees and
Expenses
3.1
|
Fee
Schedule. For the performance by the Transfer Agent of
its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund agrees to pay the
Transfer Agent an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account as
set forth in the attached fee schedule (“Schedule
3.1”)(the “Fee
Schedule”). Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and
advances identified under Section 3.2 below may be
changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the
Fund and the Transfer Agent.
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3.2
|
Out-of-Pocket
Expenses. In addition to the fee paid under Section 3.1 above, the
Fund agrees to reimburse the Transfer Agent for the out-of-pocket expenses
listed on Schedule
3.2 hereof (“Schedule
3.2”). Such out-of-pocket expenses, and the accrual,
calculation and conformity of same to Schedule 3.2 shall be
subject to audit from time to time by the treasurer of the
Fund. In addition, any other expenses incurred by the Transfer
Agent at the request or with the prior consent of the Fund will be
reimbursed by the Fund.
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3.3
|
Postage. Postage
for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other mailings to all
shareholder accounts shall be forwarded to the Transfer Agent by the Fund
on the date of the scheduled mailing of such
materials
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3.4
|
Invoices. The
Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within thirty (30)
days following the receipt of the respective billing notice, except for
that portion of any fees or expenses which are subject to good faith
dispute. In the event of such a dispute, the Fund may only
withhold that portion of the fee or expense subject to the good faith
dispute. The Fund shall notify the Transfer Agent in writing
within twenty-one (21) calendar days following the receipt of each billing
notice if the Fund is disputing any amounts in good faith. The
Fund shall pay such disputed amounts within fifteen (15) days of the day
on which the parties agree on the amount to be paid. If no
agreement is reached, then such disputed amounts shall be settled as may
be required by law or legal
process.
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3.5
|
Cost of Living
Adjustment. During the first three (3)
years of the Initial Term, the fees hereunder shall not be changed
absent a written agreement of the parties. Following the third
anniversary of the date hereof, and during any Renewal Term hereof
unless the parties shall otherwise agree pursuant to Section 12.1 hereof,
provided that the service mix and volumes remain consistent with the
service mix and volumes during the Initial Term, the total fee for all
services shall equal the fee that would be charged for the same services
based on a fee rate (as reflected in a Fee Schedule) increased by the
percentage increase for the twelve-month period of such previous calendar
year of the CPI-W (defined below) or, in the event that publication of
such index is terminated, any successor or substitute index. As
used herein, “CPI-W” shall
mean the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
(Area: Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT; Base Period:
1982-84=100), as published by the United States Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics. See Amd. dated
1/1/08
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3.6
|
Late
Payments. If any undisputed amount in an invoice of the
Transfer Agent (for fees or reimbursable expenses) is not paid when due,
the Fund shall pay the Transfer Agent interest thereon (from the due date
to the date of payment) at a per annum rate equal to one percent (1.0%)
plus the Prime Rate (that is, the base rate on corporate loans posted by
large domestic banks) published by The Wall Street Journal
(or, in the event such rate is not so published, a reasonably equivalent
published rate selected by the Transfer Agent) on the first day of
publication during the month when such amount was
due. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, such interest
rate shall be no greater than permitted under applicable provisions of
Massachusetts law.
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4. Representations and
Warranties of the Transfer Agent
The
Transfer Agent represents and warrants to the Fund that:
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4.1
|
It
is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing under
the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
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4.2
|
It
is duly qualified to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
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4.3
|
It
is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Organization and
By-Laws to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
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4.4
|
All
requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter
into and perform this Agreement.
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|
4.5
|
It
is in compliance with federal securities law requirements in all material
respects with respect to its business, including but not limited to
Applicable Law, and is in good standing as a registered transfer
agent.
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4.6
|
It
has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
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5. Representations and
Warranties of the Fund
Each Fund
represents and warrants to the Transfer Agent that:
5.1
|
It
is an entity duly organized and existing and in good standing under the
laws of the applicable State in which it was
organized.
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5.2
|
It
is empowered under applicable laws and by organizational documents to
enter into and perform this
Agreement.
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5.3
|
All
corporate proceedings required by its organizational documents have been
taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement.
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5.4
|
It
is an open-end management investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
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5.5
|
It
is in compliance with federal securities law requirements in all material
respects with respect to its
business.
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5.6
|
A
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended 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.
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6. Wire Transfer Operating
Guidelines/Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code
6.1
|
Obligation of
Sender. The Transfer Agent is authorized to promptly
debit the appropriate Fund account(s) upon the receipt of a Good
Redemption Order in compliance with the selected security procedure (the
“Security
Procedure”) chosen by the Fund for funds transfer and in the amount
of money that the Transfer Agent has been instructed to
transfer. The Transfer Agent shall execute such payment orders
in compliance with the Security Procedure and with the Proper Instructions
on the execution date provided that such payment order is received by the
customary deadline for processing such a request, unless the payment order
specifies a later time. All payment orders and communications
received after the customary deadline will be deemed to have been received
the next business day.
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6.2
|
Security
Procedure. The Fund acknowledges that the Security
Procedure it has designated on the Fund Selection Form was selected by the
Fund from security procedures offered by the Transfer
Agent. The Fund shall restrict access to confidential
information relating to the Security Procedure to authorized persons as
communicated to the Transfer Agent in writing. The Fund must
notify the Transfer Agent immediately if it has reason to believe
unauthorized persons may have obtained access to such information or of
any change in the Fund’s authorized personnel. The Transfer
Agent shall verify the authenticity of all Proper Instructions according
to the Security Procedure.
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6.3
|
Account
Numbers. The Transfer Agent shall process all payment
orders on the basis of the account number contained in the payment
order. In the event of a discrepancy between any name indicated
on the payment order and the account number, the account number shall take
precedence and govern.
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6.4
|
Rejection. The Transfer
Agent reserves the right to (a) decline to process or delay the processing
of a payment order which is in excess of the collected balance in the
account to be charged at the time of the Transfer Agent’s receipt of such
payment order; or (b)(i) require Proper Instructions with respect to any
payment order or, (ii) failing the provision of such Proper Instructions,
decline to process or delay the processing of a payment order, if the
Transfer Agent, in good faith, is unable to satisfy itself that the
transaction has been properly authorized; (c) decline to process or delay
the processing of a payment order if initiating such payment order would,
due to restrictions imposed by the Federal Reserve Board, cause the
Transfer Agent, in the Transfer Agent’s sole judgment, to exceed any
volume, aggregate dollar, network, time, credit or similar limits which
are applicable to the Transfer Agent; or (d) decline to process or delay
the processing of a payment order if the Transfer Agent, in good faith, is
unable to satisfy itself that the transaction has been properly
authorized.
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6.5
|
Cancellation or
Amendment. The Transfer Agent shall use reasonable
efforts to act on all Proper Instructions to cancel or amend payment
orders received in compliance with the Security Procedure provided that
such requests are received in a timely manner affording the Transfer Agent
reasonable opportunity to act. However, the Transfer Agent
assumes no liability if the request for amendment or cancellation cannot
be satisfied.
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6.6
|
Errors. The
Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for failure to detect any
erroneous payment order provided that the Transfer Agent complies with the
payment order instructions as received and the Transfer Agent complies
with the Security Procedure. The Security Procedure is
established for the purpose of authenticating payment orders only and not
for the detection of errors in payment
orders.
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6.7
|
Interest. The
Transfer Agent shall assume no responsibility for lost interest with
respect to the refundable amount of any unauthorized payment order, unless
the Transfer Agent is notified of the unauthorized payment order within
thirty (30) days of notification by the Transfer Agent of the acceptance
of such payment order.
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6.8
|
ACH Credit Entries/
Provisional Payments. When the Fund initiates or
receives Automated Clearing House credit and debit entries pursuant to the
rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association and the New
England Clearing House Association, the Bank will act as an Originating
Depository Financial Institution and/or Receiving Depository Financial
Institution, as the case may be, with respect to such
entries. Credits given by the Transfer Agent with respect to an
ACH credit entry are provisional until the Transfer Agent receives final
settlement for such entry from the Federal Reserve Bank. If the
Transfer Agent does not receive such final settlement, the Fund agrees
that the Transfer Agent shall receive a refund of the amount credited to
the Fund in connection with such entry, and the party making payment to
the Fund via such entry shall not be deemed to have paid the amount of the
entry.
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6.9
|
Confirmation. Confirmation
of Transfer Agent’s execution of payment orders shall ordinarily be
provided to the Fund within twenty four (24) hours and may be delivered
through the Transfer Agent’s proprietary information systems, or by
facsimile or call-back. Fund must report any objections to the execution
of an order within thirty (30)
days.
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7. Data Access and Proprietary
Information
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7.1
|
The
Fund acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats,
report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals
furnished to the Fund by the Transfer Agent as part of the Fund’s ability
to access certain Fund Confidential Information (defined in Section 10 below)
maintained by the Transfer Agent on databases under the control and
ownership of the Transfer Agent or other third party (“Data Access
Services”) constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other
proprietary information of substantial value to the Transfer Agent or
other third party (collectively, “Transfer Agent
Proprietary Information”). In no event shall Transfer
Agent Proprietary Information be deemed Fund Confidential
Information. The Fund agrees to treat all Transfer Agent
Proprietary Information as proprietary to the Transfer Agent and further
agrees that it shall not divulge any Transfer Agent 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
to:
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(a) Use
such programs and databases (i) solely on the Fund’s computers or on computers
of Federated Services Company or its Affiliates, or (ii) solely from equipment
at the location agreed to between the Fund and the Transfer Agent and (iii)
solely in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s applicable user
documentation;
(b) Refrain
from copying or duplicating in any way (other than in the normal course of
performing processing on the Fund’s computer(s)), the Transfer Agent Proprietary
Information;
(c) Refrain
from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the Transfer Agent
Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained, to inform
Transfer Agent in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such information
in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s instructions;
(d) Refrain
from causing or allowing information transmitted from the Transfer Agent’s
computer to the Fund’s terminal to be retransmitted to any other computer
terminal or other device except as expressly permitted by the Transfer Agent
(such permission not to be unreasonably withheld);
(e) Allow
the Fund to have access only to those authorized transactions as agreed to
between the Fund and the Transfer Agent; and
(f) Honor
all reasonable written requests made by the Transfer Agent to protect at the
Transfer Agent’s expense the rights of the Transfer Agent in the Transfer Agent
Proprietary Information at common law, under federal copyright law and under
other federal or state law.
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7.2
|
Transfer
Agent Proprietary Information shall not include all or any portion of any
of the foregoing items that: (i) is or subsequently becomes
publicly available without breach by the Fund, its employees, agents or
subcontractors of any obligation owed to the Transfer Agent under this
Agreement; (ii) is released for general disclosure by a written release by
the Transfer Agent; (iii) is Fund Confidential Information, (iv) becomes
known to the Fund from a source other than the Transfer Agent other than
by the breach of an obligation of confidentiality owed to the Transfer
Agent by such third party; or (v) is independently developed by the Fund
without reference to information provided by the Transfer
Agent. With respect to exceptions (iv) and (v), the burden
shall be on the Fund to demonstrate, through appropriate documentation,
the applicability of such
exception.
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7.3
|
The
Fund acknowledges that its obligation to protect the Transfer Agent
Proprietary Information is essential to the business interest of the
Transfer Agent and that the disclosure of such information in breach of
this Agreement may cause the Transfer Agent immediate, substantial and
irreparable harm, the value of which would be difficult to
determine. Accordingly, the parties agree that, in addition to
any other remedies that may be available in law, equity, or otherwise for
the disclosure or use of the Transfer Agent Proprietary Information in
breach of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to seek and
obtain a temporary restraining order, injunctive relief, or other
equitable relief against the continuance of such
breach.
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7.4
|
The
Fund shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their
obligations pursuant to this Section
7. The obligations of this Section shall survive any
earlier termination of this
Agreement.
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|
7.5
|
If
the Fund notifies the Transfer Agent that any of the Data Access Services
do not operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user
documentation for such services, the Transfer Agent shall use its best
efforts in a timely manner to correct such
failure. Organizations from which the Transfer Agent 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 Transfer Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party data,
including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof; provided, however,
that the Fund shall be entitled to insist that the Transfer Agent, and the
Transfer Agent for the benefit of the Funds shall, enforce any and all
rights under applicable contracts for the Data Access
Services. SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING OBLIGATIONS OF THE TRANSFER
AGENT, DATA ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND SOFTWARE
SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS IS, AS
AVAILABLE BASIS. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN TO THE
CONTRARY, THE TRANSFER AGENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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|
7.6
|
If
the transactions available to the Fund include the ability to originate
Proper Instructions through electronic instructions to the Transfer Agent
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 Transfer Agent shall be entitled to rely on the validity and
authenticity of such Proper Instructions without undertaking any further
inquiry as long as such Proper Instruction is undertaken in conformity
with Security Procedures.
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|
7.7
|
Section 7.1 shall not
restrict any disclosure required to be made by Applicable Law, except that
(i) in case of any requests or demands for the inspection of Transfer
Agent Proprietary Information that arise from persons other than
authorized officers of the Transfer Agent, the Fund will promptly notify
the Transfer Agent and secure instructions from an authorized officer of
the Transfer Agent as to such inspection and (ii) the Fund shall promptly
notify an authorized officer of the Transfer Agent in writing of any and
all legal actions received by or served on the Fund with respect to the
Transfer Agent, and shall use its best efforts to promptly notify the
Transfer Agent of all contacts and/or correspondence received by the Fund
from any regulatory department or agency or other governmental authority
purporting to regulate the Transfer Agent and not the Fund, regarding the
Fund’s duties and activities performed in connection with this Agreement,
and will cooperate with the Transfer Agent in responding to such legal
actions, contacts and/or correspondence. Notwithstanding the
restrictions on Transfer Agent Proprietary Information described herein,
when required by law, court order or regulatory authority, the Fund will
disclose such Transfer Agent Proprietary Information as it deems
reasonable and appropriate when required to do so by law, court order or
regulatory authority. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will
agree on reasonable procedures regarding such required disclosure and the
Fund will make every reasonable effort to notify the Transfer Agent of
requests for such information by the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any other federal or State securities regulatory agencies prior to the
release of such records.
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8. Indemnification
|
8.1
|
The
Transfer Agent shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall indemnify,
defend and hold the Transfer Agent harmless from and against, any and all
losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and
liability arising out of or attributable
to:
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(a) All
actions of the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors required to be
taken pursuant to this Agreement (including the defense of any lawsuit in which
the Transfer Agent or affiliate is a named party), 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;
(c) The
reliance upon, and any subsequent use of or action taken or omitted, by the
Transfer Agent, or its agents or subcontractors on: (i) any information,
records, documents, data, stock certificates or services, which are received by
the Transfer Agent or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input,
facsimile, CRT data entry, electronic instructions or other similar means
authorized by the Fund, and which 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 broker-dealer, TPA or previous transfer agent; (ii) any
instructions or requests of the Fund or any of its officers; (iii) any written
instructions or opinions of the Fund’s legal counsel with respect to any matter
arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Transfer Agent
under this Agreement which are provided to the Transfer Agent by the Fund after
consultation by the Fund with such legal counsel and which expressly allow the
Transfer Agent to rely up such instructions or opinions; or (iv) any paper or
document, reasonably believed to be genuine, authentic, or signed by the proper
person or persons;
(d) The
offer or sale of Shares in violation of federal or state securities laws or
regulations requiring that such Shares be registered or in violation of any stop
order or other determination or ruling by any federal or any state agency with
respect to the offer or sale of such Shares;
(e) The
negotiation and processing of any checks including without limitation for
deposit into the Fund’s demand deposit account maintained by the Transfer Agent;
or
(f) Upon
the Fund’s request entering into any agreements required by the NSCC for the
transmission of Fund or Shareholder data through the NSCC clearing
systems.
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8.2
|
The
Transfer Agent shall, subject to the provisions of Section 9 below,
indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from and against any and all losses,
damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability
arising out of or attributable to any claim that any aspect of the
services or systems provided under, and used within the scope of, this
Agreement infringes any U.S. patent, copyright, trade secret or other
intellectual property rights. With respect to any such claims,
the Transfer Agent may, in its sole discretion, either (i) procure for the
Fund a right to continue to use such service or system, (ii) replace or
modify the service or system so as to be non-infringing without materially
affecting the functions of the service or system, or (iii) if, in the
Transfer Agent’s reasonable discretion, the actions described in (i) and
(ii) are not capable of being accomplished on commercially reasonable
terms, terminate this Agreement with respect to the affected service or
system. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Transfer Agent shall
have no liability or obligation of indemnity for any claim which is based
upon a modification of a service or system by anyone other than the
Transfer Agent, use of such service or system other than in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, or use of such service or system in
combination with other software or hardware not provided by the Transfer
Agent if infringement could have been avoided by not using the service or
system in combination with such other software or
hardware.
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|
8.3
|
In
order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section 8 shall apply,
upon the assertion of a claim for which the Fund may be required to
indemnify the Transfer Agent, the Transfer Agent 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 Transfer Agent in the defense of such claim
or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the
Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent shall in no case confess any
claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Fund may be required
to indemnify the Transfer Agent unless the Fund provides its consent or
the Transfer Agent waives its right to the
indemnity.
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9. Standard of Care/Limitation
of Liability
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9.1
|
The
Transfer Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its
best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure 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, including encoding
and payment processing errors, unless said errors are caused by its
negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees or
agents. The parties agree that any encoding or payment
processing errors shall be governed by this standard of care and Section
4-209 of the Uniform Commercial Code is superseded by Section 9 of this
Agreement. The Transfer Agent shall provide the Fund, at such
times as the Fund may reasonably require, copies of publicly available
reports rendered by independent public accountants on the internal
controls and procedures of the Transfer Agent relating to the Services
provided by the Transfer Agent under this
Agreement.
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9.2
|
The
liability of the Transfer Agent hereunder shall be subject to the limits,
if any, set forth on Schedule 3.1 attached
hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time by mutual written
agreement of the parties.
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|
9.3
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the omission of an express
indemnity in favor of the Fund, as to all matters other than intellectual
property infringement, shall in no way be construed so as to limit the
legal rights, remedies and/or recourse of the Fund against the Transfer
Agent, and the Fund does hereby reserve any and all such rights, remedies
and recourse, with respect to any breach by the Transfer Agent of any
provision of this Agreement.
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10. Fund Confidential
Information
10.1
|
All
Fund Confidential Information (defined below) shall be deemed to be
proprietary and the Transfer Agent shall hold all such information
confidential and in strict confidence and shall not disclose it to any
third party, except to the extent necessary to perform the Services
hereunder and then only pursuant to an independent obligation of such
third party to maintain the confidentiality of such information on
substantially the same terms as set forth herein, unless Proper
Instructions to make such disclosure have been given by the
Fund. “Fund Confidential
Information” shall mean any information obtained by or on behalf of
the Transfer Agent from, or disclosed to the Transfer Agent or its
representatives by, the Fund or any shareholder of the Fund, or created by
the Fund that relates to the Fund’s past, present or future activities,
whether any of such information is in oral or printed form or on any
computer disks, computer tapes, or other electronic or magnetic formats,
including, without limitation, (i) non-public personal information,
financial statements and financial data concerning shareowners, (ii)
investments and transactions of and by shareowners, (iii) shareowner
related information, (iv) any communications with shareowners (including,
without limitation, tape recorded conversations) in connection with the
provision of the services or which results from the provision of the
services and (v) any and all Fund-related policies and procedures,
including but not limited to monitoring techniques, related to the
discouragement of frequent trading and other undesirable
practices. Under no circumstances shall the Transfer Agent’s
Proprietary Information be deemed to be Fund Confidential
Information.
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10.2
|
Fund
Confidential Information shall not include all or any portion of any of
the foregoing items that: (i) is Transfer Agent Proprietary
Information, or (ii) is independently developed by the Transfer Agent
without reference to information provided by the Fund. With
respect to exception (ii), the burden shall be on the Transfer Agent to
demonstrate, through appropriate documentation, the applicability of such
exception.
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10.3
|
Section 10.1 shall not
restrict any disclosure required to be made by Applicable Law, except that
(i) in case of any requests or demands for the inspection of Fund
Confidential Information that arise from persons other than authorized
officers of the Fund, the Transfer Agent will (other than standard
requests (i.e. divorce and criminal actions) pursuant to subpoenas of
state or federal government authorities) promptly notify the Fund and
secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection and (ii) the Transfer Agent shall promptly notify an authorized
officer of the Fund in writing of any and all legal actions received by or
served on the Transfer Agent with respect to the Fund, and
shall use its best efforts to promptly notify the Fund of all contacts
and/or correspondence received by the Transfer Agent from any regulatory
department or agency or other governmental authority purporting to
regulate the Fund and not the Transfer Agent, regarding the Transfer
Agent’s duties and activities performed in connection with this Agreement,
and will cooperate with the Fund in responding to such legal actions,
contacts and/or correspondence. Notwithstanding the
restrictions on Fund Confidential Information described herein, when
required by law, court order or regulatory authority, the Transfer Agent
will disclose such Fund Confidential Information as it deems reasonable
and appropriate when required to do so by law, court order or regulatory
authority. The Fund and the Transfer Agent will agree on
reasonable procedures regarding such required disclosure and the Transfer
Agent will make every reasonable effort to notify the Fund of requests for
such information by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
federal or State regulatory agencies prior to the release of such
records.
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10.4
|
The
Transfer Agent shall maintain reasonable safeguards for maintaining in
confidence any and all Fund Confidential Information. The
Transfer Agent shall not, at any time, use any such Fund Confidential
Information for any purpose other than as specifically authorized by this
Agreement, or in writing by the
Fund.
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10.5
|
Upon
termination of this Agreement, or as otherwise requested by the Fund, all
Fund Confidential Information held by, or on behalf of, the Transfer Agent
shall, at the expense of the affected Fund, be promptly returned to the
Fund, or an authorized officer of the Transfer Agent will certify to the
Fund in writing that all such information has been
destroyed. Sections 3.2, 3.4 and 3.6 of this Agreement
shall survive any termination of this Agreement for so long as any such
expenses referenced in this Section 10.5 remains
outstanding.
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10.6
|
The
Transfer Agent acknowledges that its obligation to protect the Fund’s
Confidential Information is essential to the business interest of the Fund
and that the disclosure of such information in breach of this Agreement
may cause the Fund immediate, substantial and irreparable harm, the value
of which would be difficult to determine. Accordingly, the
parties agree that, in addition to any other remedies that may be
available in law, equity, or otherwise for the disclosure or use of the
Fund Confidential Information in breach of this Agreement, the Fund shall
be entitled to seek and obtain a temporary restraining order, injunctive
relief, or other equitable relief against the continuance of such
breach.
|
11. Covenants of the Fund and
the Transfer Agent
11.1
|
The
Fund shall promptly furnish to the Transfer Agent the
following:
|
(a) A
certified copy of the resolution of the Board of the Fund authorizing the
appointment of the Transfer Agent and the execution and delivery of this
Agreement;
(b)
|
A
copy of the organizational documents of the Fund and all material
amendments thereto; and
|
(c)
|
Copies
of or access to properties, personnel, books and records, (including tax
records), contracts, and documents necessary for the Transfer Agent to
perform its duties hereunder.
|
11.2
|
The
Transfer Agent 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.
|
11.3
|
The
Transfer Agent 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 Transfer Agent agrees that all
such records prepared or maintained by the Transfer Agent relating to the
services to be performed by the Transfer Agent 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.
|
11.4
|
The
Transfer Agent maintains, and covenants that during the Term hereof it
shall continue to maintain, fidelity bond coverage concerning larceny and
embezzlement and an insurance policy with respect to directors and
officers errors and omissions coverage in such amounts, and with such
carriers, as are reasonably acceptable to the Fund in light of the
Transfer Agent’s duties and responsibilities hereunder. Upon
the request of the Funds, the Transfer Agent shall provide evidence that
such coverage is in place. The Transfer Agent shall, promptly
upon the receipt of any such notice by any applicable carrier, notify the
Fund should its insurance coverage with respect to professional liability
or errors and omissions coverage be canceled. Such notification
shall include the date of cancellation and the reasons
therefor.
|
11.5
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in Section 15.3, the
Transfer Agent shall maintain at a location other than its normal location
appropriate redundant facilities for operational back up in the event of a
power failure, disaster or other interruption. The Transfer
Agent shall continuously back up Fund records, and shall store the back up
in a secure manner at a location other than its normal location, so that,
in the event of a power failure, disaster or other interruption at such
normal location, the Fund records, will be maintained intact and will
enable the Transfer Agent to perform under this Agreement. The
Transfer Agent will maintain a comprehensive business continuity plan and
will provide an executive summary of such plan upon reasonable request of
the Fund. The Transfer Agent will test the adequacy of its
business continuity plan at least annually and upon request, the Fund may
participate in such test. Following such test, upon request by
the Fund, the Transfer Agent will provide the Fund with a letter assessing
the most recent business continuity test results. In the event
of a business disruption that materially impacts the Transfer Agent’s
provision of services under this Agreement, the Transfer Agent will notify
the Fund of the disruption and the steps being implemented under the
business continuity plan.
|
11.6
|
The
Transfer Agent shall provide the Fund, at such times as the Fund may
reasonably require, (i) copies of publicly available reports rendered
by independent public accountants on the internal controls and procedures
of the Transfer Agent relating to the Services provided by the Transfer
Agent under this Agreement, (ii) access to the procedures used to
perform the testing described in such reports and (iii) access to the
audit teams preparing any such reports or performing any such
testing.
|
12. Termination of
Agreement
12.1
|
Term. The
initial term of this Agreement shall be five
(5) see
Amd. dated 1/1/08 years from the date first stated above (the
“Initial
Term”) unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Section
12. Unless a party gives written notice to the other
party ninety (90) days before the expiration of the Initial Term or any
Renewal Term, this Agreement will renew automatically from year to year
(each such year-to-year renewal term a “Renewal Term”;
collectively, the Initial Term and any Renewal Term shall hereafter be
referred to as the “Term”).
One-hundred twenty (120) days before the expiration of the Initial Term or
a Renewal Term the parties to this Agreement will agree upon a Fee
Schedule for the upcoming Renewal Term. Otherwise, the fees
shall be increased pursuant to Section 3.5 of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the termination or non-renewal of
this Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall continue
to apply until the completion of Deconversion (defined
below).
|
|
12.2
|
Deconversion. In the
event that this Agreement is terminated or not renewed, the Transfer Agent
agrees that, in order to provide for uninterrupted service to the Fund,
the Transfer Agent shall, at the Fund’s request, offer reasonable
assistance to the Fund in converting, within a reasonable time frame
agreed to by the parties, the Fund’s records from the Transfer Agent’s
systems to whatever services or systems are designated by the Fund (the
“Deconversion”)
(subject to the recompense of the Transfer Agent for such assistance at
their standard rates and fees in effect at the time). As used
herein “reasonable assistance” and “transitional assistance” shall not
include requiring the Transfer Agent (i) to assist any new service or
system provider to modify, to alter, to enhance, or to improve such
provider’s system, or to provide any new functionality to such provider’s
system, (ii) to disclose any protected information of the Transfer
Agent, except to the extent necessary to effectuate such Deconversion and
then, only pursuant to a written confidentiality agreement executed
between the Transfer Agent and the new service provider, or (iii) to
develop Deconversion software, to modify any of the Transfer Agent’s
software, or to otherwise alter the format of the data as maintained on
any provider’s systems.
|
12.3
|
Early
Termination. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, should the Fund desire to move any of its
services provided by the Transfer Agent hereunder to a successor service
provider prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or then current
Renewal Term, the Transfer Agent shall make a good faith effort to
facilitate the conversion on such prior date; provided, however that,
except for a transfer following a termination pursuant to Sections 12.6 or 12.7,
there can be no guarantee or assurance that the Transfer Agent will be
able to facilitate a conversion of services on such prior
date. In connection with the foregoing, should services be
converted to a successor service provider, other than following a
termination pursuant to Sections 12.6 or 12.7,
or if the Fund’s assets are merged or purchased or the like with or by
another entity which does not utilize the services of the Transfer Agent,
then the Fund will pay to the Transfer Agent an amount equal to twelve
(12) months of the Transfer Agent’s fees immediately preceding the receipt
of the termination notice, plus, during the Initial Term only, the dollar
amount of the Transfer Agent’s start up costs for the initial conversion
and implementation of the Fund, which amount shall be reduced by 1/60
during each month of the Initial Term during which this Agreement is in
effect. The payment of one-half of all fees owing to the
Transfer Agent under this Section 12.3 shall be
paid on or before the business day immediately prior to the conversion or
termination of services, with the balance being due immediately upon
conversion.
|
12.4
|
Confidential
Information. Upon termination of this Agreement, each
party shall return to the other party all copies of confidential or
proprietary materials or information received from such other party
hereunder, other than materials or information required to be retained by
such party under Applicable Law.
|
|
12.5
|
Unpaid
Invoices. The Transfer Agent may terminate this
Agreement thirty (30) days after notice to the Fund and its administrator
that an invoice has remained outstanding for more than sixty (60) days,
except with respect to any amount subject to a good faith dispute within
the meaning of Section
3.4 of this Agreement.
|
|
12.6
|
Bankruptcy. This
Agreement shall terminate, (a) by notice by the notifying party in the
event that the other party ceases to carry on its business or (b)
immediately, without further action by a party, in the event that an
action is commenced by or against the other party under Title 11 of the
United States Code or a receiver, conservator or similar officer is
appointed for the other party and such suit, conservatorship or
receivership is not discharged within thirty (30)
days.
|
12.7
|
Cause. If
either of the parties hereto is in default in the performance of its
duties or obligations hereunder, and such default has a material effect on
the other party, then the non-defaulting party may give notice to the
defaulting party specifying the nature of the default in sufficient detail
to permit the defaulting party to identify and cure such
default. If the defaulting party fails to cure such default
within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice, or within such longer
period of time as the parties may agree is necessary for such cure, then
the non-defaulting party may terminate this Agreement upon notice of not
less than five (5) days to the defaulting
party.
|
13. Assignment and Third Party
Beneficiaries
13.1
|
Except
as provided in Section
14.1 below, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations
hereunder may be assigned or subcontracted by either party without the
written consent of the other party. Any attempt to do so in
violation of this Section shall be void. Unless specifically
stated to the contrary in any written consent to an assignment, no
assignment will release or discharge the assignor from any duty or
responsibility under this
Agreement.
|
13.2
|
Except
as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this
Agreement shall be construed to give any rights or benefits in this
Agreement to anyone other than the Transfer Agent and the Fund, and the
duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be
for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Transfer Agent and the
Fund. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and
assigns.
|
13.3
|
This
Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or joint
venture between the Transfer Agent and the Fund. Other than as
provided in Section
14.1, neither party shall make any commitments with third parties
that are binding on the other party without the other party’s prior
written consent.
|
14.
|
Subcontractors
|
14.1
|
The
Transfer Agent 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 (“Boston
Financial”) which is duly registered as a transfer agent pursuant
to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
(ii) a Boston Financial subsidiary duly registered as a transfer agent or
(iii) a Boston Financial affiliate duly registered as a transfer agent;
provided, however, that the Transfer Agent shall be fully responsible to
the Fund for the acts and omissions of Boston Financial or its subsidiary
or affiliate as it is for its own acts and omissions and provided further, however, that
any such subsidiary or affiliate shall perform any and all services so
subcontracted within the borders of the United
States.
|
14.1
|
Nothing
herein shall impose any duty upon the Transfer Agent in connection with or
make the Transfer Agent liable for the actions or omissions to act of
unaffiliated third parties such as by way of example and not limitation,
Airborne Services, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, the U.S. Mails,
the NSCC and telecommunication companies, provided, if the Transfer Agent
selected such company, the Transfer Agent shall have exercised due care in
selecting the same.
|
15. Miscellaneous
15.1
|
Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement executed by
all parties hereto and authorized or approved by a resolution of the Board
of the Fund.
|
15.2
|
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.
|
15.3
|
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; provided, however, that
nothing in this Section
15.3 shall be deemed to relieve Transfer Agent of its obligations
under Section
11.3.
|
15.4
|
Consequential
Damages. Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable
to the other party for special, indirect or consequential damages under
any provision of this Agreement or for any special, indirect or
consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act
hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, any cost of
reprocessing transactions, of compensating Shareholders for losses of
interest, and/or reimbursement for fund dilution, in any case resulting
from the processing of trades at an incorrect NAV shall be deemed to be
actual damages and not special, indirect or consequential damages subject
to the limitation contained in this Section
15.4.
|
15.5
|
Survival. All
provisions regarding indemnification, warranty, liability, and limits
thereon, and confidentiality and/or protections of proprietary rights and
trade secrets shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
|
15.6
|
Severability. If
any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held invalid,
unlawful, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired.
|
15.7
|
Priorities
Clause. In the event of any conflict, discrepancy or
ambiguity between the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and
any Schedules or attachments hereto, the terms and conditions contained in
this Agreement shall take
precedence.
|
15.8
|
Waiver. No
waiver by either party or any breach or default of any of the covenants or
conditions herein contained and performed by the other party shall be
construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or of any other
covenant or condition.
|
15.9
|
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.
|
15.10
|
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.
|
15.11
|
Reproduction of
Documents. This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits,
attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic,
photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other
similar process. The parties hereto each agree that any such
reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any
judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in
existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the
regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further
reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
|
15.12
|
Notices. All
notices and other communications as required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing and sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows or to such other address or addresses of which the respective
party shall have notified the
other.
|
(a) If
to the Transfer Agent, to:
State
Street Bank and Trust Company
c/o
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
(b) If
to the Fund, to:
[Name of
Fund]
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
President
With a
copy to:
Federated
Investors, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
General Counsel
16.
|
Additional
Funds
|
In the
event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares, in addition to
those listed on the attached Schedule A, with respect to
which it desires to have the Transfer Agent render services as transfer agent
under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Transfer Agent in writing, and if
the Transfer Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of
Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder.
17. Limitation of Liability of
Trustees and Shareholders of the Fund
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Board of
the Fund and signed by an authorized officer of such Fund, acting as such, and
neither such authorization by the Board nor the 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, and the obligations of this
Agreement are not binding upon any of the members of the Board of the Fund, but
bind only the property of the Fund as provided in, as applicable, the Fund’s
articles of incorporation or declaration of trust.
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.
STATE
STREET BANK
AND
By each of the Federated Funds
TRUST
COMPANY set
forth on Exhibit A
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
By: /s/ J.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxx
Name: J. Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Executive
Vice
President Title: President
EXHIBIT
A
FEDERATED
FUNDS
Exhibit
is filed separately, quarterly.
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF
UNCERTIFICATED
SECURITIES CONTROL AGREEMENT
This
Uncertificated Securities Control Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as
of __________, 200_ among __________________, a ______________ corporation
(“Debtor”),
____________________ (“Secured Party”), and
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Transfer
Agent”).
WHEREAS,
Debtor owns shares in __________________ (the “Issuer”), which for
internal record keeping are designated as being held in account number
____________ (the “Account”). The
shares in the Issuer are uncertificated securities and shares owned from time to
time by Debtor in the Issuer are and will be registered in the name of Debtor on
the books and records of Issuer maintained with the
Transfer Agent.
WHEREAS,
Secured Party has entered into a Credit Agreement with Debtor (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit
Agreement”).
WHEREAS,
Debtor and the Secured Party have entered into a Security Agreement (as from
time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Security Agreement”),
in which inter alia,
Debtor has granted to Secured Party a security interest in the shares in the
Issuer held from time to time by Debtor (the “Pledged
Shares”).
WHEREAS,
Secured Party, Debtor and the Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Issuer, are
entering into this Agreement to provide for the control of the Pledged Shares
and to perfect the security interest of Secured Party in the Pledged Shares
owned by Debtor from time to time.
NOW
THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
Section
1. The Pledged
Shares. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is the
[Confirmation statement][Account statement] dated ______________, 200_, provided
to Debtor confirming Debtor’s [purchase/ownership] of the Pledged
Shares.
Section
2. No
Redemptions. Transfer Agent shall neither accept nor comply with any
instructions from Debtor redeeming any Pledged Shares nor deliver any proceeds
from any such redemption to Debtor following Confirmation (as hereinafter
defined) of receipt of a Notice of Exclusive Control (as hereinafter defined)
from Secured Party unless Secured Party shall have withdrawn such notice in
writing.
Section
3. Priority of
Lien. Transfer Agent consents to the granting of the security interest in
the Pledged Shares. Transfer Agent will not agree with any third party that
Transfer Agent will comply with instructions concerning the Pledged Shares
originated by such third party without the prior written consent of Secured
Party and Debtor.
Section
4. Indemnification
of the Issuer and Transfer Agent. Debtor hereby agrees that
Debtor and its successors and assigns shall at all times indemnify and save
harmless Issuer and Transfer Agent from and against any and all claims, actions
and suits of others arising out of the terms of this Agreement or the compliance
of Transfer Agent with the terms hereof, except to the extent that such arises
from Transfer Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and
from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges,
counsel fees and other expenses of every nature and character arising by reason
of the same. Secured Party hereby agrees that Secured Party and
its successors and assigns shall at all times indemnify and save harmless Issuer
and Transfer Agent from and against any and all claims, actions and suits of
others arising out of the execution by Transfer Agent of any instructions
initiated by Secured Party with respect to the Account and/or the Pledged
Shares, including any actions taken in response to a Notice of Exclusive
Control, except to the extent that such arises from Transfer Agent’s gross
negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and from and against any and all
liabilities, losses, damages, costs, chargers, counsel fees and other expenses
of every nature and character arising by reason of the same.
Section
5. Control.
Transfer Agent will comply with instructions originated by Secured Party
concerning the Pledged Shares without further consent by
Debtor. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2 above, Transfer
Agent shall redeem the Pledged Shares at the instruction of Debtor, or its
authorized representatives, and comply with instructions concerning purchases of
additional shares, which will become Pledged Shares, received from Debtor, or
its authorized representatives, until such time as Transfer Agent receives from
Secured Party (as determined by reference to Section 16 hereof) a written notice
in the form of Exhibit
B hereto to Transfer Agent which states that Secured Party is exercising
exclusive control over the Pledged Shares. Such notice is referred to
herein as the “Notice of Exclusive Control.” After Transfer Agent
receives a Notice of Exclusive Control (as determined by reference to Section 16
hereof), Transfer Agent will re-register the Pledged Shares in the name of the
Secured Party, and will cease complying with all instructions concerning the
Pledged Shares originated by Debtor or its representatives, until Transfer Agent
shall have received a written notice in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
after which Transfer Agent will again register the Pledged Shares in the name of
Debtor and may once again comply with all instructions concerning the Pledged
Shares originated by Debtor or its representatives.
Section
6. Statements,
Confirmations and Notices of Adverse Claims. Transfer Agent will send
copies of all monthly statements and daily confirmations concerning the Pledged
Shares simultaneously to each of Debtor and Secured Party at the addresses set
forth in Section 16 of this Agreement. If any person asserts any
lien, encumbrance or adverse claim against any of the Pledged Shares, Transfer
Agent will promptly notify Secured Party and Debtor thereof.
Section
7. Responsibility
of Transfer Agent. Transfer Agent shall have no responsibility or
liability to Secured Party for redeeming Pledged Shares at the instruction of
Debtor, or its authorized representatives, or complying with instructions in
accordance with Section 5 above concerning the Pledged Shares from Debtor, or
its authorized representatives, which are received by Transfer Agent before
Transfer Agent issues a Confirmation of a Notice of Exclusive Control. Transfer
Agent shall have no responsibility or liability to Debtor for complying with a
Notice of Exclusive Control or complying with instructions concerning the
Pledged Shares originated by Secured Party. Transfer Agent shall have no duty to
investigate or make any determination as to whether the conditions for the
issuance of a Notice of Exclusive Control contained in any agreement between
Debtor and Secured Party have occurred. Neither this Agreement nor
the Security Agreement imposes or creates any obligation or duty of Issuer or
Transfer Agent other than those expressly set forth herein.
Section
8. Tax
Reporting. All items of income and gain recognized on the
Pledged Shares shall be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and all state
and local taxing authorities under the name and taxpayer identification number
of Debtor.
Section
9. Customer
Application; Jurisdiction. This Agreement supplements the
conventional account establishment documents between Transfer Agent or Issuer on
the one hand, and Debtor on the other hand (the “Customer
Application”). Regardless of any provision in the Customer
Application, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be deemed to be Issuer’s
jurisdiction for the purposes of this Agreement and the perfection and priority
of Secured Party’s security interest in the Pledged Shares.
Section
10. Termination. The
rights and powers granted herein to Secured Party have been granted in order to
perfect its security interest in the Pledged Shares, are powers coupled with an
interest and will neither be affected by the bankruptcy or insolvency of Debtor
nor by the lapse of time. The obligations of Transfer Agent under
Sections 2, 3, 5 and 6 above shall continue in effect until the security
interest of Secured Party in the Pledged Shares has been terminated pursuant to
the terms of the Security Agreement and Secured Party has notified Transfer
Agent of such termination in writing or all Pledged Shares shall have been
redeemed by the Secured Party. Upon receipt of such notice, the
obligations of Transfer Agent under Sections 2, 3, 5 and 6 above shall
terminate, Secured Party shall have no further right to originate instructions
concerning the Pledged Shares and Transfer Agent may take such steps as Debtor
may request to vest full ownership and control of the Pledged Shares in Debtor,
including, but not limited to, transferring all of the Pledged Shares to Debtor
or its designee.
Section
11. This
Agreement. This Agreement, the schedules and exhibits hereto and the
agreements and instruments required to be executed and delivered hereunder
(including the Customer Application) set forth the entire agreement of the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede and
discharge all prior agreements (written or oral) and negotiations and all
contemporaneous oral agreements concerning such subject matter and
negotiations. There are no oral conditions precedent to the
effectiveness of this Agreement.
Section
12. Amendments. No
amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement or waiver of any right
hereunder shall be binding on any party hereto unless it is in writing and is
signed by the party to be charged.
Section
13. Severability. If
any term or provision set forth in this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such terms
or provisions to persons or circumstances, other than those to which it is held
invalid or unenforceable, shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid
or unenforceable term or provision were omitted.
Section
14. Successors. The
terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit
of, the parties hereto and their respective corporate successors or
assigns.
Section
15. Rules of
Construction. In this Agreement, words in the singular number
include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; words of the
masculine gender include the feminine and the neuter, and when the sense so
indicates words of the neuter gender may refer to any gender and the word “or”
is disjunctive but not exclusive. The captions and section numbers
appearing in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of
convenience. They do not define, limit or describe the scope or
intent of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section
16. Notices.
Except with respect to any Notice of Exclusive Control, each other notice,
request or other communication given to any party hereunder shall be in writing
(which term includes facsimile or other electronic transmission) and shall be
effective (i) when delivered to such party at its address specified below, (ii)
when sent to such party by facsimile or other electronic transmission, addressed
to it at its facsimile number or electronic address specified below, and
electronic confirmation of error-free receipt is received or (iii) two days
after being sent to such party by certified or registered United States mail,
addressed to it at its address specified below, with first class or airmail
postage prepaid. With respect to a Notice of Exclusive Control, the
Secured Party shall be required to telephone the Transfer Agent, at the
telephone number set forth below, in advance of the delivery of any such Notice
of Exclusive Control, which telephone call shall be promptly followed in writing
by a Notice of Exclusive Control sent by facsimile to the Transfer Agent at the
facsimile number set forth below. Such Notice of Exclusive Control
shall not be deemed to have been received by the Transfer Agent or Issuer for
any purpose hereunder, including but not limited to Section 5, unless and until
the Transfer Agent provides a written confirmation of receipt, specifically
acknowledging that the Notice of Exclusive Control has been received and acted
upon by the Transfer Agent (hereinafter, a “Confirmation”). In the
event that the Secured Party shall not have received such Confirmation within
ten minutes following delivery of a Notice of Exclusive Control, Secured Party
must telephone the Transfer Agent in order to determine the status of such
Confirmation.
Secured
Party:
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Attention:
_______________
Telephone:
______________
Facsimile:
_______________
Debtor:
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Attention:
_______________
Telephone:
______________
Facsimile:
_______________
|
Transfer
Agent:
|
Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc.
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
_______________
Telephone:
______________
Facsimile:
_______________
Any party
may change its address for notices in the manner set forth above.
Section
17. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by means of
facsimile), all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any
party hereto may execute this Agreement by signing and delivering one or more
counterparts.
Section
18. Choice of
Law. The validity, terms, performance and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the [State/Commonwealth] of [Issuer’s
jurisdiction of incorporation].
Section
19. Representations
by Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent hereby represents and
warrants to the Secured Party that (a) it is duly authorized to execute and
deliver this Agreement on behalf of the Issuer and (b) this Agreement shall
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general
equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or
at law).
[THE
REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth
above.
, as Secured Party
By:
Duly
Authorized Signatory
, as Debtor
By:
Title:
Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc., as Transfer Agent
By:
Title:
Exhibit
A
Confirmation/Account
Statement
Exhibit
B
Form
of Notice of Exclusive Control
__________,
200__
Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc.
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
_______________
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is made to the Uncertificated Securities Control Agreement, dated as of _______,
200_ ( the “Control
Agreement”), among ______________ (“Debtor”),
_____________________, as Secured Party (the “Secured Party”) and
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“Transfer
Agent”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Control Agreement.
Confirming
our telephone conversation of a few minutes ago and pursuant to the terms of the
Control Agreement, Transfer Agent is hereby directed to accept instructions or
otherwise take or refrain from taking action with respect to the Pledged Shares
only as directed by the Secured Party unless and until a Revocation Notice has
been delivered to Transfer Agent by the Secured Party. The Secured
Party hereby directs Transfer Agent to cease complying with any instructions
concerning the Pledged Shares originated by Debtor or its
representatives.
|
Very
truly yours,
|
, as Secured Party
By:
Name:
Title:
Exhibit
C
Form
of Revocation Letter
____________,
200__
Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc.
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
_______________
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to the
Uncertificated Securities Control Agreement, dated as of ___________, 200_ (the
“Control
Agreement”), among _______________ (“Debtor”),
_________________________, as Secured Party (the “Secured Party”) and
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“Transfer
Agent”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Control Agreement.
Please be advised that the Notice of
Exclusive Control dated ___________, 200__ is hereby revoked and that Transfer
Agent may once again comply, subject to the terms and conditions of the Control
Agreement, with instructions concerning the Pledged Shares originated by Debtor
or its representatives unless and until Transfer Agent receives a Notice of
Exclusive Control dated after the date hereof from the Secured
Party.
Very
truly yours,
, as Secured Party
By:
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE
2.1
SERVICE
LEVEL STANDARDS
See
attached
SCHEDULE
2.2(f)
AML
DELEGATION
DATED:
July 1, 2004
1.
|
Delegation. In
connection with the enactment of the Uniting and Strengthening America by
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism
Act of 2001 and the regulations promulgated thereunder, (collectively, the
“USA PATRIOT
Act”), the Fund has developed and implemented a written anti-money
laundering program (the “AML Program”),
which is designed to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT
Act. Under the USA PATRIOT Act, a mutual fund can elect to
delegate certain duties with respect to the implementation and operation
of its AML Program to a service provider, including its transfer
agent. The Fund is desirous of having the Transfer Agent
perform certain delegated duties pursuant to the AML Program and the
Transfer Agent desires to accept such delegation. Transfer
Agent acknowledges and agrees that, because the Fund remains responsible
for assuring compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and the AML Program, the
Transfer Agent shall provide such information and reports to the Fund’s
designated compliance officer as may from time to time be reasonably
requested by the Fund and, in addition, shall provide such compliance
officer with notice of any contact by any regulatory
authority.
|
2.
|
Limitation on
Delegation. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that in
accepting the delegation hereunder, the Transfer Agent is agreeing to
perform only those duties that have been expressly delegated on this Schedule 2.2(f) (the
“Delegated
Duties”), as may be amended from time to time, and is not
undertaking and shall not be responsible for any other aspect of the AML
Program or for the overall compliance by the Fund with the USA PATRIOT Act
or for any other matters that have not been delegated hereunder.
Additionally, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Transfer Agent
shall only be responsible for performing the Delegated Duties with respect
to the ownership of, and transactions in, shares in the Fund for which the
Transfer Agent maintains the applicable shareholder
information.
|
3.
|
Consent to
Examination. In connection with the performance by the
Transfer Agent of the Delegated Duties, the Transfer Agent understands and
acknowledges that the Fund remains responsible for assuring compliance
with the USA PATRIOT Act and that the records the Transfer Agent maintains
for the Fund relating to the AML Program may be subject, from time to
time, to examination and/or inspection by federal regulators in order that
the regulators may evaluate such compliance. The Transfer Agent
hereby consents to such examination and/or inspection and agrees to
cooperate with such federal examiners in connection with their
review. For purposes of such examination and/or inspection, the
Transfer Agent will use its best efforts to make available, during normal
business hours and on reasonable notice all required records and
information for review by such
examiners.
|
4.
|
Delegated
Duties
|
4.1
|
With
respect to the beneficial ownership of, and transactions in, shares in the
Fund for which the Transfer Agent maintains the applicable shareholder
information, the Transfer Agent
shall:
|
SCHEDULE
2.2(f)
AML
DELEGATION
(continued)
(a)
Submit all new account and registration maintenance transactions through the
Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) database and
such other lists or databases of trade restricted individuals or entities as may
be required from time to time by applicable regulatory authorities.
(b)
Submit special payee checks through the OFAC database.
(c)
Review redemption transactions that occur within thirty (30) days of account
establishment or maintenance.
(d)
Review wires sent pursuant to banking instructions other than those on file with
the Transfer Agent.
(e)
Review accounts with small balances followed by large purchases.
(f)
Review accounts with frequent activity within a specified date range followed by
a large redemption.
(g) On a
daily basis, review purchase and redemption activity per tax identification
number (“TIN”)
within the Funds to determine if activity for that TIN exceeded the $100,000
threshold on any given day.
(h)
Compare all new accounts and registration maintenance through the Known
Offenders database and notify the Fund of any match.
(i)
Monitor and track cash equivalents under $10,000 for a rolling twelve-month
period and file IRS Form 8300 and issue the shareholder notices required by the
IRS.
(j)
Determine when a suspicious activity report (“SAR”) should be filed
as required by regulations applicable to mutual funds; prepare and file the
SAR. Provide the Fund with a copy of the SAR within a reasonable time
after filing; notify the Fund if any further communication is received from U.S.
Department of the Treasury or other law enforcement agencies regarding the
SAR.
(k)
Compare account information to any FinCEN request received by the Fund and
provided to the Transfer Agent pursuant to the USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a).
Provide the Fund with documents/information necessary to respond to requests
under USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a) within required time frames.
(l)
Verify the identity of any person seeking to open an account with the Fund, (ii)
Maintain records of the information used to verify the person’s identity and
(iii) Determine whether the person appears on any lists of known or suspected
terrorists or terrorists organizations provided to the Fund by any government
agency.
|
4.2
|
In
the event that the Transfer Agent detects suspicious activity as a result
of the foregoing procedures, which necessitates the filing by the Transfer
Agent of a suspicious activity report, a Form 8300 or other similar report
or notice to OFAC, then the Transfer Agent shall also immediately notify
the Fund, unless prohibited by Applicable
Law.
|
SCHEDULE
2.2(g)
CHECKWRITING
SERVICES SUPPORT
(i) Upon
receipt of checkwriting signature cards, code the appropriate Shareholder
account on Transfer Agent’s recordkeeping systems for checkwriting services,
order appropriate checkbook products through MICR’s online checkbook ordering
system, and process the signature card, including manually inserting the
fourteen-digit account number for such Shareholder on each such signature card,
scanning such signature card into the Automated Work Distributor system (“AWD”)
and sending the original signature card to United Missouri Bank, N.A. (“UMB”)
for safekeeping;
(ii) Utilize
UMB’s UNITEPlus system for daily settlement with UMB of checks presented against
a Shareholder’s account, transmitting the aggregate settlement amount for all
check presentments on each business day on which UMB is open for business, less
the amount of any check presentments rejected from the prior business
day;
(iii) Utilize
UMB’s systems for review of accounts and processing of items rejected by
UMB;
(iv) In
accordance with Proper Instructions, place stop payment orders on specified
checks utilizing the online systems of UMB;
(v) Provide
information to UMB, on each business day, as to the current collected balance in
specified Shareholder accounts;
(vi) With
respect to checks that are rejected by UMB for reasons other than insufficient
Shareholder account balance, perform the following services each business day,
as applicable:
(A) For
checks with faulty MICR encoding, incorrect formatting (1) perform a search of
the Fund’s records, maintained on Transfer Agent’s recordkeeping systems, for
open Shareholder accounts matching the available identifying Shareholder
information on such check and (x) if no corresponding Shareholder account can be
located, generate and send a report of such item to UMB, (y) if a corresponding
Shareholder account can be located and the account of the Shareholder has a
sufficient balance against which to process such check, instruct UMB to pay such
check and (z) if a corresponding Shareholder account can be located and the
account of the Shareholder does not have a sufficient balance against which to
process such check, instruct UMB to return such check to the Shareholder, (2)
review each item to determine the cause of the rejection and perform the
following additional steps (x) if the cause was incorrect formatting or faulty
MICR data, and the shareholder utilized a third party vendor or software
platform, inform the Shareholder of the problem and advise the Shareholder to
destroy remaining check stock, and, if requested by the Shareholder, order a new
checkbook for such Shareholder and (y) if the cause was due to a check being
written by a Shareholder against a Fund that no longer offers checkwriting
privileges, inform the client of the problem and advise the client to destroy
remaining check stock.
(B) For
checks that are reported as duplicate check entries, (1) if the check can be
viewed on UMB’s on-line system, view the check on-line in order to determine
whether they are duplicative and (x) if not duplicative, confirm whether the
Shareholder’s account has a sufficient balance to honor the check and, if so,
instruct UMB to pay the check, (y) if not duplicative, confirm whether the
Shareholder’s account has a sufficient balance to honor the check and, if not,
instruct UMB to reject the check, and (z) if duplicative, instruct UMB to reject
the check, and (2) if the check cannot be viewed on UMB’s on-line systems,
contact the financial intermediary through which the Shareholder is transacting,
if applicable, or the Shareholder if no financial intermediary is involved, and
verify whether the potentially duplicative check is legitimate and (x) if
verified to be legitimate by either such means, instruct UMB to pay such check
and manually deduct the amount of such check from the Shareholder’s account for
settlement with UMB on the next business day, (y) if the Shareholder or
financial intermediary indicates that the check is forged or fraudulent,
instruct UMB to reject the check and report the matter to the risk management
function within Federated Services Company and (z) if the Shareholder or
financial intermediary cannot be contacted, present the check for further
review.
(vii) With
respect to checks that are rejected by UMB for reasons of insufficient
Shareholder account balance (“NSF Checks”), perform the following services each
business day, as applicable:
(A) With
respect to NSF Checks written by Shareholders whose accounts are maintained (x)
by a broker/dealer that has executed an indemnity in favor of Transfer Agent in
form and substance satisfactory to Transfer Agent (“Brokers”) and (y) by
Federated Securities Corp. (“FSC”):
(1) Compile
a daily list of NSF Checks, sorted by Broker name (including FSC, as
applicable), and transmit such list to the respective Broker (including FSC, as
applicable);
(2) Accept
instructions from such Brokers (including FSC, as applicable) until 12:30 p.m.
(Eastern) on each business day as to the disposition of each such NSF Check (the
“Pay or Bounce Instructions”);
(3) Transmit
all Pay or Bounce Instructions received by 12:30 p.m. (Eastern) on such business
day to UMB by 1:00 p.m. (Eastern) on such business day;
(4) Create
a same day wire purchase, or perform a current day transfer or exchange, in
accordance with instructions specified in each Pay or Bounce Instruction (the
“Deficit True-Up Transaction”), and post this information to the “Trade Pending”
status information field on Transfer Agent’s recordkeeping systems;
(5) Confirm
settlement of each Deficit True-Up Transaction (either receipt of wire or
processing of transfer or exchange);
(6) Create
a checkwriting redemption against the “Trade Pending” status information field
on the Transfer Agent’s recordkeeping systems; and
(7) In
the event that an additional checkwriting check is presented against a
Shareholder account on the date an NSF Check for such Shareholder and with
respect to which the Pay or Bounce Instruction has already been given, submit a
“Resubmittal” report to the applicable Broker (including FSC, as applicable),
indicating the new Shareholder account balance after giving effect to the prior
Pay or Bounce Instruction.
(B) With
respect to NSF Checks written by Shareholders whose accounts are maintained by a
broker/dealer that has not executed an indemnity in favor of Transfer Agent,
instruct UMB to bounce or reject such NSF Check.
|
SCHEDULE
2.2(h)
|
|
DEBIT
CARD SERVICES/ACH TRANSACTIONS
SUPPORT
|
|
(A) Debit
Card Services.
|
(i) Upon
receipt of applications for debit card services, code the appropriate
Shareholder account on Transfer Agent’s recordkeeping systems for debit card
services and process the application, including manually inserting the
fourteen-digit account number for such Shareholder on the application, scanning
such application into the AWD and sending a copy of the application to
UMB;
(ii)
Utilize UMB’s UNITEPlus system for daily settlement with UMB of debit card
transactions presented against a Shareholder’s account, transmitting the
aggregate settlement amount for all such presentments on each business day on
which UMB is open for business;
(iii) Utilize
UMB’s systems for review of accounts and processing of items rejected by
UMB;
(iv) Review
daily reject reports from UMB and make any and all necessary adjustments to
Shareholder accounts.
(B) Automated
Clearing House System (“ACH”) Transactions. Transfer Agent will
provide the following services in support of ACH transactions:
(i) Utilize
UMB’s UNITEPlus system for daily settlement with UMB of ACH transactions
presented against a Shareholder’s account, transmitting the aggregate settlement
amount for all ACH transactions on each business day on which UMB is open for
business, less the amount of any ACH transactions rejected from the prior
business day; and
(iii) Utilize
UMB’s systems for review of accounts and processing of ACH transaction items
rejected by UMB.
It is
recognized that there are electronic alternatives to traditional paper checks,
including those transactions processed through the ACH. The
settlements referred to in (B)(I) and (B)(ii) of this Schedule 2.2(h), together with
any such electronic checks processed as ACH transactions, will be included in
daily settlement amounts communicated between Transfer Agent and UMB under Schedule 2.2(g), and
processing of these transactions will otherwise be handled according to the
terms of such Schedule
2.2(g).
|
SCHEDULE
2.4
|
|
FUNCTIONAL
MATRIX
|
|
See
attached
|
FIRST
AMENDMENT TO
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO TRANSFER AGENCY
AND SERVICE AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) between
each of the Federated Funds set forth on Exhibit A of the Original Agreement
(the “Funds”)
and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the
“Transfer
Agent”) is made and entered into as of the 10th day of October,
2005.
W I T N E
S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Funds and the Transfer
Agent are parties to that certain Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated as
of July 1, 2004 (the “Original
Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Funds and the Transfer
Agent wish to amend the Original Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
premises and mutual covenants herein contained, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Schedule
3.1. The first footnote in Schedule 3.1 of the Original
Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
following:
1. For
all new CUSIPs, the “Per CUSIP Fee” shall be waived for the first six (6) months
after a new CUSIP is established.
2. Original
Agreement. All references in the Original Agreement to the
“Agreement” shall be deemed to be references to the Original Agreement, as
amended hereby.
3. Capitalized
Terms. Terms used as defined terms herein, which are not
otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Original Agreement, as amended hereby.
4. No Other
Amendments. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Original
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its
terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto
have caused this Amendment 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
each of the Federated Funds set forth on Exhibit A of the Original
Agreement
By: /s/ J.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Name: J.
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President
STATE
STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Title: Executive
Vice President
AMENDMENT
TO TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
This
Amendment (the “Amendment”), made as of the 1st day of
January 2008 amends that certain Transfer Agency and service Agreement, date as
of July 1, 2004 (the “Agreement”) by and between each of the entities listed on
the signature pages to the Agreement (the “Funds”) and State Street Bank and
Trust Company (the “Transfer Agent”). Capitalized terms used, but not
otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Funds and the Transfer
Agent are parties to the Agreement under and pursuant to which Transfer Agent
has agreed to perform services as transfer agent, divided disbursing agent and
agent in connection with certain other activities of the Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Funds and the Transfer
Agent wish to amend the Agreement to extend the initial term and to reflect
certain fee reductions and other changes.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual promises set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:
1.
|
Amendments to the
Agreement: The Agreement is hereby amended as
follows:
|
(a) COLA
is waived for the redefined Initial Term, therefore Section 3.5 of the Agreement
is hereby amended by deleting the first phrase of the first sentence and
replacing it with the words “During the initial term”. The second
sentence is amended by deleting the first phrase and replacing it with the words
“Following the initial term”.
(b) The
Initial Term of the Agreement is extended three (3) years, therefore Section
12.1 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting “five (5)” in the first
sentence and replacing with “eight (8)”.
(c) Schedule
3.1 (Fees) is hereby amended by (i) deleting the first footnote in its entirety
and replacing it with the revised footnote below; (ii) deleting the Telephone
Servicing section in its entirety and replacing it with the revised fees below;
and (iii) deleting the third footnote:
“1 The
“Per CUSIP Fee” shall be waived (i) for the first six (6) months from CUSIP
implementation, unless such implementation is a result of a conversion or merger
and (ii) once a closed CUSIP’s tax reporting requirements have been
satisfied.”
“Telephone
Servicing Complex Base Fees2
Years
1-3
|
$2,700,000/year
|
Year
4
|
|
July
1, 2007 -December 31, 2007
|
$1,350,000
|
January
1, 2008 - June 30, 2008
|
$ 801,098
|
Year
5
|
|
July
1, 2008-December 31, 2008
|
$ 801,097
|
January
1, 2009 -June 30, 2009
|
$ 801,097
|
Year
6
|
|
July
1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
|
$ 471,756
|
January
1, 2010 - June 30, 2010
|
$ 471,756
|
Year
7
|
|
July
1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
|
$ 471,756
|
January
1, 2011 - June 30, 2011
|
$ 471,756
|
Year
8
|
|
July
1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
|
$ 471,756
|
January
1, 2012 - June 30, 2012
|
$ 471,756
|
2. No Other
Amendments. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Agreement
shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the terms
thereof.
3. Due
Authorization. Each party hereto represents and warrants that
it has full legal authority, and has obtained all requisite approvals necessary,
to enter into this Amendment. This Amendment constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of each such party, enforceable in accordance with
the terms hereof.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
By
each of the Federated Funds set forth on
|
STATE
STREET BANK AND TRUST
|
Exhibit
A to the Agreement
|
COMPANY
|
By: /s/
Xxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
|
By: /s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxx
X. XxXxxxxxx
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Vice Chairman
|
Title: Executive
Vice President and Secretary
|
SCHEDULE
3.2
OUT-OF-POCKET
EXPENSES
The Fund
shall be responsible for its portion (either based upon actual usage where such
usage can be definitively determined or on an equitably allocated basis where
all Funds enjoy the same benefits) of expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent
for the benefit of the Funds and/or the shareholders of the Funds, including but
not limited to the following: (a) All shareholder recordkeeping
system charges and expenses, including charges for the maintenance and/or
storage of shareholder records, trading information, programming charges and
other shareholder trading and lookup enhancements, including DST’s TA
2000 system, FANWeb, Vision, as in existence on the date hereof, together with
such changes as may be agreed to in writing by the Fund from time to time during
the Term, (b) all costs and expenses for typesetting, printing, processing,
coalating and mailing (including postage and/or courier charges) of documents,
legally required to be delivered to shareholders, that the Transfer Agent is
required to deliver hereunder or that have been requested by shareholders, (c)
costs and expenses related to the provision of customer services to shareholders
in the Trusts and/or financial intermediaries, including but not limited to
phone line charges, datacom charges, facsimile line charges, (d) membership
fees, per CUSIP fees, and costs and expenses charged by the National Securities
Clearing Corporation with respect to trades placed and/or cleared through such
systems, (e) per transaction expenses incurred in connection with wires, ACH
transactions, checkwriting transactions and availability, debit card
transactions and availability, check processing, and escheatment, (f) costs and
expenses associated with printing, mailing, production and replacement of
checkbooks for shareholders electing checkwriting services, (g) costs and
expenses incurred at the specific direction of the Funds or required by a
regulatory organization and other out-of-pocket expenses deemed to be properly
payable by the Fund administrator’s treasury department, (h) professional
services costs and expenses associated with the performance of the annual SAS70
of the Transfer Agent and such other audits, compliance checks and other
professional services required by the Funds to be performed with respect to the
Transfer Agent, and (i) costs of shareholder servicing enhancements,
enhancements specific to trading with a particular financial intermediary with
the purpose of increasing assets in or promoting efficiency in the trading with
a given Fund, systems automation costs and expenses that promote increases in
shareholder servicing and/or processing efficiency or that cause a net reduction
in overall fund expenses.
Schedule
A
to
Transfer Agent and Service Agreement
dated
July 1, 2004
(revised
as of 12/1/08)
Contract
Effective Fund
Name:
Date: Series
Name(if applicable)
7/1/04 Capital
Preservation Fund
Cash Trust Series II:
7/1/04 Treasury
Cash Series II
Cash Trust Series, Inc.
7/1/04 Government
Cash Series
7/1/04 Municipal
Cash Series
7/1/04 Prime
Cash Series
7/1/04 Treasury
Cash Series
7/1/04 Federated
Adjustable Rate Securities Fund
7/1/04 Federated
American Leaders Fund, Inc.
Federated Core Trust:
6/1/08 Federated
Enhanced Duration Active Cash Core Fund
9/1/05 Federated
Inflation-Protected Securities Core Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Mortgage Core Portfolio
7/1/04 High
Yield Bond Portfolio
Federated Core Trust II,
L.P.:
7/1/04 Emerging
Markets Fixed Income Core Fund
3/1/05 Market
Plus Core Fund
Federated Core Trust III:
3/1/08 Federated
Project and Trade Finance Core Fund
Federated Equity Funds:
7/1/04 Federated
Capital Appreciation Fund
12/1/08 Federated
Clover Mid Value Fund
12/1/08 Federated
Clover Small Value Fund
12/1/08 Federated
Clover Value Fund
7/1/04 Federated
InterContinental Fund
3/1/08 Federated
International Strategic Value Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Xxxxxxxx Fund
9/17/07 Federated
Xxxxxxxx Large Cap Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Xxxxxxxx Small Cap Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Market Opportunity Fund
9/1/08 Federated
Prudent Bear Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Mid-Cap Growth Strategies Fund
12/1/04 Federated
Strategic Value Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Equity Income Fund, Inc.
Federated Fixed Income Securities,
Inc.
7/1/04 Federated
Municipal Ultrashort Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Strategic Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
GNMA Trust
7/1/04 Federated
Government Income Securities, Inc.
7/1/04 Federated
High Income Bond Fund, Inc.
7/1/04 Federated
High Yield Trust
Federated Income Securities
Trust:
7/1/04 Federated
Capital Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Fund for U.S. Government Securities
7/1/04 Federated
Intermediate Corporate Bond Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Muni and Stock Advantage Fund
9/1/08 Federated
Prudent Global Income Fund
12/1/05 Federated
Real Return Bond Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Short-Term Income Fund
9/1/06 Federated
Stock and California Muni Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Income Trust
Federated Index Trust:
7/1/04 Federated
Max-Cap Index Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Mid-Cap Index Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Mini-Cap Index Fund
Federated Institutional
Trust:
7/1/04 Federated
Government Ultrashort Duration Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Institutional High Yield Bond Fund
6/1/05 Federated
Intermediate Government/Corporate Fund
Federated Insurance
Series:
7/1/04 Federated
American Leaders Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Capital Appreciation Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Capital Income Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Equity Income Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Fund for U.S. Government Securities II
7/1/04 Federated
High Income Bond Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
International Equity Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Xxxxxxxx Fund II
12/1/05 Federated
Market Opportunity Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Mid-Cap Growth Strategies Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Prime Money Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Quality Bond Fund II
7/1/04 Federated
Intermediate Government Fund, Inc.
Federated International Series,
Inc.:
7/1/04 Federated
International Bond Fund
7/1/04 Federated
International Equity Fund
Federated Investment Series Funds,
Inc.
7/1/04 Federated
Bond Fund
Federated Managed Allocation
Portfolios:
9/1/05 Federated
Balanced Allocation Fund
12/1/05 Federated
Target ETF Fund 2015
12/1/05 Federated
Target ETF Fund 2025
12/1/05 Federated
Target ETF Fund 2035
12/1/05 Federated
Corporate Bond Strategy Portfolio
12/1/05 Federated
High-Yield Strategy Portfolio
12/1/05 Federated
International Bond Strategy Portfolio
12/1/05 Federated
Mortgage Strategy Portfolio
Federated MDT Series:
7/31/06 Federated
MDT All Cap Core Fund
7/31/06 Federated
MDT Balanced Fund
7/31/06 Federated
MDT Large Cap Growth Fund
12/1/07 Federated
MDT Large Cap Value Fund
7/31/06 Federated
MDT Mid Cap Growth Fund
7/31/06 Federated
MDT Small Cap Core Fund
7/31/06 Federated
MDT Small Cap Growth Fund
7/31/06 Federated
MDT Small Cap Value Fund
7/31/06 Federated
MDT Tax Aware/All Cap Core Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Municipal Securities Fund, Inc.
Federated Municipal Securities Income
Trust:
7/1/04 Federated
California Municipal Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Michigan Intermediate Municipal Trust
6/1/06 Federated
Municipal High Yield Advantage Fund
7/1/04 Federated
New York Municipal Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
North Carolina Municipal Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Ohio Municipal Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Pennsylvania Municipal Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Short-Intermediate Duration Municipal Trust
6/1/08 Federated
Stock and Bond Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Stock Trust
7/1/04 Federated
Total Return Government Bond Fund
Federated Total Return Series,
Inc.:
7/1/04 Federated
Mortgage Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Total Return Bond Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Ultrashort Bond Fund
7/1/04 Federated
U.S. Government Bond Fund
7/1/04 Federated
U.S. Government Securities Fund: 1-3 Years
7/1/04 Federated
U.S. Government Securities Fund: 2-5 Years
Federated World Investment Series,
Inc.:
7/1/04 Federated
International High Income Fund
7/1/04 Federated
International Small-Mid Company Fund
7/1/04 Federated
International Value Fund
Intermediate Municipal
Trust:
7/1/04 Federated
Intermediate Municipal Trust
Money Market Obligations
Trust:
7/1/04 Alabama
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Arizona
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Automated
Cash Management Trust
7/1/04 Automated
Government Cash Reserves
7/1/04 Automated
Government Money Trust
7/1/04 California
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Connecticut
Municipal Cash Trust
12/1/04 Federated
Capital Reserves Fund
12/1/04 Federated
Government Reserves Fund
7/1/04 Federated
Master Trust
12/1/04 Federated
Municipal Trust
7/1/04 Federated
Short-Term U.S. Government Trust
7/1/04 Florida
Municipal Cash Trust
Money Market Obligations Trust:
(continued)
7/1/04 Georgia
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Government
Obligations Fund
7/1/04 Government
Obligations Tax-Managed Fund
7/1/04 Liberty
U.S. Government Money Market Trust
7/1/04 Maryland
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Massachusetts
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Michigan
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Minnesota
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Money
Market Management
7/1/04 Municipal
Obligations Fund
7/1/04 New
Jersey Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 New
York Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 North
Carolina Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Ohio
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Pennsylvania
Municipal Cash Trust
7/1/04 Prime
Cash Obligations Fund
7/1/04 Prime
Management Obligations Fund
7/1/04 Prime
Obligations Fund
7/1/04 Prime
Value Obligations Fund
7/1/04 Tax-Free
Instruments Trust
7/1/04 Tax-Free
Obligations Fund
7/1/04 Treasury
Obligations Fund
7/1/04 Trust
for U.S. Treasury Obligations
7/1/04 U.S.
Treasury Cash Reserves
7/1/04 Virginia
Municipal Cash Trust
State
Street Bank and Trust Company
|
By
each of the Federated Funds set forth
On
Schedule A
|
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
By: /s/ Xxxx X.
XxXxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx
|
Name: Xxxx
X. XxXxxxxxx
|
Title: Vice
Chairman
|
Title: Executive
Vice President
|
Date: December
10, 2008
|
Date: December
1, 2008
|