TRANSFER AGENT SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this ____ day of ____,
2000, by and between Allied Assets Advisors Funds, a Delaware business trust
(hereinafter referred to as the "Trust") and Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC,
a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin
(hereinafter referred to as the "FMFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company which is
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to create separate series, each
with its own separate investment portfolio;
WHEREAS, FMFS is a limited liability corporation and, among other
things, is in the business of administering transfer and dividend disbursing
agent functions for the benefit of its customers; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain FMFS to provide transfer and
dividend disbursing agent services to each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit
A attached hereto, (each hereinafter referred to as a "Fund") as may be amended
from time to time.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made,
the Trust and FMFS agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF TRANSFER AGENT
The Trust hereby appoints FMFS as Transfer Agent of the Trust on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and FMFS hereby accepts such
appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this
Agreement in consideration of the compensation provided for herein
2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FMFS
FMFS shall perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent and
dividend disbursing agent, and as relevant, agent in connection with
accumulation, open account or similar plans (including without limitation any
periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program), including but not
limited to:
A. Receive orders for the purchase of shares;
B. Process purchase orders with prompt delivery, where appropriate,
of payment and supporting documentation to the Trust's custodian,
and issue the appropriate number of (i) uncertificated shares
with such uncertificated shares being held in the appropriate
shareholder account or, (ii) certificated shares, if requested by
the shareholder;
C. Arrange for issuance of shares obtained through transfers of
funds from shareholders' accounts at financial institutions and
arrange for the exchange of shares for shares of other eligible
investment companies, when permitted by Prospectus.
D. Process redemption requests received in good order and,
where relevant, deliver appropriate documentation to the
Trust's custodian;
E. Pay monies upon receipt from the Trust's custodian, where
relevant, in accordance with the instructions of redeeming
shareholders;
F. Process transfers of shares in accordance with the shareholder's
instructions;
G. Process exchanges between funds and/or classes of shares of
funds both within the same family of funds and with the Firstar
Money Market Fund, if applicable;
H. Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions
declared by the Trust with respect to the Fund, after deducting
any amount required to be withheld by any applicable laws,
rules and regulations and in accordance with shareholder
instructions;
I. Make changes to shareholder records, including, but not
limited to, address changes in plans (i.e., systematic
withdrawal, automatic investment, dividend reinvestment, etc.);
J. Record the issuance of shares of the Fund and maintain,
pursuant to Rule 17ad-10(e) promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), a record
of the total number of shares of the Fund which are authorized,
issued and outstanding;
K. Prepare shareholder meeting lists and, if applicable, mail,
receive and tabulate proxies;
L. Mail shareholder reports and prospectuses to current
shareholders;
M. Prepare and file U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other
appropriate information returns required with respect to
dividends and distributions for all shareholders;
N. Provide shareholder account information upon request and
prepare and mail confirmations and statements of account to
shareholders for all purchases, redemptions and other
confirmable transactions as agreed upon with the Trust;
O. Mail requests for shareholders' certifications under
penalties of perjury and pay on a timely basis to the
appropriate Federal authorities any taxes to be withheld
on dividends and distributions paid by the Trust, all as
required by applicable Federal tax laws and regulations;
P. Provide a Blue Sky System which will enable the Trust to monitor
the total number of shares of the Fund sold in each state. In
addition, the Trust or its agent, including FMFS, shall identify
to FMFS in writing those transactions and assets to be treated as
exempt from the Blue Sky reporting for each state.
Q. Answer correspondence from shareholders, securities brokers and
others relating to FMFS's duties hereunder and such other
correspondence as may from time to time be mutually agreed upon
between FMFS and the Trust.
3. COMPENSATION
The Trust agrees to pay FMFS for the performance of the duties listed in
this agreement as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto; the fees and
out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to the following: printing,
postage, forms, stationery, record retention (if requested by the Trust),
mailing, insertion, programming (if requested by the Trust), labels, shareholder
lists and proxy expenses.
These fees and reimbursable expenses may be changed from time to time
subject to mutual written agreement between the Trust and FMFS.
The Trust agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within ten
(10) business days following the receipt of the billing notice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to
FMFS shall only be paid out of assets and property of the particular Fund
involved.
4. REPRESENTATIONS OF FMFS
FMFS represents and warrants to the Trust that:
A. It is a limited liability corporation duly organized, existing
and in good standing under the laws of Wisconsin;
B. It is a registered transfer agent under the Exchange Act;
C. It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of
Wisconsin;
D. It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and
bylaws to enter into and perform this Agreement;
E. All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter and perform this Agreement;
F. It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and
obligations under this Agreement; and
G. It will comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, and any
laws, rules, and regulations of governmental authorities having
jurisdiction.
5. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST
The Trust represents and warrants to FMFS that:
A. The Trust is an open-ended non diversified investment company
under the 1940 Act;
B. The Trust is a business trust organized, existing, and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware;
C. The Trust is empowered under applicable laws and by its
Declaration of Trust and Bylaws to enter into and perform this
Agreement;
D. All necessary proceedings required by the Declaration of Trust
have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement;
E. The Trust will comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, and any laws,
rules and regulations of governmental authorities having
jurisdiction; and
F. A registration statement under the Securities Act will be made
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 Trust being offered for
sale.
6. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
FMFS shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement. FMFS shall not be liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with matters
to which this Agreement relates, including losses resulting from mechanical
breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond FMFS's
control, except a loss arising out of or relating to the Agent's refusal or
failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from bad faith,
negligence, or willful misconduct on its part in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if
FMFS has exercised reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless FMFS from and against any
and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities (whether with or
without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature (including reasonable
attorneys' fees) which FMFS may sustain or incur or which may be asserted
against FMFS by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it in performing the services hereunder, except for any and all claims,
demands, losses expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to FMFS's
refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from bad faith,
negligence or from willful misconduct on its part in performance of its duties
under this Agreement, (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in
reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to FMFS by any duly
authorized officer of the Trust (other than FMFS employees), such duly
authorized officer to be included in a list of authorized officers furnished to
FMFS and as amended from time to time in writing by resolution of the Board of
Trustees of the Trust.
FMFS shall indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and against any
and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities (whether with or
without basis in fact or law) of any and every nature (including reasonable
attorneys' fees) which the Trust may sustain or incur or which may be asserted
against the Trust by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be
taken by FMFS as a result of FMFS's refusal or failure to comply with the terms
of this Agreement, its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or
power supplies beyond its control, FMFS shall take all reasonable steps to
minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues
beyond FMFS's control. FMFS will make every reasonable effort to restore any
lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at
the expense of FMFS. FMFS agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable
contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for
emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate
equipment is available. Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled to
inspect FMFS's premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular
business hours of FMFS, upon reasonable notice to FMFS.
Regardless of the above, FMFS reserves the right to reprocess and
correct administrative errors at its own expense.
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section
shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to
indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and
promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question,
and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to
notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation which presents or
appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The
indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim
which may be the subject of this indemnification. In the event that the
indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the
indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee
shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it
shall seek indemnification under this section. The indemnitee shall in no case
confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor
will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor's prior
written consent.
FMFS is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of shareholder
liability as set forth in the Trust's Declaration of Trust and agrees that
obligations assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in
all cases to the Trust and its assets, and if the liability relates to one or
more series, the obligations hereunder shall be limited to the respective assets
of such series. FMFS further agrees that it shall not seek satisfaction of any
such obligation from the shareholder or any individual shareholder of a series
of the Trust, nor from the Trustees or any individual Trustee of the Trust.
7. PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
FMFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and
employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust
all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or
potential shareholders (and clients of said shareholders) and not to use such
records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its
responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and
approval in writing by the Trust, which approval may not be withheld where FMFS
may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply
after being requested to divulge such information by duly constituted
authorities, or when so requested by the Trust.
8. TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and will
continue in effect for a period of three years. This Agreement may be terminated
by either party upon giving ninety (90) days prior written notice to the other
party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties. If the
Trust terminates services before the end of the third year of this Agreement,
the Trust agrees to reimburse FMFS for all concessions and discounted fees
identified in Exhibit A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Trust's Board of Trustees, without penalty,
(i) immediately if FMFS becomes statutorily disqualified from performing it
duties under this Agreement or otherwise is legally prohibited from performing
its duties under this Agreement and (ii) on not less than sixty (60) days
written notice for cause (as defined below).
Termination for "cause" shall mean:
(i) willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, abandonment, or
reckless disregard on the part of FMFS with respect to its obligations
and duties hereunder;
(ii) regulatory, administrative or judicial proceedings against
FMFS that result in a determination that it has violated any
rule, regulation, order or law and that, in the reasonable
judgement of the Trust's Board of Trustees, substantially
impairs the performance of FMFS' obligations and duties
hereunder;
(iii) financial difficulties on the part of FMFS that are evidenced
by the authorization or commencement of, or involvement by way
of pleading, answer, consent, or acquiescence in, a voluntary
or involuntary case under Title 11 of the United States Code,
as from time to time in effect, or any applicable law other
than said Title 11, of any jurisdiction relating to the
liquidation or reorganization of debtors or to the
modification or alteration of the rights of creditors;
(iv) any other circumstance that, in the reasonable judgement of
the Trust's Board of Trustees, substantially impairs the
performance of FMFS' obligations and duties hereunder.
9. AMENDMENT
This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the parties.
10. RECORDS
FMFS shall keep records relating to the services to be performed
hereunder, in the form and manner, and for such period as it may deem advisable
and is agreeable to the Trust but not inconsistent with the rules and
regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31 of
the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the "Investment Company Act"),
and the rules thereunder. FMFS agrees that all such records prepared or
maintained by FMFS relating to the services to be performed by FMFS hereunder
are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made
available with such section and rules of the Investment Company Act and will be
promptly surrendered to the Trust on and in accordance with its request.
11. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin. However,
nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or
any rule or regulation promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.
12. DUTIES IN THE EVENT OF TERMINATION
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any
of FMFS's duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by
written notice to FMFS, FMFS will promptly, upon such termination and at the
expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records,
correspondence, and other data established or maintained by FMFS under this
Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs
from the form in which FMFS has maintained, the Trust shall pay any expenses
associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the
transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance
from FMFS's personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by
such successor.
13. NOTICES
Notices of any kind to be given by either party to the other party
shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered as follows:
Notice to FMFS shall be sent to:
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
and notice to the Trust shall be sent to: with copy to:
Allied Asset Advisors Funds Xxxxx Xxxxxx
000 XxXxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Vedder, Price, Xxxxxxx & Kammholz
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Phone: (000) 000-0000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000 Phone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
14. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party hereto
without the written consent of the other party hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by a duly authorized officer or one or more counterparts as of the day and year
first written above.
ALLIED ASSET ADVISORS FUNDS FIRSTAR MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, LLC
By:______________________________ By: ________________________________
Attest: __________________________ Attest:______________________________
