PRICING SERVICES AGREEMENT
Exhibit (h)(20)
ADMINISTRATION, BOOKKEEPING AND
PRICING SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of September 24, 2018, between ALPS Series Trust, organized as a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and ALPS Fund Services, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“ALPS”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, presently consisting of the series listed in Appendix A (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”);
WHEREAS, Manifold Partners, LLC (the “Adviser”) “is or will be investment adviser to each Fund and is responsible for managing each Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative and management services;
WHEREAS, ALPS provides certain administrative, bookkeeping and pricing services to investment companies; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to appoint ALPS to perform certain administrative, bookkeeping and pricing services for each Fund, and ALPS has indicated its willingness to so act, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows.
| 1. | ALPS Appointment and Duties. |
| (a) | The Trust on behalf of each Fund hereby appoints ALPS to provide the administrative, bookkeeping and pricing services set forth in Appendix B hereto, as amended from time to time, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. ALPS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such specified services. ALPS shall for all purposes be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly authorized in this Agreement, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or each Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of each Fund. The Trust acknowledges that ALPS does not render legal, tax or investment advice and that ALPS is not a registered broker-dealer. |
| (b) | ALPS may employ or associate itself with such person(s) or organization(s) as ALPS believes to be desirable in the performance of its duties hereunder; provided that, in such event, the compensation of such person(s) or organization(s) shall be paid by and be the sole responsibility of ALPS, and the Trust shall bear no cost or obligation with respect thereto; and provided further that ALPS shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement in such event and shall be responsible for all acts of any such person(s) or organization(s) taken in furtherance of this Agreement to the same extent it would be for its own acts. |
| 2. | ALPS Compensation; Expenses. |
| (a) | In consideration for the services to be performed hereunder by ALPS, the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, shall pay ALPS the fees listed in Appendix C hereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, fees billed for the services to be performed by ALPS under this Agreement are based on information provided by the Trust or each Fund’s investment adviser and such fees are subject to renegotiation between the parties to the extent such information is determined by ALPS to be materially different from what each Fund’s investment adviser originally provided to ALPS and/or in cases where ALPS provides services to additional funds as agreed upon and identified in Appendix A. Beginning on the first anniversary date of the Agreement and on each year thereafter, the minimum fees reflected in Appendix C will be subject to an annual cost of living increase based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley area, as published biannually by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or, in the event that publication of such index is terminated, any successor or substitute index, appropriately adjusted, acceptable to all parties. ALPS will provide notice to the Trust of the amount of such cost of living increase prior to its implementation. |
| (b) | ALPS will bear all expenses in connection with the performance of its services under this Agreement, except as otherwise provided herein and in Appendix C. ALPS will not bear any of the costs of Fund personnel. Other Fund expenses incurred shall be borne by each Fund or each Fund’s investment adviser, including, but not limited to, initial organization and offering expenses; litigation expenses; requests from or as otherwise required by any regulatory body concerning a Fund or a Fund’s investment adviser; taxes; costs of preferred shares; listing expenses; expenses related to assistance with any tender offers or repurchase offers (if applicable); transfer agency and custodial expenses; interest; Fund trustee or directors’ fees; brokerage fees and commissions; state and federal registration fees; advisory fees; insurance premiums; fidelity bond premiums; Fund and investment advisory related legal expenses; costs of maintenance of Fund existence; printing and delivery of materials in connection with meetings of the Trust’s trustees; printing and mailing of shareholder reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information, other offering documents, supplements, proxy materials and other communications to shareholders; securities pricing data and expenses in connection with electronic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”); fees and expenses upon termination as provided in Section 15(e) hereof. |
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| 3. | Right to Receive Advice. |
| (a) | Advice of each Fund and Service Providers. If ALPS is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request directions, advice or instructions from the Trust or, as applicable, each Fund’s investment adviser, custodian or other service providers. |
| (b) | Advice of Counsel. If ALPS is in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for the Trust, the Trust’s independent board members, each Fund’s investment adviser or ALPS, at the option of ALPS). |
| (c) | Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions, advice or instructions ALPS receives from the Trust or any service provider and the advice ALPS receives from counsel, ALPS may in its sole discretion rely upon and follow the advice of counsel. ALPS will provide the Trust with prior written notice of its intent to follow advice of counsel that is materially inconsistent with directions, advice or instructions from the Trust. Upon request, ALPS will provide the Trust with a copy of such advice of counsel. |
| 4. | Standard of Care; Limitation of Liability; Indemnification. |
| (a) | ALPS shall be obligated to act in good faith and to exercise commercially reasonable care and diligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. |
| (b) | In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard by ALPS in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities set forth in this Agreement, ALPS and its affiliates, including their respective officers, directors, agents and employees, shall not be liable for, and each Fund agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless such persons from, all taxes, charges, expenses, disbursements, assessments, claims, losses, damages, penalties, actions, suits, judgments and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities arising under applicable federal and state laws) arising directly or indirectly from the following: |
| (i) | the inaccuracy of factual information furnished to ALPS by the Trust or the each Fund’s investment adviser, custodian or other service providers; |
| (ii) | any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates; |
| (iii) | any actions taken on advice of counsel; |
| (iv) | losses, delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, acts of God, action or inaction of civil or military authority, war, terrorism, riot, fire, flood, sabotage, labor disputes, elements of nature or non-performance by a third party; |
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| (v) | ALPS’ reliance on any instruction, direction, notice, instrument or other information that ALPS reasonably believes to be genuine; |
| (vi) | loss of data or service interruptions caused by equipment failure; or |
| (vii) | any other action or omission to act which ALPS takes in connection with the provision of services to the Trust. |
| (c) | ALPS shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, each Fund’s investment adviser and their respective officers, directors, trustees, agents, and employees from and against any and all taxes, charges, expenses, disbursements, assessments, claims, losses, damages, penalties, actions, suits, judgments and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities arising under applicable federal and state laws) arising directly or indirectly from ALPS’ willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities set forth in this Agreement. |
| (d) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither party shall be liable under this Agreement to the other party hereto for any punitive, consequential, special or indirect losses or damages. Any indemnification payable by a party to this Agreement shall be net of insurance maintained by the indemnified party as of the time the claim giving rise to indemnity hereunder is alleged to have arisen to the extent it covers such claim. |
| (e) | In any case in which either party (the “Indemnifying Party”) may be asked to indemnify or hold the other party (the “Indemnified Party”) harmless, the Indemnified Party will notify the Indemnifying Party promptly after identifying any situation which it believes presents or appears likely to present a claim for indemnification against the Indemnifying Party (although the failure to do so shall not prevent recovery by the Indemnified Party) and shall keep the Indemnifying Party advised with respect to all developments concerning such situation. The Indemnifying Party shall have the option to defend the Indemnified Party against any claim which may be the subject of this indemnification, and, in the event that the Indemnifying Party so elects, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party and reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, and thereupon the Indemnifying Party shall take over complete defense of the claim and the Indemnified Party shall sustain no further legal or other expenses in respect of such claim. The Indemnified Party will not confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Indemnifying Party will be asked to provide indemnification, except with the Indemnifying Party’s prior written consent. |
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| 5. | Activities of ALPS. The services of ALPS under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive and ALPS shall be free to render similar services to others. The Trust recognizes that, from time to time, directors, officers and employees of ALPS may serve as directors, officers and employees of other corporations or businesses (including other investment companies) and that such other corporations and businesses may include ALPS as part of their name and that ALPS or its affiliates may enter into administrative, bookkeeping, pricing agreements or other agreements with such other corporations and businesses. |
| 6. | Accounts and Records. The accounts and records maintained by ALPS on behalf of each Fund shall be the property of the Trust. ALPS shall prepare, maintain and preserve such accounts and records as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. ALPS shall surrender such accounts and records to the Trust, in the form in which such accounts and records have been maintained or preserved, promptly upon receipt of instructions from the Trust. The Trust shall have access to such accounts and records at all times during ALPS’ normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by ALPS to the Trust at the Trust’s expense. ALPS shall assist the Trust, each Fund’s independent auditors, or, upon approval of the Trust, any regulatory body, in any requested review of each Fund’s accounts and records and reports by ALPS or its independent accountants concerning its accounting system and internal auditing controls will be open to such entities for audit or inspection upon reasonable request. |
| 7. | Confidential and Proprietary Information. ALPS agrees that it will, on behalf of itself and its officers and employees, treat all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all records and information relative to each Fund’s and its current and former shareholders and other information germane thereto, as confidential and as proprietary information of each Fund. ALPS further agrees that it will not use, sell, transfer or divulge such information or records to any person for any purpose other than performance of its duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing from the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Approval may not be withheld where ALPS may be exposed to civil, regulatory, or criminal proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when requested by the Trust. When requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, ALPS shall use reasonable commercial efforts to request confidential treatment of such information. ALPS shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of records and information relating to each Fund and its current and former shareholders. |
| 8. | Compliance with Rules and Regulations. ALPS shall comply (and to the extent ALPS takes or is required to take action on behalf of each Fund hereunder shall cause each Fund to comply) with all applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders and codes of ethics, as well as all investment restrictions, policies and procedures adopted by the Trust on behalf of each Fund of which ALPS has knowledge (it being understood that ALPS is deemed to have knowledge of all investment restrictions, policies or procedures set out in each Fund’s public filings or otherwise provided to ALPS). Except as set out in this Agreement, ALPS assumes no responsibility for such compliance by the Trust or each Fund. ALPS shall maintain at all times a program reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 0000 Xxx) with respect to the services provided hereunder, and shall provide to the Trust a certification to such effect no less frequently than annually or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Trust. ALPS shall make available its compliance personnel and shall provide at its own expense summaries and other relevant materials relating to such program as reasonably requested by the Trust. |
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Portfolio compliance with: (i) the investment objective and certain policies and restrictions as disclosed in each Fund’s prospectus(es) and statement(s) of additional information, as applicable; and (ii) certain SEC rules and regulations (collectively, “Portfolio Compliance”) is required daily and is the responsibility of each Fund’s investment advisor or sub-advisor, as applicable. ALPS will perform Portfolio Compliance testing (post-trade, daily on a T+2 basis) to test each Fund’s Portfolio Compliance (the “Portfolio Compliance Testing”).
The frequency and nature of the Portfolio Compliance Testing and the methodology and process in accordance with which the Portfolio Compliance Testing are conducted, are mutually agreed to between ALPS and the Trust. ALPS will report violations, if any, to the Trust and the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer as promptly as practicable following discovery.
ALPS independently tests Portfolio Compliance based upon information contained in the source reports received by ALPS’ fund accounting department and supplemental data from certain third-party sources. As such, Portfolio Compliance Testing performed by ALPS is limited by the information contained in the fund accounting source reports and supplemental data from third-party sources. The Trust agrees and acknowledges that ALPS’ performance of the Portfolio Compliance Testing shall not relieve each Fund or each Fund’s investment adviser of their primary day-to-day responsibility for assuring such Portfolio Compliance, including on a pre-trade basis, and ALPS shall not be held liable for any act or omission of each Fund’s investment advisor or sub-advisor, as applicable, with respect to Portfolio Compliance.
| 9. | Representations and Warranties of ALPS. ALPS represents and warrants to the Trust that: |
| (a) | It is duly organized and existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado. |
| (b) | 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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| (c) | All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (d) | It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement in accordance with industry standards. |
| 10. | Representations and Warranties of the Trust. The Trust represents and warrants to ALPS that: |
| (a) | It is a statutory trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and is registered with the SEC as an closed-end management investment company. |
| (b) | It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Declaration of Trust and By-laws (together, the “Organizational Documents”) to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (c) | The Board of Directors or Trustees of the Trust has duly authorized it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (d) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Trust agrees not to make any modifications to its registration statement or adopt any policies which would affect materially the obligations or responsibilities of ALPS hereunder without the prior written approval of ALPS, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
| (e) | The (i) execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Trust does not breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which Trust is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which Trust is subject; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Trust has been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action; and (iii) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by ALPS and Trust, this Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of Trust and each Fund. |
| (f) | The officer position(s) filled by ALPS, to the extent applicable, shall be covered by the Trust’s Directors & Officers/Errors & Omissions Policy (the “Policy”), and the Trust shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that such coverage be (i) reinstated should the Policy be cancelled; (ii) continued after such officer(s) cease to serve as officer(s) of the Trust on substantially the same terms as such coverage is provided for the other persons serving as officers of the Trust after such persons are no longer officers of the Trust; or (iii) continued in the event the Trust merges or terminates, on substantially the same terms as such coverage is continued for the other Trust officers (but, in any event, for a period of no less than six years). The Trust shall provide ALPS with proof of current coverage, including a copy of the Policy, and shall notify ALPS immediately should the Policy be cancelled or terminated. |
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| (g) | The Trust’s officer position(s) filled by ALPS are named officer(s) in the Trust’s corporate resolutions and are subject to the provisions of the Trust’s Organizational Documents regarding indemnification of its officers. |
| 11. | Documents. The Trust has furnished or will furnish, upon request, ALPS with copies of the Trust’s Organizational Documents, advisory agreement, sub-advisory agreement (if applicable), custodian agreement, transfer agency agreement, administration agreement, other service agreements, current prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic Fund reports and all forms relating to any plan, program or service offered by the Trust. The Trust shall furnish, within a reasonable time period, to ALPS a copy of any amendment or supplement to any of the above-mentioned documents. Upon request, the Trust shall furnish promptly to ALPS any additional documents necessary or advisable to perform its functions hereunder. As used in this Agreement the terms “registration statement,” “prospectus” and “statement of additional information” shall mean any registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional information filed by the Trust with the SEC and any amendments and supplements thereto that are filed with the SEC. |
| 12. | Consultation Between the Parties. ALPS and the Trust shall regularly consult with each other regarding ALPS’ performance of its obligations under this Agreement. In connection therewith, the Trust shall submit to ALPS at a reasonable time in advance of filing with the SEC reasonably final copies of any amended or supplemented registration statement (including exhibits) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 1940 Act; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Trust’s right to file at any time such amendments to any registration statement and/or supplements to any prospectus or statement of additional information, of whatever character, as the Trust may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional. |
| 13. | Liaison with Accountants, Custodians and Pricing Services; Assistance with Regulatory Examinations. |
(a) Accountants. ALPS shall act as a liaison with each Fund’s independent public accountants and shall provide account analyses, fiscal year summaries, and such other audit-related schedules as may be requested by each Fund’s independent public accountants or the Trust with respect to the services provided by ALPS hereunder. ALPS shall take all reasonable action in the performance of its duties under this Agreement to assure that the necessary information is made available to such accountants as reasonably requested or required by the Trust.
(b) Pricing Services. ALPS shall utilize one or more pricing services, as directed by the Trust. The Trust shall identify in writing to ALPS the pricing service(s) to be utilized on behalf of the Trust. For those securities where prices are not provided by the pricing service(s), the Trust shall approve, in good faith, the method for determining the fair value of such securities and shall determine or obtain the valuation of the securities in accordance with such method and shall deliver to ALPS the resulting price(s). In the event the Trust desires to provide a price that varies from the price provided by the pricing service(s), the Trust shall promptly notify and supply ALPS with the valuation of any such security on each valuation date. All pricing changes made by the Trust will be provided to ALPS in writing or e-mail and must specifically identify the securities to be changed by security identifier, name of security, new price or rate to be applied, and, if applicable, the time period for which the new price(s) is/are effective.
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(c) Custodians. Each Fund acknowledges that ALPS shall have no responsibility to validate the existence of assets reported by the Fund or the Adviser, and each Fund acknowledges that it is the responsibility of the Fund to validate the existence of assets reported to ALPS. ALPS shall rely, and has no duty to investigate the representations of the Adviser, Fund or custodian.
ALPS shall provide reasonable assistance in connection with any examination of or inquiry related to the Trust by a regulatory authority that includes a review of Trust records maintained by ALPS.
| 14. | Business Continuation Plan. ALPS shall maintain in effect a business continuation plan, and enter into any agreements necessary with appropriate parties making reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment customary in the industry. In the event of equipment failures, ALPS shall, at no additional expense to the Trust, take commercially reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. |
| 15. | Duration and Termination of this Agreement. |
| (a) | Initial Term. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above (the “Start Date”) and shall continue thereafter throughout the period that ends three (3) years after the Start Date (the “Initial Term”). |
| (b) | Renewal Term. If not sooner terminated, this Agreement shall renew at the end of the Initial Term and shall thereafter continue for successive annual periods (each a “Renewal Term” and collectively, with the Initial Term, a “Term”) until terminated by either party upon not less than sixty (60) days’ written notice prior to the expiration of the then current renewal term or for cause pursuant to Section 15(c) hereof. This Agreement may only be terminated upon the end of the then applicable Term or for cause pursuant to Section 15(c) hereof. |
| (c) | Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Trust may terminate this Agreement for cause immediately at any time, without penalty, without default and without the payment of any liquidated damages, upon written notice to ALPS which shall describe the specific details of the circumstances upon which the termination under this Section 15(c) is based. For purposes of this Section 15, “cause” shall mean: |
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| (i) | willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard on the part of ALPS in the performance of its duties, obligations and responsibilities set forth in this Agreement; |
| (ii) | in the event ALPS is no longer permitted to perform its duties, obligations, or responsibilities hereunder pursuant to applicable law, or regulatory, administrative or judicial proceedings against ALPS which result in a determination that ALPS has violated, or has caused the Trust to violate, in any material respect any applicable law, rule, regulation, order or code of ethics, or any material investment restriction, policy or procedure adopted by the Trust on behalf of each Fund of which ALPS had knowledge (it being understood that ALPS is deemed to have knowledge of all investment restrictions, policies or procedures set out in each Fund’s public filings or otherwise provided to ALPS); or |
| (iii) | financial difficulties on the part of ALPS which 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. |
| (d) | Deliveries Upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement, ALPS agrees to cooperate in the orderly transfer of administrative duties and shall deliver to the Trust or as otherwise directed by the Trust (at the expense of the Trust) all records and other documents made or accumulated in the performance of its duties for the Trust hereunder. In the event ALPS gives notice of termination under this Agreement, it will continue to provide the services contemplated hereunder after such termination at the contractual rate for up to 120 days, provided that the Trust uses all reasonable commercial efforts to appoint such replacement on a timely basis. |
| (e) | Fees and Expenses Upon Termination. Should either party exercise its right to terminate, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses or costs associated with the movement of records and material will be borne by the Trust. Additionally, ALPS reserves the right to charge a reasonable fee for services provided in connection with a Fund liquidating or converting to another service provider. |
| (f) | Continuation of Agreement Following Liquidation or Conversion of a Fund. In the event of a Fund liquidating or converting to another service provider, the Agreement shall continue shall continue with respect to the each remaining Fund for the duration of the Term. |
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| 16. | Assignment. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the prior written consent of ALPS, or by ALPS without the prior written consent of the Trust. |
| 17. | Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado and the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. To the extent that the laws of the State of Colorado conflict with the 1940 Act or such rules, the latter shall control. |
| 18. | Names. The obligations of each Fund entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any director, shareholder, representative, or agent thereof are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the directors, shareholders, representatives or agents of each Fund personally, but bind only the property of each Fund listed on Appendix A, and all persons dealing with each Fund must look solely to the property of such Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund or the Trust generally. |
| 19. | Amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement may only be amended by the parties in writing. |
| 20. | Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been given when received or when sent by telex or facsimile, and shall be given to the following addresses (or such other addresses as to which notice is given): |
To ALPS:
ALPS Fund Services, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
Fax: (000) 000-0000
To the Trust:
0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Secretary
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
| 21. | 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. |
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| 22. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that ALPS may embody in one or more separate documents its agreement, if any, with respect to delegated duties and oral instructions. |
| 23. | Severability. Any covenant, provision, agreement or term contained in this Agreement that is prohibited or that is held to be void or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability, without in any way invalidating, effecting or impairing the other provisions hereof. |
| 24. | Survival. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 10(f), 10(g), 15(e), 17, 23 and this Section 24 hereof shall survive termination of this Agreement. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| ALPS SERIES TRUST | |||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. May | ||
| Name: | Xxxxxx X. May | ||
| Title: | President | ||
| ALPS FUND SERVICES, INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
| Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
| Title: | Director | ||
APPENDIX A
LIST OF FUND(S)
American Independence Global Tactical Allocation Fund
American Independence Kansas Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
APPENDIX B
SERVICES
The below services to be performed by ALPS are included in the compensation noted on Appendix B.
Administration
| • | Prepare annual and semi-annual financial statements Utilizing templates for standard layout and printing |
| • | Prepare Forms N-CEN, N-CSR, N-Q and 24f-2 |
| • | Host annual audits |
| • | Calculate monthly SEC standardized total return performance figures |
| • | Prepare required reports for quarterly Board meetings |
| • | Monitor expense ratios |
| • | Maintain budget vs. actual expenses |
| • | Manage fund invoice approval and xxxx payment process |
| • | Assist with placement of Fidelity Bond and E&O insurance |
| • | Coordinate reporting to outside agencies including Morningstar, etc. |
Fund Accounting
| • | Calculate daily NAVs as required by the Trust and in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), SEC Regulation S-X (or any successor regulation) and the Internal Revenue Code |
| • | Transmit net asset values to the advisor, NASDAQ, Transfer Agent & other third parties |
| • | Reconcile cash & investment balances with the custodian with respect to assets reported by the custodian |
| • | Provide data and reports to support preparation of financial statements and filings |
| • | Prepare required Fund Accounting records in accordance with the 1940 Act |
| • | Apply security valuations as directed and determined by each Fund consistent with the Fund’s pricing and valuation policies |
| • | Participate, when requested, in Fair Value Committee meetings as a non-voting member |
Legal Administration
| • | Coordinate annual updates to one prospectus for each Fund and the statement of additional information |
| • | Coordinate standard layout and printing of a Prospectus for each Fund |
| • | File Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q, N-PX and 24f-2 |
| • | Coordinate EDGARization and filing of above-referenced SEC documents |
| • | Prepare, compile and distribute quarterly board meeting materials |
| • | Participate in quarterly board meetings and prepare initial drafts of quarterly meeting minutes |
Compliance Administration
| • | Perform daily prospectus & SAI, SEC investment restriction monitoring |
| • | Provide warning/Alert notification with supporting documentation |
| • | Provide client access to automated compliance testing platform |
| • | Create monthly comprehensive compliance summary reporting |
| • | Calculate section 18 derivative exposure and asset coverage reporting |
| • | Provide quarterly compliance testing certification to Board of Trustees |
Tax Administration
| • | Calculate dividend and capital gain distribution rates |
| • | Prepare ROCSOP and required tax designations for Annual Report |
| • | Prepare and coordinate filing of income and excise tax returns |
| • | Audit firm to sign all returns as paid preparer |
| • | Calculate/monitor book-to-tax differences |
| • | Provide quarterly Subchapter M compliance monitoring and reporting |
| • | Provide tax re-allocation data for shareholder 1099 reporting |
Revisions to, or the addition of new services to the services listed above (including but not limited to new or revised services related to regulatory changes or special projects) shall be subject to additional fees as determined by ALPS.
APPENDIX C
COMPENSATION
[This section redacted.]
