COMPLIANCE CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of this 18th day of August, 2004, and last amended as of the 1st day of April, 2017,by and between HUSSMAN INVESTMENT TRUST (the “Trust”), an Ohio business trust having its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and ULTIMUS FUND SOLUTIONS, LLC (“Ultimus”), a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Ohio and having its principal place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000.
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires that Ultimus perform certain services for the Trust as required by Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 38a-1”); and
WHEREAS, Ultimus is willing to perform such services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises and covenants herein set forth, the parties agree as follows:
1.
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RETENTION OF ULTIMUS.
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The Trust hereby retains Ultimus to provide the Trust with the services as set forth below. Ultimus hereby accepts such retention to perform such duties.
(a) |
Ultimus will provide an individual with the requisite background and familiarity with the Federal Securities Laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1) to serve as the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and to administer the Trust’s policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1. The appointment of the CCO, including the CCO’s compensation and any changes to such compensation, will be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined by the 0000 Xxx) of the Trust. The CCO may be removed at any time by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust.
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(b) |
Ultimus will assist in the preparation and implementation of written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws by the Trust, including policies and procedures that provide for the oversight of compliance by each investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, and transfer agent of the Trust.
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(c) |
No officer, director or employee of Ultimus will directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence the CCO in the performance of his or her duties as CCO. Ultimus may not remove the CCO.
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(d) |
The CCO shall provide at least annually, or more often as the Board of Trustees of the Trust reasonably requests, a written report to the Board that addresses, at a minimum:
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1. |
The operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, and transfer agent of the Trust, and any material changes made to those policies and procedures since the date of the last report; and
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2. |
Each Material Compliance Matter (as defined in Rule 38a-1) that occurred since the date of the last report.
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(e) |
The CCO shall, no less frequently than annually, meet separately with the Trust’s Independent Trustees.
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(f) |
Ultimus shall maintain the following books and records on behalf of the Trust:
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1. |
A copy of the Trust’s Compliance Policies and Procedures adopted by the Trust pursuant to Rule 38a-1 that are in effect, or at any time within the past five years were in effect, in an easily accessible place;
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2. |
Copies of materials provided to the Board of Trustees in connection with their approval under Rule 38a-1, and written reports provided to the Board of Trustees pursuant to paragraph Rule 38a-1 for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the documents were provided, the first two years in an easily accessible place; and
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3. |
Any records documenting the Trust’s annual review pursuant to Rule 38a-1 for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the annual review was conducted, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
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2.
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COMPENSATION.
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Ultimus shall receive compensation for the services to be provided under this Agreement in accordance with, and in the manner set forth in, Schedule A attached hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.
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REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.
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In addition to the fees described in Schedule A attached hereto, Ultimus shall be promptly reimbursed for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in providing services hereunder.
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EFFECTIVE DATE.
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This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.
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TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
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This Agreement may be terminated, without penalty, (i) by the Trust at any time upon written notice to Ultimus, or (ii) by Ultimus upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust.
6.
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STANDARD OF CARE.
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The duties of Ultimus with respect to the services set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement shall be confined to those expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against Ultimus under this Agreement. Ultimus and its personnel shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence and to act in good faith in the performance of services pursuant to this Agreement. Ultimus shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust for any damages arising directly or indirectly out of the failure of Ultimus or its personnel to perform any of the duties or obligations of Ultimus set forth in this Agreement to the extent such damages arise directly or indirectly out of the willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence, or reckless disregard of any obligations and duties on the part of Ultimus or its personnel in providing services pursuant to this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the willful failure of the CCO to report to the Board of Trustees any Material Compliance Matter (as defined in Rule 38a-1) involving the Trust or any investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator or transfer agent of the Trust.
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, Ultimus shall not with respect to services provided pursuant to this Agreement be liable for losses beyond its reasonable control, provided that Ultimus and its personnel have acted in accordance with the standards set forth in the paragraph above. Ultimus may consult with counsel for the Trust with respect to any regulatory or compliance matter relating to the Trust in connection with the services provided by Ultimus hereunder, and Ultimus shall not be liable or accountable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in reliance upon the advice or opinion of such counsel.
7.
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INDEMNIFICATION OF ULTIMUS.
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The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Ultimus from and against any and all actions, suits, claims, losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, payments, expenses and liabilities (including reasonable investigation expenses) (collectively, “Losses”) arising directly or indirectly out of any action or omission of Ultimus in connection with services required to be performed pursuant to Section 1 of this Agreement; provided, that Ultimus and its personnel have acted in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement in the performance thereof; however, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall have no obligation to indemnify or reimburse Ultimus under this Section 7 to the extent that Ultimus is entitled to reimbursement or indemnification for such Losses under any liability insurance policy described in this Agreement or otherwise.
Moreover, Ultimus shall not be indemnified against or held harmless from any Losses arising directly or indirectly out of Ultimus’ or its personnel’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence in the performance of duties, or reckless disregard of obligations and duties in providing the services required to be provided pursuant to Section 1 of this Agreement.
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RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP; RETURN OF RECORDS.
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All records and other data except computer programs and procedures developed to perform services required to be provided by Ultimus are the exclusive property of the Trust and all such records and data will be furnished to the Trust in appropriate form as soon as practicable after termination of this Agreement for any reason. Ultimus may at its option at any time, and shall promptly upon the Trust’s demand, turn over to the Trust and cease to retain Trust files, records and documents created and maintained by Ultimus pursuant to this Agreement which are no longer needed by Ultimus in the performance of its services or for its legal protection. If not so turned over to the Trust, (1) such documents and records will be copied and complete copies shall be delivered to the Trust by Ultimus as soon as reasonably practical, and (2) the original documents and records will be retained by Ultimus for six years from the year of creation. At the end of such six-year period, such records and documents will be turned over to the Trust unless the Trust authorizes in writing the destruction of such records and documents.
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9.
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INSURANCE.
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The Trust shall maintain professional liability insurance coverage that covers the duties and responsibilities of the CCO (who shall be named as an officer of the Trust) in providing the services under this Agreement. The Trust shall notify Ultimus should any of its insurance coverage be canceled or reduced. Such notification shall include the date of change and the reasons therefor. Ultimus shall notify the Trust of any material claims with respect to services performed under this Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance.
10.
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AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT.
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This Agreement, or any term thereof, may be changed or waived only with the written approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
11.
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NOTICES.
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Any notice provided hereunder shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the party required to be served with such notice, at the following address: if to the Trust, at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx; and if to Ultimus, at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000, Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx; or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party pursuant to this Section.
12.
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GOVERNING LAW.
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This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio without giving effect to the provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Ohio, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
13.
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LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
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A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Ohio, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust, and Ultimus shall look only to the assets of the Trust for the satisfaction of such obligations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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President
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ULTIMUS FUND SOLUTIONS, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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Title:
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President
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