AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT (h) (2)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of August 25, 2009, by and between OOK, Inc., a Maryland Corporation
having its principal office and place of business at One Leadership Square, Suite 200, 211
North Xxxxxxxx, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (the “Fund”) and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New
York banking company having its principal office and place of business at Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (the “Bank”).
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint the Bank as its transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent, and agent in connection with certain other activities, and the Bank
desires to accept such appointment;
WHEREAS, the Fund’s designated agents will issue for purchase and redeem Fund shares
only in aggregations of shares known as “Creation Units” (currently 50,000 shares) (each a
“Creation Unit”) principally in kind;
WHEREAS, The Depository Trust Company, a limited purpose trust company organized under
the laws of the State of New York (“DTC”), or its nominee (Cede & Co.), will be the initial
record or registered owner (the “Shareholder”) of all shares;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
I. Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Bank
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Fund hereby
employs and appoints the Bank to act as, and the Bank agrees to act as its transfer agent
for the authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest, no par value per share of the
Fund (“Shares”), and as the Fund’s dividend disbursing agent.
1.2 The Bank agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with the terms and conditions of the form of Participant Agreement,
attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Bank shall:
Perform and facilitate the performance of purchases and redemption of Creation Units;
(ii) Prepare and transmit by means of DTC’s book-entry system payments for dividends
and distributions declared by the Fund;
(iii) Maintain the record of the name and address of the Shareholder and the number of
Shares issued by the Fund and held by the Shareholder,
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(iv) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain a record of the total number
of Shares of the Fund, and, which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Fund.
The Bank shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor the
issuance of such Shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue or sale of
such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(v) Prepare and transmit to the Fund and to any applicable securities exchange (as
specified to the Bank by the Fund) information with respect to purchases and redemptions of
Shares;
(vi) On days that the Fund may accept orders for purchases or redemptions, calculate and
transmit to the Bank and the Fund the number of outstanding Shares;
(vii) On days that the Fund may accept orders for purchases or redemptions (pursuant to
the Participant Agreement), transmit to the Bank, the Fund and DTC the amount of Shares
purchased on such day;
(viii) Confirm to DTC the number of Shares issued to the Shareholder, as DTC may
reasonably request;
(ix) Prepare and deliver other reports, information and documents to DTC as DTC may
reasonably request;
(x) Extend the voting rights to the Shareholder and/or beneficial owners of Shares in
accordance with the policies and procedures of DTC for book-entry only securities;
(xi) Maintain those books and records of the Fund specified by the Fund in Schedule A
attached hereto; and
(xii) Prepare a monthly report of all purchases and redemptions during such month on a
gross transaction basis. The monthly report shall show the counterpart and amount of each
purchase on a daily basis net number of Shares either redeemed or created for such Business
Day.
(b) In addition to and neither in lieu nor in contravention of the services set forth in
the above paragraph (a), the Bank shall: perform the customary services of a transfer agent
and dividend disbursing agent including but not limited to: maintaining the account of the
Shareholder, obtaining a list of DTC participants holding interests in the Global Certificate
at the request of the Fund, mailing proxy materials, shareholder reports and prospectuses to
the Shareholder or DTC participants or beneficial owners of Shares at the request of the Fund
and those services set forth on Schedule A attached hereto.
(c) If the Shares are represented by individual Certificates, the Bank shall perform the
services agreed to in writing by the Bank and the Fund.
(d) The Bank shall provide additional services (if any) on behalf of the Fund (i.e.,
escheatment services) which may be agreed upon in writing between the Fund and the Bank.
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2. Fees and Expenses
2.1 The Bank shall receive such consideration for the Transfer Agent’s services provided
pursuant to this Agreement as may be agreed to from time to time in a written fee schedule
approved by the parties and attached hereto.
2.2 In addition to the fee paid under Section 2.1 above, the Fund agrees to reimburse
the Bank for out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to confirmation production,
postage, forms, telephone, microfilm, microfiche, tabulating proxies, records storage, or
advances incurred by the Bank for the items set out from time-to-time in the written fee
schedule approved by the parties and attached hereto or relating to dividend distributions
and reports (whereas all expenses related to creations and redemptions of Fund securities
shall be borne by the relevant authorized participant in such creations and redemptions). In
addition, any other expenses incurred by the Bank at the request or with the consent of the
Fund, will be reimbursed by the Fund.
2.3 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within ten business days
following the receipt of the respective billing notice accompanied by supporting
documentation, as appropriate. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and
other mailings to all shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the Bank by the Fund at least
seven (7) days prior to the mailing date of such materials.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Bank 3.1
The Bank represents and warrants to the Fund that:
It is a banking company duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of New York.
It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of New York.
It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-Laws to act as transfer
agent and dividend disbursing agent and to enter into and perform this Agreement.
All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and
perform this Agreement.
It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and
personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Fund 4.1
The Fund represents and warrants to the Bank that:
It is a Corporation duly incorporated and existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Maryland.
It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws
to enter into and perform this Agreement.
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All corporate proceedings required by said Articles of Incorporation and By-laws have
been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on behalf of the
Fund is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state securities law
filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund
being offered for sale.
5. [Section Reserved]
6. Indemnification
6.1 The Bank shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall indemnify and hold the
Bank harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees,
payments, expenses and liability (“Losses”) arising out of or attributable to:
(a) All actions of the Bank or its agents or subcontractors required to be taken
pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken without gross negligence, or
willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund’s negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) The breach of any representation or warranty of the Fund hereunder.
(d) The conclusive reliance on or use by the Bank or its agents or subcontractors of
information, records, documents or services which (i) are received by the Bank or its agents
or subcontractors, and (ii) have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Fund or any
other person or firm on behalf of the Fund including but not limited to any previous transfer
agent or registrar.
(e) The conclusive reliance on, or the carrying out by the Bank or its agents or
subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Fund on behalf of the Fund.
(f) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement under the federal
securities laws or regulations or the securities laws or regulations of any state that such
Shares be registered in such state or in violation of any stop order or other determination
or ruling by any federal agency or any state with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares
in such state.
6.2 At any time the Bank may apply to any officer of the Fund for instructions, and may
consult with the Fund’s legal counsel with respect to any matter arising in connection with
the services to be performed by the Bank under this Agreement, and the Bank and its agents or
subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken
or omitted by it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such
Fund counsel (except for actions or omissions by Bank taken with gross negligence or willful
misconduct) and shall promptly advise the Fund of such advice or opinion. The Bank, its
agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any paper or
document, reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or
persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records or documents provided the Bank
or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, telex, CRT data entry or other
similar means
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authorized by the Fund, and shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority
of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund.
6.3 The Fund shall not be responsible for, and the Bank shall liable for direct money
damages arising out of or attributable to:
(a) The Bank’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The breach of any representation or warranty of the Bank hereunder.
7. Standard of Care
The Bank shall have no responsibility and shall not be liable for any loss or damage
unless such loss or damage is caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct or that of
its employees, or its breach of any of its representations. In no event shall the Bank be
liable for special, indirect or consequential damages regardless of the form of action and
even if the same were foreseeable.
8. Concerning the Bank
8.1 Bank may enter into subcontracts, agreements and understandings with any BNY
affiliate, whenever and on such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate to
perform its services hereunder. No such subcontract, agreement or understanding shall
discharge Bank from its obligations hereunder.
8.2 Bank shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any written or oral instruction
actually received by Bank and reasonably believed by Bank to be duly authorized and
delivered. Fund agrees to forward to Bank written instructions confirming oral instructions
by the close of business of the same day that such oral instructions are given to Bank. Fund
agrees that the fact that such confirming written instructions are not received or that
contrary written instructions are received by Bank shall in no way affect the validity or
enforceability of transactions authorized by such oral instructions and effected by Bank. If
Fund elects to transmit written instructions through an on-line communication system offered
by Bank, Fund’s use thereof shall be subject to the terms and conditions attached hereto as
Appendix A.
8.3 Bank shall establish and maintain a disaster recovery plan and back-up system at all
times satisfying the requirements of all applicable law, rules, and regulations and which is
reasonable under the circumstances (the “Disaster Recovery Plan and Back-Up System”). Bank
shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by
circumstances beyond its control which are not a result of its negligence, including without
limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances;
sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, transportation,
computer (hardware or software) or communications service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of
civil or military authority; governmental actions; or inability to obtain labor, material,
equipment or transportation, provided that the Bank has established and is maintaining the
Disaster Recovery Plan and BackUp System, or if not, that such delay or failure would have
occurred even if Bank had established and was maintaining the Disaster Recovery Plan and
Back-Up System. Upon the occurrence of
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any such delay or failure Bank shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to resume
performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
8.4 Bank shall have no duties or responsibilities whatsoever except such duties and
responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no covenant or
obligation shall be implied against Bank in connection with this Agreement.
8.5 At any time the Bank may apply to an officer of the Fund written instructions with
respect to any matter arising in connection with the Bank’s duties and obligations under this
Agreement, and the Bank shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by
the Bank in good faith in accordance with such instructions. Such application by the Bank for
instructions from an officer of the Fund may, at the option of the Bank, set forth in writing
any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Bank with respect to its duties
or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be
taken, and the Bank shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in
accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified
therein unless, prior to taking or omitting to take any such action, the Bank has received
written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or
omitted. The Bank may consult counsel to the Fund, at the expense of the Fund, and shall be
fully protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in accordance
with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
8.6 Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Bank shall be
under no duty or obligation to inquire into, and shall not be liable for:
(a) The legality of the issue, sale or transfer of any Shares, the sufficiency of the
amount to be received in connection therewith, or the authority of the Fund to request such
issuance, sale or transfer;
(b) The legality of the purchase of any Shares, the sufficiency of the amount to be paid
in connection therewith, or the authority of the Fund to request such purchase;
(c) The legality of the declaration of any dividend by the Fund, or the legality of the
issue of any Shares in payment of any stock dividend; or
(d) The legality of any recapitalization or readjustment of the Shares.
9. Covenants of the Fund and the Bank
9.1 The Fund shall promptly furnish to the Bank the following:
(a) A copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Fund and all amendments
thereto.
(b) Shares will be transferred upon presentation to the Bank of Shares to its electronic
account at DTC, accompanied by such documents as the Bank deems necessary to evidence the
authority of the person making such transfer, and bearing satisfactory evidence of the
payment of applicable stock transfer taxes, if any. In the case of small estates where no
administration is contemplated, the Bank may, when furnished with an appropriate surety bond,
and without further approval of the Fund, transfer Shares registered in the name of the
decedent
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where the current market value of the Shares being transferred does not exceed such amount
as may from time to time be prescribed by the various states. The Bank reserves the right to
refuse to transfer Shares until it is satisfied that the endorsements on documents submitted
to it are valid and genuine, and for that purpose it may require, unless otherwise
instructed by an Officer of the Fund, a guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor
institution” meeting the requirements of the Bank, which requirements include membership or
participation in STAMP or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by
the Bank in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Bank also reserves the right to refuse to
transfer Shares until it is satisfied that the requested transfer is legally authorized, and
it shall incur no liability for the refusal in good faith to make transfers which the Bank,
in its judgment, deems improper or unauthorized, or until it is satisfied that there is no
basis to any claims adverse to such transfer. The Bank may, in effecting transfers of
Shares, rely upon those provisions of the Uniform Act for the Simplification of Fiduciary
Security Transfers or the Uniform Commercial Code, as the same may be amended from time to
time, applicable to the transfer of securities, and the Fund shall indemnify the Bank for
any act done or omitted by it in good faith in reliance upon such laws.
(c) The Bank assumes no responsibility with respect to the transfer of restricted
securities where counsel for the Fund advises that such transfer may be properly effected.
9.2 [Section Reserved]
9.3 Prior to the issuance of any additional Shares pursuant to stock dividends, stock
splits or otherwise, and prior to any reduction in the number of Shares outstanding, the
Fund shall deliver, if requested by the Bank, the following documents to the Bank:
(a) A certified copy of the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Fund
authorizing such issuance of additional Shares of the Fund or such reduction, as the case
may be;
(b) A certified copy of the order or consent of each governmental or regulatory
authority required by law as a prerequisite to the issuance or reduction of such Shares, as
the case may be, and an opinion of counsel for the Fund that no other order or consent is
required; and
(c) An opinion of counsel for the Fund, in a form satisfactory to the Bank, with
respect to (i) the validity of the Shares, the obtaining of all necessary governmental
consents, whether such Shares are fully paid and non-assessable and the status of such
Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and any other applicable federal law or regulations (i.e., if subject to
registration, that they have been registered and that the Registration Statement has become
effective or, if exempt, the specific grounds therefore), (ii) the status of the Fund with
regard to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and (iii) the due and proper
listing of the Shares on all applicable securities exchanges; and
9.4 The Bank agrees that all records prepared or maintained by the Bank relating to the
services to be performed by the Bank hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be
preserved, maintained and made available upon reasonable request, and will be surrendered
promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.
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9.5 The Bank and the Fund agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining
to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to the
negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain confidential, and shall not be
voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be, or may become required by law,
by administrative or judicial order or by rule.
9.6 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the Shareholder records of
the Fund, the Bank will endeavor to notify the Fund and to secure instructions from an
authorized officer of the Fund as to such inspection. The Bank reserves the right, however,
to exhibit the Shareholder records to any person whenever it is advised by its counsel that
it may be held liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
9.7 The Fund shall. or shall cause a third party to, prepare and file such appropriate
information returns concerning the payment and composition of dividends and capital gain
distributions and tax withholding with the proper Federal, State and local authorities as are
required by law to be filed by the Fund and shall withhold such sums as are required to be
withheld by applicable law.
10. Termination of Agreement
10.1 The term of this Agreement shall be one year commencing upon the date hereof (the
“Initial Term”) and shall automatically renew for additional one year terms unless either
party provides written notice of termination at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of
any one year term or, unless earlier terminated as provided below:
(a) Either party hereto may terminate this Agreement prior to the expiration of the
Initial Term in the event the other party breaches any material provision of this Agreement,
including, without limitation in the case of the Fund, its obligations under Section 2.1,
provided that the non-breaching party gives written notice of such breach to the breaching
party and the breaching party does not cure such violation within 90 days of receipt of such
notice.
(b) The Fund may terminate this Agreement prior to the expiration of the Initial Term
upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice in the event that the Board of Directors
determines to liquidate the Fund and terminate its registration with the Securities and
exchange Commission other than in connection with a merger or acquisition of the Fund.
10.2 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket expenses
associated with the movement of records and material will be borne by the Fund. Additionally,
the Bank reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable expenses associated with such
termination.
10.3 The terms of Article 2 and Article 6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
11. Additional Series
11.1 In the event that the Fund establishes one or more additional series of Shares with
respect to which it desires to have the Bank render services as transfer agent under the
terms
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hereof, it shall so notify the Bank in writing, and if the Bank agrees in writing to provide
such services, such additional issuance shall become Shares hereunder.
12. Assignment
12.1 Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by
either party without the written consent of the other party.
12.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective permitted successors and assigns.
13. Severability and Beneficiaries
13.1 In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected thereby. This Agreement shall
extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and
assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party
without the written consent of the other.
14. Amendment
14.1 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement executed by both
parties.
15. New York Law to Apply
15.1 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the
State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. Fund and Bank
hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state or federal court situated in New York City, New
York in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. Fund hereby irrevocably waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have
to the laying of venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such
proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Fund and Bank
each hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
16. Merger of Agreement
16.1 Except as expressly provided to the contrary from time-to-time in the written fee
schedule approved by the parties and attached hereto, this Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the
subject matter hereof whether oral or written.
17. Limitations of Liability of Directors and Shareholders
17.1 It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the obligations of the Fund hereunder
shall not be binding upon any shareholder, director, officer, employee or agent of the Fund,
personally, but shall bind only the property of the Fund, as provided in its Articles of
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Incorporation and Bylaws. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Fund and neither such authorization nor such execution and delivery shall be deemed to
have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them
personally, but shall bind only the Fund, property of the Fund as provided in its Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws.
18. Counterparts
18.1 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.
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.
OOK, Inc. |
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By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON (the “Bank”) |
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By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
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SCHEDULE A
BOOKS AND RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY BANK
Source Documents requesting Creations and Redemptions
Correspondence/AP Inquiries
Reconciliations, bank statements, copies of canceled checks, cash proofs
Daily/Monthly reconciliation of outstanding units between the Fund and DTC
Net Asset Computation Documentation
Dividend Records
Keep on file copies of year-end Statements and Tax Forms prepared by the Fund’s accountants
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Exhibit A
Form of Participant Agreement