FORM OF MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
Exhibit
23H (1)
FORM OF
MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
This
Master Services Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of [ ],
2006,
(the “Effective Date”) between BISYS Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (“BISYS”), an Ohio
corporation having a place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx
00000 and The
Blue
Fund Group (the
“Company”) a Massachusetts Business Trust, having a place of business at 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000.
WHEREAS,
the Company desires that BISYS perform administration, fund accounting and
transfer agency services for the investment portfolios of the Company listed
on
Schedule A to this Agreement, as well as such additional investment portfolios
as hereafter may be established by the Company from time to time (collectively,
the “Funds”);
WHEREAS,
BISYS is willing to perform such services on the terms and conditions set forth
in this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Company and BISYS hereby agree as
follows:
1. |
Retention
of BISYS.
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The
Company hereby retains BISYS to act as administrator, fund accountant and
transfer agent of the Company and the Funds, and to furnish the Company and
the
Funds with administrative, fund accounting and transfer agency services as
set
forth in Sections 2(a) through (c) below. In addition, the Company hereby
appoints BISYS Fund Services, Inc. (“BFI”), an affiliate of BISYS, as the
non-bank trustee/custodian to the XXX Accounts of the Company (as defined in
Section 2(d) below). The Company hereby retains BISYS to provide the non-bank
trustee/custodian services as set forth in Section 2(d) below. BISYS will
perform the services upon the terms set forth in this Agreement and the
Schedules to this Agreement.
BISYS
shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor and,
except as otherwise expressly provided or authorized, shall have no authority
to
act for or represent the Company or Funds in any way, and shall not be deemed
an
agent of the Company or any Funds.
2. |
Services.
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(a) |
Administration
Services.
BISYS shall perform the administrative services set forth in Schedule
B to
this Agreement and, on behalf of the Company, shall investigate,
and
conduct relations with, custodians, depositories, underwriters,
brokers
and dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and persons
in any
other capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable for the Company’s
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1
operations.
BISYS shall provide the Board of Trustees of the Company (the
“Board”)
with such reports regarding the Fund’s investment performance as it may
reasonably request, but shall have no responsibility for supervising
the
performance by any investment adviser or sub-adviser of its
responsibilities. BISYS shall perform such other administration
services,
and furnish such reports, for the Company and each of the Funds
that are
mutually agreed upon by the parties from time to time, for which
the
Company will pay BISYS the amounts agreed upon between them.
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(a) |
Fund
Accounting Services.
BISYS shall perform for the Company the fund accounting services
set forth
in Schedule C to this Agreement. BISYS shall also perform such
special
accounting services, and furnish such reports, for the Company
and the
Funds to the extent agreed upon by the parties from time to time,
for
which the Company will pay BISYS the amounts agreed upon between
them.
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(b) |
Transfer
Agency Services.
BISYS shall perform for the Company the transfer agency services
set forth
in Schedule D to this Agreement. BISYS also agrees to perform
for the
Company such special transfer agency services, and furnish such
reports,
for the Company and the Funds to the extent agreed upon by the
parties
from time to time, for which the Company will pay BISYS the amounts
agreed
upon between them.
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(d) Trustee/Custodian
Services.
(i) |
BFI
has obtained a non-bank Trustee/Custodian Notice of Approval
letter from
the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, dated December
31,
2003. BFI, together with BISYS, has the knowledge and capabilities
to act
as a passive non-bank trustee/custodian of Traditional XXX, Xxxx
XXX, and
SIMPLE XXX accounts offered by the Company (collectively, “XXX Accounts”).
BISYS has the knowledge and capabilities to perform the services
undertaken by BISYS under Schedule D-1.
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(ii) |
BISYS
agrees that BFI shall act as a non-bank trustee/custodian for
the XXX
Accounts and BISYS shall perform the services undertaken by BISYS
under
Schedule D-1, but only as long as (x) BISYS continues to act
as transfer
agent to the Funds and retains all legal qualifications to act
as such and
(y) BFI retains all legal qualifications to act as non-bank
trustee/custodian. In this capacity, BFI will act only as a passive
non-bank trustee (within the meaning of Section 1.408-2(e)(6)(i)(A)
of the
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IRS regulations), and
neither BFI nor
BISYS will have any discretion to direct investments within
any of the XXX
Accounts.
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(iii) |
BISYS
and BFI shall have the right to review and comment upon the plan
agreements and other documentation relating to or affecting its
services
hereunder, and shall have no liability for any modifications
made thereto
without its express written consent. BISYS and BFI may rely upon
the most
recent versions of the plan agreement and such other documentation
provided to it, and shall render its services hereunder in a
manner
consistent with the terms of such plan agreement and such other
documentation.
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(iv) |
In
relation to the XXX Accounts, BISYS will perform the functions
described in Schedule D-1 to this
Agreement.
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BISYS
shall provide the Company with all necessary office space, equipment,
personnel
and facilities (including facilities for shareholders’ and Board meetings) for
handling the affairs of the Company and Funds and such other services
as BISYS
shall, from time to time, reasonably determine to be necessary to perform
its
obligations under this Agreement. In addition, at the request of the
Board,
BISYS shall make reports to the Board concerning the performance of its
obligations hereunder.
BISYS
shall perform such other services for the Company or the Funds that are
mutually
agreed upon by the parties from time to time, for which the Company will
pay
BISYS the amounts agreed upon between them, from time to time. Except
as
explicitly set forth herein, BISYS shall only perform additional services
as are
set forth in an amendment to this Agreement, in consideration of such
fees as
the parties agree.
BISYS
may
use one or more third parties to perform some or all of its obligations
under
this Agreement. BISYS shall be fully responsible for the acts of such
third
parties and shall not be relieved of any of its responsibilities under
this
Agreement by virtue of the use of such third parties.
3.
Allocation of Charges and Expenses.
BISYS
shall furnish at its own expense the executive, supervisory and clerical
personnel necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
BISYS shall
pay all compensation, if any, of officers and trustees of the Company
who are
affiliated persons of BISYS or any affiliated entity of BISYS; provided,
however, that unless otherwise specifically provided, BISYS shall not
be
obligated to pay the compensation of any employee or agent of the Company
(who
is not a BISYS employee) retained by the Board to perform services
on behalf of
the Company.
The
Company assumes and shall pay or cause to be paid all other expenses
of the
Company not otherwise allocated herein, including, without limitation,
organization costs, taxes, expenses for Company legal and auditing
services, the
expenses of preparing
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(including
typesetting), printing and mailing reports, prospectuses, statements
of
additional information, proxy solicitation material and notices to
existing
Shareholders (as defined below), all expenses incurred in connection
with
issuing and redeeming shares of beneficial interest in the Funds (“Shares”), the
cost of custodial services, the cost of initial and ongoing registration
of the
Shares under Federal and state securities laws, fees and out-of-pocket
expenses
of trustees who are not affiliated persons of BISYS or any affiliate
of BISYS
(fees for other “interested trustees” may be paid by parties other than the
Company), insurance, interest, brokerage costs, litigation and other
extraordinary or nonrecurring expenses, and all fees and charges of
investment
advisers.
4. |
Fees
and Expenses.
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(a) |
The
Company shall pay BISYS for the services to be provided by BISYS
under
this Agreement in accordance with, and in the manner set forth
in,
Schedule E to this Agreement. Fees for any additional services
to be
provided by BISYS pursuant to an amendment to any of Schedules
B, C or D
shall be subject to mutual agreement at the time such amendment
is
proposed.
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(b) |
In
addition to paying BISYS the fees set forth in Schedule E, the
Company
agrees to reimburse BISYS for all of its actual out-of-pocket
expenses
reasonably incurred in providing services hereunder, including
without
limitation:
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(i) |
All
direct telephone, telephone transmission and telecopy or other
electronic
transmission expenses incurred in communication with the Company
or the
Company’s investment adviser or custodian, broker-dealers, shareholders
or
others as required for BISYS to perform the services to be provided
hereunder;
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(ii) |
The
cost of microfilm or microfiche of records or other electronic
storage of
Company records and other materials;
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(iii) |
All
freight and other delivery and bonding charges incurred in delivering
materials to and from the Company, its investment advisers and
custodian;
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(iv) |
All
printing, production (including graphics support, copying, and
binding)
and distribution expenses incurred in relation to Board meeting
materials;
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(v) |
Check
and payment processing fees;
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(vi) |
Fulfillment;
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(vii) |
XXX
custody and other related fees;
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(viii) |
NSCC
and related costs;
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(ix) |
Sales
taxes;
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(x) |
Costs
of tax forms;
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(xi) |
Costs
of shareholder correspondence;
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(xii) |
Costs
of tax data services;
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(xiii) |
Costs
of rating agency services;
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(xiv) |
All
out of pocket costs incurred in connection with BISYS’ provision (if
applicable, under Section 23 of this Agreement) of Company officers
and in
connection with administration services, including, without limitation,
travel
and lodging expenses incurred by officers and employees of BISYS
in
connection with attendance at Board meetings and any other meetings
for
which such attendance is requested or agreed upon by the parties;
and
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(xv) |
Any
expenses incurred at the written direction of an officer of the
Company;
provided however, that such officer is not an officer or employee
of BISYS
or its affiliates.
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(c) |
In
addition, BISYS shall be entitled to receive the following miscellaneous
fees and charges:
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(i) |
Ad
hoc reporting fees billed, when mutually
agreed upon, according to applicable rate schedules;
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(ii) |
Fees
for pricing information used in connection with pricing the securities
and
other investments of each Fund, provided that the Fund shall
not be
charged an amount greater than the amount the Fund would be charged
if it
obtained the information directly from the relevant vendor or
vendors,
including costs incurred by BISYS to Fair Value Information Vendors
(as
defined in Schedule C) with respect to the provision of fair
value pricing
information to BISYS for use in valuing the portfolio holdings
of a
specific Fund or Funds that the Company designates as being subject
to
fair value determinations and for which services are to be provided
by
BISYS hereunder (such costs shall be incurred at the discounted
group rate
made available to BISYS clients, if applicable);
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(iii) |
A
fee for managing and overseeing the report, print and mail functions
performed by BISYS using third-party
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vendors, not
to exceed $.04 per page for Board meeting materials, tax forms
and
statements of average cost, and $.03 per page for daily confirmations,
periodic statements, new account letters and maintenance
letters;
fees for programming in connection with creating or changing
the forms of
statements, billed at a mutually agreed upon rate; and costs
for postage,
couriers, stock computer paper, computer disks, statements,
labels,
envelopes, checks, reports, letters, tax forms, proxies, notices
or other
forms of printed material (including the costs of preparing
and printing
all printed materials) which shall be required for the performance
of the
services to be provided hereunder;
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(iv) |
Fees
and expenses associated with providing the “AML Services,” as defined in
Section 23 of this Agreement, and as set forth in further detail
on
Schedule E;
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(v) |
System
development fees, billed at a mutually agreed upon rate as approved
by the
Company, and all systems-related expenses, as agreed upon in
advance,
associated with the provision of special reports and
services;
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(vi) |
Fees
for development of any custom interfaces, billed at a mutually
agreed upon
rate;
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(vii) |
Interactive
Voice Response System fees, charged according to BISYS’ standard rate
schedule,
and applicable to the level of service (e.g., basic, transaction,
premium)
selected; and
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(viii) |
In
the event that BISYS is requested or authorized by the Company
or is
required by governmental regulation, summons, subpoena, investigation,
examination or other legal or regulatory process to produce documents
or
personnel with respect to services provided by BISYS to the Company
or any
Fund, the Company will, so long as BISYS is not the subject of
the
investigation or proceeding in which the information is sought,
pay BISYS
for its professional time (at its standard billing rates) and
reimburse
BISYS for its out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys
fees)
incurred in responding to such requests or
requirements.
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All
rights of compensation under this Agreement for services performed and
for
expense reimbursement and for payment of miscellaneous fees and charges
shall
survive the termination of this Agreement.
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5. |
Effective
Date.
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This
Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date.
6. |
Term;
Liquidated Damages.
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(a) This
Agreement shall continue in effect for an initial term of three years
from the
Effective Date (the “Initial Term”). Thereafter, unless otherwise terminated
pursuant to this Agreement, this Agreement shall be renewed automatically
for
successive one year periods (“Rollover Periods”). This Agreement may be
terminated only (i) by provision of a written notice of non-renewal provided
at
least 90 days prior to the end of the Initial Term or any Rollover Period
(which
notice of non-renewal will cause this Agreement to terminate as of the
end of
the Initial Term or such Rollover Period, as applicable), (ii) by mutual
agreement of the parties, or (iii) for “cause,” as defined below, upon the
provision of 60 days advance written notice by the party alleging cause.
(b) For
purposes of this Section 6, “cause” shall mean (a) a material breach of this
Agreement that has not been remedied within 30 days following written
notice of
such breach from the non-breaching party; (b) a final, unappealable judicial,
regulatory or administrative ruling or order in which the party to be
terminated
has been found guilty of criminal or unethical behavior in the conduct
of its
business; or (c) financial difficulties on the part of the party to be
terminated 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 is 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.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing termination provisions, following any such termination,
in the
event that BISYS in fact continues to perform any one or more of the
services
contemplated by this Agreement (or any Schedule or exhibit to this
Agreement)
with the consent of the Company, the provisions of this Agreement,
including
without limitation the provisions dealing with compensation and indemnification,
shall continue in full force and effect. Fees and out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by BISYS but unpaid by the Company upon such termination shall
be
immediately due and payable upon and notwithstanding such termination.
The
Company shall pay to BISYS, in addition to the fees and expenses provided
in
Sections 3 and 4 of this Agreement, the amount of all of BISYS’ reasonable cash
disbursements in connection with BISYS’ activities in effecting such
termination, including without limitation, the delivery to the Company,
its
investment adviser and/or other parties of the Company’s property, records,
instruments and documents, such amount to be paid on or before the
date of such
termination.
(d) If,
for
any reason other than (i) non-renewal, (ii) mutual agreement of the parties
or
(iii) “cause”, the Company terminates this Agreement, or the Company terminates
BISYS’ services, or BISYS is replaced as service provider to the Company or
some
or all of the Funds, then the Company shall make a one-time cash payment
to
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BISYS,
in
consideration of the fee structure and services to be provided under
this
Agreement, equal to the balance that would be due BISYS for its services
under
this Agreement during the lesser of (x) the balance of the Initial Term
or any
applicable Rollover Period, as the case may be, or (y)12 months, assuming
for
purposes of the calculation of the one-time payment that the fees that
would be
earned by BISYS for each month would be based upon the average fees payable
to
BISYS monthly during the 12 months before the date of the event that
triggers
such payment.
(e) In
the
event that the Company or any Fund is, in part or in whole, liquidated,
dissolved, merged into a third party, acquired by a third party, or involved
in
any other transaction that materially reduces the assets and/or accounts
serviced by BISYS pursuant to this Agreement, the liquidated damages
provision
set forth above shall be applicable.
(f) If
one of
the events described above is partial (e.g., a termination of BISYS as
provider
of some but not all of the services set forth in this Agreement, or a
liquidation of some but not all of the Funds), the liquidated damages
amount
payable by the Company shall be appropriately adjusted on a pro rata
basis.
(g) Any
liquidated damages amount payable to BISYS shall be paid by the Company
on or
before the date of the event that triggers the payment obligation.
(h) The
parties further acknowledge and agree that, upon the occurrence of any
of the
events described above: (i) a determination of actual damages incurred
by BISYS
would be extremely difficult, and (ii) the liquidated damages payment
described
above is intended to adequately compensate BISYS for damages incurred
and is not
intended to constitute any form of penalty.
7. |
Standard
of Care; Force Majeure; Limitation of
Liability.
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(a) BISYS
shall use reasonable professional diligence in the performance of services
under
this Agreement, but shall not be liable to the Company for any action
taken or
omitted by BISYS in the absence of bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence
or
reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties. The duties of
BISYS
shall be confined to those expressly set forth in this Agreement, and
no implied
duties are assumed by or may be asserted against BISYS under this
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, BISYS assumes no responsibility
hereunder, and shall not be liable for, any damage, loss of data, delay
or any
other loss whatsoever caused by events beyond BISYS’ control. Events beyond
BISYS’ control include, without limitation, force majeure events, such as
natural disasters, actions or decrees of governmental bodies, and communication
lines failures that are not the fault of either party. In the event of
force
majeure, computer or other equipment failures or other events beyond
its
control, BISYS shall follow applicable procedures in its disaster recovery
and
business continuity plan and use all commercially reasonable efforts
to minimize
any service interruption.
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(c) BISYS
shall provide the Company, at such times as the Company may reasonably
request,
copies of reports rendered by independent auditors on the internal controls
and
procedures of BISYS relating to the services provided by BISYS under
this
Agreement.
(d) NOTWITHSTANDING
ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT SHALL BISYS,
ITS
AFFILIATES OR ANY OF ITS OR THEIR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS
OR
SUBCONTRACTORS BE LIABLE FOR EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL,
INDIRECT
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST REVENUE, LOST PROFITS, AND LOST
OR
DAMAGED DATA, EACH OF WHICH IS HEREBY EXCLUDED BY AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES WERE FORESEEABLE OR WHETHER A PARTY
HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
8. |
Legal
Advice.
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BISYS
may
notify the Company if BISYS reasonably determines that it is in need
of the
advice of counsel to the Company with regard to BISYS’ responsibilities and
duties pursuant to this Agreement. BISYS may rely upon the advice of
counsel to
the Company; however, this Agreement shall not obligate counsel to
the Company
to render such advice. After so notifying the Company, if BISYS does
not obtain
the advice of counsel to the Company within a reasonable period of
time, BISYS
shall be entitled to seek, receive and act upon advice of legal counsel
of its
reasonable choosing at the reasonable expense of the Company unless
relating to
a matter involving BISYS’ willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless
disregard of BISYS’ responsibilities and duties hereunder. BISYS shall in no
event be liable to the Company or any Fund or any shareholder or beneficial
owner of the Company for any action reasonably taken pursuant to legal
advice
rendered in accordance with this paragraph.
9. |
Instructions
/ Certain Procedures, etc.
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(a) BISYS
shall be protected in acting upon any document that it reasonably believes
to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper person or persons. BISYS will not be held to have notice
of any
change of authority of any officers, employees or agents of the Company
until
receipt of actual notice thereof from the Company.
(b) Subject
to Section 23(b) of this Agreement, whenever BISYS is requested or
authorized to
take action hereunder pursuant to instructions from a shareholder,
or a properly
authorized agent of a shareholder (“shareholder’s agent”), concerning an account
in a Fund, BISYS shall be entitled to rely upon any certificate, letter
or other
instrument or communication (including electronic mail), reasonably
believed by
BISYS to be genuine and to have been properly made, signed or authorized
by an
officer or other authorized agent of the Company or by the shareholder
or
shareholder’s agent, as the case may be, and shall be entitled to receive as
conclusive proof of any fact or matter required to be ascertained by
it
hereunder a certificate signed by an officer of the Company or any
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other
person authorized by the Board or by the shareholder or shareholder’s agent, as
the case may be.
(c) As
to the
services to be provided hereunder, BISYS may rely conclusively upon the
terms of
the relevant then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
of
the Company, to the extent that such services are described therein unless
BISYS
receives written instructions to the contrary in a timely manner from
the
Company.
(d) The
parties may amend any procedures adopted, approved or set forth herein
by
written agreement as may be appropriate or practical under the circumstances,
and BISYS may reasonably assume that any special procedure which has
been
approved by an executive officer of the Company (other than an officer
or
employee of BISYS or its affiliates) does not conflict with or violate
any
requirements of the Company’s Charter, By-Laws or then-current
Prospectus.
(e) The
Company acknowledges receipt of a copy of BISYS’ policy related to the
acceptance of trades for prior day processing (the “BISYS As-of Trading
Policy”). BISYS may amend the BISYS As-of Trading Policy from time to time
in
its sole discretion, but will provide prompt notice to the Company
of such
amendment. BISYS may apply the BISYS As-of Trading Policy whenever
applicable,
unless BISYS agrees in writing to process trades according to such
other as-of
trading policy as may be adopted by the Company and furnished to BISYS
by the
Company.
(f) The
Company acknowledges and agrees that deviations from BISYS’ written transfer
agent compliance procedures may involve a substantial risk of loss. In
the event
an authorized representative of the Company (other than an officer or
employee
of BISYS or its affiliates) requests that an exception be made from any
written
compliance or transfer agency procedures adopted by BISYS, or any requirements
of the AML Program (as defined in Section 16 of this Agreement), BISYS
may in
its sole discretion determine whether to permit such exception. In the
event
BISYS determines to permit such exception, the same shall become effective
when
set forth in a written instrument executed by an authorized representative of
the Company (other than an officer or employee of BISYS or its affiliates)
and
delivered to BISYS (an “Exception”); provided that an Exception concerning the
requirements of the Company’s AML Program shall also be authorized by the
Company’s AML Compliance Officer (as defined in Section 16 of this Agreement).
An Exception shall be deemed to remain effective until the relevant instrument
expires according to its terms (or if no expiration date is stated, until
BISYS
receives written notice from the Company that such instrument has been
terminated and the Exception is no longer in effect). Notwithstanding
any
provision in this Agreement that expressly or by implication provides
to the
contrary, as long as BISYS acts in good faith, BISYS shall have no liability
for
any loss, liability, expenses or damages to the Company resulting from
the
Exception, and the Company shall indemnify BISYS and hold BISYS harmless
from
any loss, liability, expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) and
damages
resulting to BISYS therefrom.
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(g) The
Company instructs and authorizes BISYS to provide information pertaining
to the
Funds’ investments to Fair Value Information Vendors (as defined in Schedule
C)
in connection with the fair value determinations made under the Company’s
Valuation Procedures (as defined in Schedule C) and other legitimate
purposes
related to the services to be provided hereunder. The Company acknowledges
that
while BISYS’ services related to fair value pricing are intended to assist the
Company and its Board in its obligations to price and monitor pricing
of Fund
investments, BISYS does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or
appropriateness of pricing information or methodologies, including any
fair
value pricing information or adjustment factors.
10. |
Indemnification.
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(a) The
Company shall indemnify and hold harmless BISYS, BFI, and their employees,
agents, directors, officers and nominees from and against any claims,
demands,
actions, suits, judgments, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, charges,
counsel
fees and other expenses including reasonable investigation expenses
(collectively, “Losses”) resulting directly and proximately from BFI’s
appointment as non-bank trustee/custodian, BISYS’ performance of services under
this Agreement or based, if applicable, upon BISYS’ or BFI’s reasonable reliance
on information, records, instructions or requests pertaining to services
hereunder, that are given or made to BISYS or BFI by the Company, the
investment
adviser, or other authorized agents of the Company; provided that this
indemnification shall not apply to actions or omissions of BISYS or BFI
involving bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence or reckless disregard
by
BISYS or BFI of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.
(b) BISYS
shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Company, and its trustees, officers,
agents and nominees harmless from and against Losses resulting directly
and
proximately from BISYS’ willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the
performance of, or the reckless disregard of, its duties or obligations
hereunder; provided that this indemnification shall not apply to actions
or
omissions of the Company involving bad faith, willful misfeasance, negligence
or
reckless disregard by the Company of its obligations and duties.
(c) In
order
that the indemnification provisions contained herein shall apply, if
in any case
a party may be asked to indemnify or hold the other party harmless, the
other
party shall fully and promptly advise the indemnifying party in writing
of all
pertinent facts concerning the situation in question. The party seeking
indemnification will use all reasonable care to identify and notify the
indemnifying party in writing promptly concerning any situation which
presents
or appears likely to present the probability of such a claim for indemnification
against the indemnifying party, but failure to do so in good faith shall
not
affect the rights hereunder except to the extent the indemnifying party
is
materially prejudiced thereby. As to any matter eligible for indemnification,
an
indemnified party shall act reasonably and in accordance with good faith
business judgment and shall not effect any settlement or confess judgment
without the consent of the indemnifying party, which consent shall not
be
withheld or delayed unreasonably.
11
(d) The
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in at its own expense
or, if
it so elects, to assume the defense of any claim or suit subject to this
indemnity provision. If the indemnifying party elects to assume the defense
of
any such claim, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it
and
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. In the event that the
indemnifying party elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain
counsel,
the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional
counsel
retained by it. An indemnifying party shall not effect any settlement
without
the consent of the indemnified party (which shall not be withheld or
delayed
unreasonably by the indemnified party) unless such settlement imposes
no
liability, responsibility or other obligation upon the indemnified party
and
relieves it of all fault. If the indemnifying party does not elect to
assume the
defense of suit, it will reimburse the indemnified party for the reasonable
fees
and expenses of counsel retained by the indemnified party and reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnifying party. The indemnity and defense provisions
set
forth herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
(e) The
provisions of this Section 10 are subject to the provisions of Section
9 and
Section 23(c) of this Agreement.
11. |
Record
Retention and Confidentiality.
|
BISYS
shall keep and maintain on behalf of the Company all books and records
which are
customary or which are required to be kept in connection with BISYS’ services
pursuant to applicable statutes, rules and regulations, including without
limitation Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as
amended (the “1940 Act”). BISYS further agrees that all such books and records
shall be the property of the Company and to make such books and records
available for inspection by the Company at reasonable times or by the
Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) promptly.
BISYS
shall otherwise keep confidential all books and records relating to
the Fund and
its shareholders, except when (i) disclosure is required by law, (ii) BISYS
is advised by counsel that it may incur liability for failure to make
a
disclosure, (iii) BISYS is requested to divulge such information by
duly-constituted authorities or court process, (iv) BISYS is requested
to make a
disclosure by a shareholder or shareholder’s agent with respect to information
concerning an account as to which such shareholder has either a legal
or
beneficial interest and a legal right to such information at such time
consistent with the Company’s Charter, Prospectus and applicable law, or (v) as
requested or authorized by the Company (including pursuant to its policies
and
procedures). BISYS shall provide the Company with reasonable advance
notice of
disclosure pursuant to items (i) - (iii) of the previous sentence,
to the extent
reasonably practicable. The provisions of this Section 11 are subject
to the
provisions of Section 23(b) of this Agreement (Anti-Money Laundering
Provisions).
12. |
Reports.
|
12
BISYS
shall furnish to the Company and to its properly-authorized auditors,
investment
advisers, examiners, distributors, broker-dealers, underwriters, salesmen,
insurance companies and others designated by the Company in writing,
such
reports at such times as are prescribed pursuant to this Agreement
(or schedules
to this Agreement), or as subsequently agreed upon by the parties pursuant
to an
amendment to this Agreement (or schedules to this Agreement). The Company
agrees
to examine each such report or copy provided to it promptly and will
report or
cause to be reported to BISYS any errors or discrepancies therein.
13. |
Rights
of Ownership.
|
All
computer programs, systems and procedures employed or developed by
BISYS, or on
behalf of BISYS by system providers or vendors used by BISYS, to perform
services required to be provided by BISYS under this Agreement are
the property
of BISYS. All records and other data maintained hereunder, excepting
such
computer programs, systems and procedures, are the exclusive property
of the
Company. All such records and other data which is the property of the
Company
shall be furnished to the Company in appropriate form as soon as practicable
after termination of this Agreement for any reason.
14. |
Return
of Records.
|
BISYS
shall
promptly upon the Company’s demand, turn over to the Company and cease to retain
BISYS’ files, records and documents created and maintained by BISYS pursuant
to
this Agreement which are no longer needed by BISYS in the performance
of its
services or for its legal protection. If not so turned over to the Company,
such
documents and records shall be retained by BISYS, at the expense of the
Company,
for six (6) years from the date of creation. At the end of such six-year
period,
such records and documents shall be turned over to the Company unless
the
Company authorizes in writing the destruction of such records and documents.
15. |
Bank
Accounts.
|
BISYS
is
hereby granted such power and authority as may be necessary to establish
one or
more bank accounts for the Company with such bank or banks as are acceptable
to
the Company, as may be necessary or appropriate from time to time in
connection
with the transfer agency services to be performed hereunder. The Company
shall
be deemed to be the customer of such bank or banks for purposes of such
accounts. To the extent that the performance of such services hereunder
shall
require BISYS to disburse amounts from such accounts in payment of dividends,
redemption proceeds or for other purposes hereunder, the Company shall
provide
such bank or banks with all instructions and authorizations necessary
for BISYS
to effect such disbursements.
16. |
Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
|
The
Company represents and warrants to BISYS that:
13
(a) |
It
is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under
the laws of
the jurisdiction of its formation, and has full capacity and
authority to
enter into this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder;
|
(b) |
It
has all necessary authorizations, licenses and permits to carry
out its
business as currently conducted;
|
(c) |
It
is in compliance in all material respects with all laws and regulations
applicable to its business and operations;
|
(d) |
This
Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed
and
delivered by the Company, will constitute a legal, valid and
binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance
with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the
right and
remedies of creditors and secured
parties;
|
(e) |
By
virtue of the Charter, shares of each Fund which are redeemed
by the
Company may be resold by the Company; and
|
(f) |
(i)
The Company has adopted a written anti-money laundering program,
which has
been provided to BISYS pursuant to Section 19 of this Agreement
(the “AML
Program”), and has appointed an officer of the Company as the Company’s
anti-money laundering compliance officer (“AML Compliance Officer”), (ii)
the AML Program and the designation of the AML Officer have been
approved
by the Board, (iii) the delegation of certain services thereunder
to
BISYS, as provided in Section 23 of this Agreement, has been
approved by
the Board, and (iv) the Company will submit any material amendments
to the
AML Program to BISYS for BISYS’ review and consent prior to adoption, in
accordance with Section 21 of this Agreement.
|
17. |
Representations
and Warranties of BISYS.
|
BISYS
represents and warrants to the Company that:
(a) |
It
is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under
the laws of
the state of Ohio, and has full capacity and authority to enter
into this
Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder;
|
(b) |
It
has all necessary authorizations, licenses and permits to carry
out its
business as currently conducted;
|
14
(c) |
It
is, and shall continue to be, in compliance in all material respects
with
all provisions of law applicable to it
in
connection with its services hereunder, including Section 17A(c)
of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);
|
(d) |
The
various procedures and systems which it has
implemented with regard to safekeeping from loss or damage attributable
to
fire, theft or any other cause of the blank checks, records,
and other
data of the Company and BISYS’ equipment, facilities,
and
other property used in the performance of its obligations hereunder
are
reasonable and adequate and that it will make such changes therein
from
time to time as are reasonably required for
the secure performance of its obligations hereunder;
and
|
(e) |
This
Agreement has been duly authorized by BISYS and, when executed
and
delivered by BISYS, will constitute a legal, valid and binding
obligation
of BISYS, enforceable against BISYS in accordance with its terms,
subject
to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
laws of
general application affecting the right and remedies of creditors
and
secured parties.
|
EXCEPT
AS
EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING QUALITY, SUITABILITY,
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE (IRRESPECTIVE
OF
ANY COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE) CONCERNING THE SERVICES
OR ANY
GOODS PROVIDED INCIDENTAL TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
BY BISYS
ARE COMPLETELY DISCLAIMED.
18. |
Insurance.
|
BISYS
shall maintain a fidelity bond covering larceny and embezzlement and
an
insurance policy with respect to directors and officers errors and
omissions
coverage, in amounts that are appropriate in light of its duties and
responsibilities hereunder. Upon the request of the Company, BISYS
shall provide
evidence that coverage is in place. BISYS shall notify the Company
should its
insurance coverage with respect to professional liability or errors
and
omissions coverage be reduced or canceled. Such notification shall
include the
date of cancellation or reduction and the reasons therefore. BISYS
shall notify
the Company promptly of any material claims against it with respect
to services
performed under this Agreement, whether or not they may be covered
by insurance,
and shall notify the Company promptly should the total outstanding
claims made
by BISYS under its insurance coverage materially impair, or threaten
to
materially impair, the adequacy of its coverage.
19. |
Information
to be Furnished by the Company and
Funds.
|
15
The
Company agrees to furnish to BISYS the following, upon BISYS’ request, each as
amended and current as of the Effective Date:
(a) |
A
copy of the Charter and any amendments
thereto;
|
(b) |
A
copy of the Company’s By-laws and any amendments
thereto;
|
(c) |
A
copy of the resolutions of the Board regarding (i) approval of
this
Agreement and authorization of a specified officer of the Company
to
execute and deliver this Agreement and authorization for specified
officers of the Company to instruct BISYS hereunder; and (ii)
authorization of BISYS to act as administrator, fund accountant
and
transfer agent for the Company;
|
(d) |
A
certified list of all officers of the Company, with the Company’s AML
Compliance Officer included among the officers therein, and any
other
persons (who may be associated with the Company or its investment
advisor), together with specimen signatures of those officers
and other
persons who (except as otherwise provided herein to the contrary)
shall be
authorized to instruct BISYS in all
matters;
|
(e) |
Copies
of each of the following documents employed by the
Company:
|
(i) |
Prospectuses
and Statement of Additional Information;
|
(ii) |
Distribution
Agreement; and
|
(iii) |
All
other forms commonly used by the Company or its distributor with
regard to
their relationships and transactions with shareholders of the
Funds.
|
(f) |
A
certificate as to shares of the Company authorized, issued, and
outstanding as of the Effective Date and as to receipt of full
consideration by the Company for all shares
outstanding;
|
(g) |
A
copy of the Company’s written AML Program, including any related policies
and procedures;
|
(h) |
A
copy of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Funds (“Fund DCPs”)
as contemplated in Item 22 of Schedule B;
and
|
(i) |
The
Company’s Valuation Procedures as defined in Schedule
C.
|
20. |
Information
Furnished by BISYS.
|
16
BISYS
agrees to furnish to the Company, upon its request, evidence of the
following:
(a) |
Approval
of this Agreement by BISYS, and authorization of a specified
officer of
BISYS to execute and deliver this
Agreement;
|
(b) |
Authorization
of BISYS to act as Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Administrator
for
the Company;
|
(c) |
The
current BISYS As-of Trading Policy; and
|
(d) |
The
current version of BISYS written polices and procedures with
respect to
its provision on AML Services (as defined in Section 23
below).
|
Upon
request, BISYS shall furnish a copy of the relevant provisions of its
internal
policies on service of employees as executive officers of funds ("BISYS
Policies"), and any material amendments thereto, to the Company.
21. |
Amendments
to Documents.
|
The
Company will provide BISYS with advance notice of any material amendments
to the
items set forth in Section 19 of this Agreement. BISYS will not be responsible
for changing or conforming its services to any such amendments until
BISYS has
reviewed and accepted responsibility for the relevant changes in services.
BISYS
will consider such changes in good faith. In the event that any such
amendment,
or change in laws applicable to the Company would require BISYS to make
specific
changes to its service model, BISYS will use reasonable good faith efforts
to
inform the Company of the changes that would be necessary, and set out
the
estimated costs and estimated implementation timetable for any additional
services. The parties shall then in good faith agree to mutually agreeable
terms
applicable to such additional service. BISYS
shall furnish the Company with written copies of any amendments to, or
changes
in, any of the items referred to in this Section 21.
22. |
Reliance
on Amendments.
|
BISYS
may
rely on any amendments to or changes in any of the documents and other
items to
be provided by the Company pursuant to Sections 19 and 21 of this Agreement
and
the indemnification provisions of Section 10 hereof are applicable to
BISYS’
reasonable reliance upon such amendments and/or changes. Although BISYS
is
authorized to rely on the above-mentioned amendments to and changes in
the
documents and other items to be provided pursuant to Sections 19 and
21 of this
Agreement, in the event the same relate to services provided by BISYS
hereunder,
BISYS shall have no liability for failure to comply with or take any
action in
conformity with such amendments or changes except as provided in Section
21 of
this Agreement or as otherwise agreed upon in writing.
23. |
Compliance
with Laws.
|
17
(a) Prospectus
and Public Offering.
Except
for information which is the obligation of BISYS as set forth in Section
11 of
this Agreement, and except as provided in the services listed in the
schedules
to this Agreement which call for information to be provided by BISYS
for
inclusion in the Prospectus, the Company assumes full responsibility
for the
preparation, contents, and distribution of each Prospectus of the Company
in
compliance with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as
amended (the “1933 Act”), the 1940 Act, and any other laws, rules and
regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction. Subject
to its
obligations herein with respect to “blue sky” filings, BISYS shall have no
obligation to take cognizance hereunder of laws relating to the sale
of the
Funds’ shares. The Company represents and warrants that all shares of the Funds
that are offered to the public are covered by an effective registration
statement under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act.
(b)
Anti-Money
Laundering Provisions.
The
Company acknowledges that it is a financial institution subject to the
law
entitled Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools
Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (“USA PATRIOT”) Act of 2001 and the
Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the “AML Acts”) and shall comply with the AML
Acts and applicable regulations adopted thereunder (collectively, the
“Applicable AML Laws”) in all relevant respects, subject to the delegation of
certain responsibilities to BISYS, as provided in the next paragraph
below.
The
Company hereby delegates to BISYS the performance, on behalf of the Company,
of
the anti-money laundering services set forth under Item 6 of Schedule
D (the
“AML Services”) with respect to the shareholder accounts maintained by BISYS
pursuant to this Agreement, and BISYS agrees to the foregoing delegation
and
agrees to perform such services in accordance with the Company’s AML Program for
the fee set forth on Schedule E to this Agreement. In connection therewith,
BISYS agrees to maintain policies and procedures, and related internal
controls,
that are consistent with the Company’s AML Program and the requirement that the
Company employ procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with
the
Applicable AML Laws. BISYS’ obligations under this delegation shall be subject
to Sections 19 and 21 of this Agreement, which require that the AML Program
and
any material amendments thereto be submitted to BISYS for its review
and consent
prior to adoption.
The
Company agrees and acknowledges that, notwithstanding the delegation
provided
for in the foregoing paragraph, the Company maintains full responsibility
for
ensuring that its AML Program is, and shall continue to be, reasonably
designed
to ensure compliance with the Applicable AML Laws, in light of the particular
business of the Company, taking into account factors such as its size,
location,
activities and risks or vulnerabilities to money laundering.
In
connection with the foregoing delegation, the Company also acknowledges
that the
performance of the AML Services involves the exercise of discretion which
in
certain circumstances may result in consequences to the Company and its
shareholders (such as in the case of the reporting of suspicious activities
and
the freezing of shareholder accounts). In this regard, (i) under circumstances
in which the AML Program authorizes the taking of certain actions, BISYS
is
granted the discretion to take any such action as
18
may
be
authorized under the AML Program, and consultation with Company shall
not be
required in connection therewith unless specifically required under the
AML
Program, and (ii) the Company instructs BISYS that it may avail the Company
of
any safe harbor from civil liability that may be available under Applicable
AML
Laws for making a disclosure or filing a report thereunder.
As
concerns Networked Level III accounts and omnibus accounts, the AML Services
performed by BISYS are subject to a more limited scope, as discussed
in the
Release concerning the final rule of the Department of the Treasury,
31 CFR 103
and of the Commission, 17 CFR 270, entitled Customer Identification Programs
for
Mutual Funds issued on May 9, 2003 and subsequent guidance issued jointly
by
such agencies entitled Question and Answer Regarding the Mutual Fund
Customer
Identification Program Rule (31 CFR 103.131) issued on August 11,
2003.
(c) |
Provision
of Certifying Officers.
|
Subject
to the provisions of this Section 23(c) and Section 23(d) of this Agreement,
BISYS shall make BISYS employees available to the Company to serve, upon
designation as such by the Board, as the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company
or under such other title to perform similar functions (each, a “Certifying
Officer”). BISYS’ obligation in this regard shall be met by providing an
appropriately qualified employee of BISYS (or its affiliates) who, in
the
exercise of his or her duties to the Company, shall act in good faith
and in a
manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company.
BISYS
shall select, and may replace, the specific employee that it makes available
to
serve in the designated capacities as a Certifying Officer, in BISYS'
reasonable
discretion, taking into account each such person's responsibilities concerning,
and familiarity with, the Company's operations (but the designation of
any such
person as a Certifying Officer shall be subject to the approval of the
Company).
The
obligation of BISYS to provide an employee to serve in such capacity
is also
subject to, and conditioned upon, the provisions of Item 19 of Schedule
B to
this Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Section
23(c)
have the respective meanings ascribed to them in Item 19 of Schedule
B.
The
Fund
DCPs shall contain (or the Company and BISYS shall otherwise establish)
mutually
agreeable procedures governing the certification process, and the parties
shall
comply with such procedures in all material respects. Among other things,
the
procedures shall provide as follows:
The
Company shall establish and maintain a Fund DCP Committee comprised of
persons
including (at a minimum) the Company's Principal Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer (“CFO”) and Chief Legal Officer (if any), at least one BISYS
representative other than the CFO or Chief Compliance Officer, (if such
officers
are provided by BISYS), at least one representative of the investment
adviser,
and such other individuals as may be necessary or appropriate for the
Fund DCP
Committee to ensure the cooperation of, and to oversee, each of the Company's
agents that records, processes, summarizes, or reports information contained
in
Company Reports (or other information
19
from
which such information is derived), including BISYS and the Other Service
Providers to the Company, such as the investment adviser and custodian.
In
connection therewith, the Fund DCP Committee shall assist the Certifying
Officers by requiring that sub-certifications acceptable to the Certifying
Officers be provided by the Other Service Providers.
The
Fund
DCP Committee shall meet prior to the filing date of each Report to review
the
accuracy and completeness of the relevant Report and record its considerations
and conclusions in a written memorandum sufficient to support conclusions
pertaining to Fund DCPs as required by the instructions to Form N-CSR
and Form
N-Q. In conducting its review and evaluations, the Fund DCP Committee
shall:
(i) establish
a schedule to ensure that all required disclosures in Form N-CSR and
Form N-Q,
including the financial statements, for the Company are identified and
prepared
in a timeframe sufficient to allow review;
(ii) review
SAS 70 Reports pertaining to BISYS and Other Service Providers, if applicable,
or in the absence of any such reports, consider the adequacy of the
sub-certifications supplied by the service provider. In cases where the
SAS 70
Report is dated more than 90 days prior to the issuance of a Report,
the DCP
Committee shall request a written representation from the service provider
regarding the continued application and effectiveness of internal controls
described in the report, or descriptions of any changes in internal control
structure, as of the date of the representation;
(iii) consider
whether there are any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses
in the
design or operation of the Fund DCPs and internal control over financial
reporting that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process,
summarize, and report financial information, and in the event that any
such
weaknesses or deficiencies are identified, disclose them to the Company’s
Certifying Officers, the Company's audit committee and its
auditors;
(iv) consider
whether, to the knowledge of each member of the Fund DCP Committee, there
has
been or may have been any fraud, whether or not material, and in the
event that
any such occurrence is identified, ensure that this has been disclosed
to the
Certifying Officers, so that Certifying Officers may inform the Company's
audit
committee and its auditors; and
(v) determine
whether there was any change in internal control over financial reporting
that
occurred during the Company’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by the
Report (for Reports on Form N-CSR) or during the most recent fiscal quarter
(for
Reports on Form N-Q) that has materially affected or is reasonably likely
to
materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
A
Certifying Officer shall have the full discretion to decline to certify
a
particular Report that fails to meet the standards set forth in the
Certification, and to report matters
20
involving
fraud or other failures to meet the standards of applicable law to the
audit
committee of the Board.
(d) Additional
Provisions Concerning Executive Officers.
It
is
mutually agreed and acknowledged by the parties that Certifying Officers
provided by BISYS under the provisions of this Section 23 will constitute
executive officers of the Company (“Executive Officers”). The provisions of
Section 23(c) of this Agreement are subject to the internal policies
of BISYS
concerning the activities of its employees and their service as officers
of
funds (the "BISYS Policies"), a copy of which shall be provided to the
Company
upon request.
The
Company's governing documents (including its Agreement and Charter and
By-Laws)
and/or resolutions of the Board shall contain mandatory indemnification
provisions that are applicable to each Executive Officer, that are designed
and
intended to have the effect of fully indemnifying him or her and holding
him or
her harmless with respect to any claims, liabilities and costs arising
out of or
relating to his or her service in good faith in a manner reasonably believed
to
be in the best interests of the Company, except to the extent he or she
would
otherwise be liable to the Company by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of
his or her office.
The
Company shall provide coverage to each Executive Officer under its directors
and
officers liability policy that is appropriate to the Executive Officer's
role
and title, and consistent with coverage applicable to other officers
holding
positions of executive management.
In
appropriate circumstances, each Executive Officer shall have the discretion to
resign from his or her position, in the event that he or she reasonably
determines that there has been or is likely to be (a) a violation of
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx, Applicable AML Laws or other Federal securities laws
applicable
to the Company (the “Applicable Securities Laws”) by the Company, or (b) a
material deviation by the Company from the terms of this Agreement governing
the
services of such Executive Officer, which (in either case) is not primarily
caused by the failure of such Executive Officer or BISYS to meet obligations
under applicable laws and this Agreement. In addition, each Executive
Officer
shall have reasonable discretion to resign from his or her position in
the event
that he or she determines that he or she has not received sufficient
information
or cooperation from the Company or its other service providers to appropriately
perform his or her duties.
Each
Executive Officer may, and the Company shall, promptly notify BISYS of
any
issue, matter or event that would be reasonably likely to result in any
claim by
the Company, the Company's shareholders or any third party which involves
an
allegation that any Executive Officer failed to exercise his or her obligations
to the Company in a manner consistent with applicable laws (including
but not
limited to any claim that a Report failed to meet the standards of
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and other applicable laws).
21
Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement that expressly or by implication provides
to the
contrary, (a) it is expressly agreed and acknowledged that BISYS cannot
ensure
that the Company complies with Applicable AML Laws, the Applicable Securities
Laws or Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx, and (b) whenever an employee or agent of BISYS
serves as
an Executive Officer of the Company, as long as such Executive Officer
acts in
good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests
of
the Company (and would not otherwise be liable to the Company by reason
of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the
duties involved in the conduct of his or her office), the Company shall
indemnify the Executive Officer and BISYS and hold the Executive Officer
and
BISYS harmless from any loss, liability, expenses (including reasonable
attorneys fees) and damages incurred by them arising out of or resulting
to the
service of such Employee/Executive Officer as an Executive Officer of
the
Company.
24. |
Notices.
|
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, or at such other address as such party may from time
to time
specify in writing to the other party pursuant to this Section 24:
If
to the
Company:
The
Blue Fund Group
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: President
If
to
BISYS:
BISYS
Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
President
with
a
copy to:
The
BISYS
Group, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
General Counsel
25. |
Assignment.
|
This
Agreement and the rights and duties hereunder shall not be assignable
by either
of the parties without the prior written consent of the other party;
provided,
however, that either party may assign this Agreement to an affiliate
of such
party without
22
the
need
for such consent. This Section 25 shall not limit or in any way affect
BISYS’
right to use a third party to perform obligations pursuant to Section
2 of this
Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the
benefit
of, the parties and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.
26. |
Governing
Law.
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the
State of New York, without
regard to New York’s conflicts of laws principles,
and the
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the laws of
the State
of New York conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act,
the
applicable provisions of 1940 Act shall control.
27. |
Activities
of BISYS.
|
The
services of BISYS rendered to the Company hereunder are not to be deemed
to be
exclusive. BISYS is free to render such services to others and to have
other
businesses and interests. It is understood that trustees, officers, employees
and Shareholders of the Company and/or Fund are or may be or become interested
in BISYS, as officers, employees or otherwise and that partners, officers
and
employees of BISYS and its counsel are or may be or become similarly
interested
in the Company and/or Fund, and that BISYS may be or become interested
in the
Company and/or Fund as a shareholder or otherwise.
28. |
Privacy.
|
Nonpublic
personal financial information relating to consumers or customers of
the Company
provided by, or at the direction of the Company to BISYS, or collected
or
retained by BISYS in the course of performing its duties as transfer
agent,
shall be considered confidential information. BISYS shall not give,
sell or in
any way transfer such confidential information to any person or entity,
other
than affiliates of BISYS involved in servicing the Company except at
the
direction of the Company or as required or permitted by law (including
Applicable AML Laws). BISYS represents, warrants and agrees that it
has in place
and will 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
consumers or customers of the Company. The Company represents to BISYS
that it
has adopted a Statement of its privacy policies and practices as required
by the
Commission’s Regulation S-P and agrees to provide BISYS with a copy of that
statement annually.
29. |
Miscellaneous.
|
(a) |
Paragraph
headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only
and are not
to be used to construe or interpret this
Agreement.
|
23
(b) |
This
Agreement constitutes the complete agreement of the parties as
to the
subject matter covered by this Agreement, and supersedes all
prior
negotiations, understandings and agreements bearing upon the
subject
matter covered herein.
|
(c) |
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be an
original but all of which, taken together, shall constitute one
and the
same agreement.
|
(d) |
No
amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing
and
executed by both parties.
|
(e) |
If
any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal,
in
conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion
or
portions shall be considered severable and not be affected,
and the rights
and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced
as if this Agreement did not contain such part, term or
provision.
|
[Signature
page follows.]
24
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed
all
as of the date first above written.
The
Blue Fund Group
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
BISYS
Fund Services Ohio, Inc.
By:
_______________________
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
President
25
SCHEDULE
A
TO
THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN
BISYS
FUND SERVICES OHIO, INC.
AND THE BLUE FUND GROUP
FUNDS
The
Blue
Fund
26
SCHEDULE
B
TO
THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN
BISYS
FUND SERVICES OHIO, INC. AND THE BLUE FUND GROUP
Administration Services
1. |
Calculate
contractual Fund expenses
and make
and control
all disbursements for the Funds, subject to review and approval
of an
officer of the Company or other authorized person (designated
on the list
of authorized persons approved by the Board), including administration
of
trustee
and vendor fees and
compensation on behalf of the Company, and as
appropriate;
|
2. |
Prepare,
subject to review by counsel to the Company: (i) the annual update
to the
Company’s registration statement on Form N-1A, and (ii) supplements to
its
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information; and file
any of the
foregoing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) upon the
request of the Company or counsel to the
Company;
|
3. |
Coordinate
and prepare, with the assistance and approval of the Funds’ investment
adviser,
counsel
and officers, drafts
of
communications to shareholders of record of the Funds (“Shareholders”),
including the annual report to Shareholders; prepare drafts of
the
certified semi-annual report for each Fund; prepare and file
the final
certified versions thereof on Form N-CSR; prepare and file the
Fund’s Form
N-SAR; and file all required notices pursuant to Rule
24f-2;
|
4. |
Coordinate
the distribution of prospectuses, supplements, proxy materials
and reports
to Shareholders; and coordinate the solicitation and tabulation
of proxies
(including the annual meeting of Shareholders each year, if one
is held);
|
5. |
Administer
contracts on behalf of the Company with, among others, the Company’s
investment adviser, distributor, custodian, transfer agent and
fund
accountant;
|
6. |
Coordinate
with the Company’s transfer agent with respect to the payment of dividends
and other distributions to Shareholders;
|
7. |
Calculate
performance data of the Funds for dissemination to up to 15 information
services covering the investment company industry;
|
8. |
Prepare
and file the Company’s tax returns;
|
27
9. |
Assist
with the layout and printing of prospectuses and assist with
and
coordinate layout and printing of the Funds’ semi-annual and annual
reports to Shareholders;
|
10. |
Assist
with the design, development, and operation of the Funds, including
new
portfolios or classes, investment objectives, policies and structure,
and
provide consultation related to legal and regulatory aspects
of the
establishment, maintenance, and liquidation or dissolution of
Funds;
|
11. |
Make
available appropriate individuals to serve as officers of the
Company (to
serve only in ministerial or administrative capacities relevant
to BISYS’ services hereunder, except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement),
upon
designation as such by the Board;
|
12. |
Obtain
and maintain fidelity bonds and directors and officers/errors
and
omissions insurance policies for the Company in accordance
with Rules 17g-1 and 17d-1 under this 1940 Act at the expense
(except as otherwise provided in this Agreement)
of
the Company and Funds and
file the fidelity bonds and any notices with the SEC as required
under the
1940 Act, to the extent such bonds and policies are approved
by the
Board;
|
13. |
Monitor
and advise the Company and its Funds on their regulated investment
company
status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In
connection
with the foregoing, prepare and send quarterly reminder letters
related to
such status, and prepare quarterly compliance checklist for use
by
investment adviser(s) if requested;
|
14. |
Maintain
corporate records on behalf of the Company, including, but not
limited to,
minute books, the Charter of the Company and By-Laws for the
Company;
|
15. |
Assist
the Company in developing portfolio
compliance procedures for each Fund, and provide daily
and periodic compliance
monitoring services incorporating certain of those procedures,
which will
include, among other matters, compliance with
investment restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act,
each Fund’s investment objective, defined investment policies, and
restrictions, tax diversification, and distribution and income
requirements, provided such are determinable based upon the Fund’s
accounting records. In connection with the foregoing, review
quarterly
compliance reports that are prepared by the investment adviser(s),
if any,
and notify appropriate Fund officers and advisor of xxxx-to-market
issues
pursuant to Board-approved procedures. BISYS will also provide
the Board
with quarterly results of compliance
reviews;
|
16. |
Provide
assistance and guidance to the Company with respect to matters
governed by
or related to regulatory requirements and developments including:
monitoring regulatory and legislative developments which may
|
28
affect the Company, and
assisting in
strategic planning in response thereto; assisting the Company
and
providing on-site personnel in
responding
to
and providing documents for routine regulatory examinations
or
investigations; and coordinating with and taking instructions
from counsel
to the Company in response to such routine or non-routine regulatory
matters. The assistance to be provided with respect to SEC
inspections
includes (i) rendering advice regarding proposed responses
(ii) compiling
data and other information in response to SEC requests for
information and
(iii) communicating with Fund management and portfolio managers
to provide
status updates. In addition, BISYS will provide appropriate
assistance
with respect to audits conducted by the Funds’ independent auditors
including compiling data and other information as necessary;
|
17. |
Manage
the preparation for Board meetings by (i) coordinating Board
book
preparation, production and distribution, (ii) subject to review
and
approval by the Company and its counsel, preparing Board agendas,
resolutions and minutes, (iii) preparing the relevant sections
of the
Board materials required
to be prepared by BISYS,
(iv) assisting to gather and coordinate special materials related
to
annual contract renewals and approval of Rule 12b-1 for and as
directed by
the trustees or fund counsel plans and related matters, (v) attending
Board meetings and recording the minutes, and (vi) performing
such other
Board meeting functions as shall be agreed by the parties in
writing;
|
18. |
Furnish
advice and recommendations with respect to other aspects of the
business
and affairs of the Funds as the Company shall request and the
parties
shall agree in writing; and
|
19. |
Assist
the Company in connection with its obligations under Sections
302 and 906
of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and Rules 30a-2 and Rule 30a-3
under the
1940 Act (collectively, with such other related regulatory provisions
applicable to the Company, "Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx"), BISYS will internally
establish and maintain controls and procedures ("BISYS internal
controls")
designed to ensure that information recorded, processed, summarized,
or
reported by BISYS and its affiliates on behalf of the Company
and included
in financial information certified by Company officers (“Certifying
Officers”) on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q ("Reports") is (a) recorded,
processed, summarized, and reported by BISYS within the time
periods
specified in the SEC's rules and forms and corresponding disclosure
controls and procedures of the Funds ("Fund DCPs"), and (b) accumulated
and communicated to the relevant Certifying Officers consistent
with the
Fund DCPs.
|
If
requested by Certifying Officers with respect to a fiscal period during
which
BISYS serves or served as financial administrator, BISYS will provide
a
sub-certification consistent with the requirements of Sarbanes-
29
Oxley
pertaining to BISYS' services, solely for the purpose of providing a
basis of
support (as to information which has been prepared, processed and reported
by
BISYS, and as to BISYS internal controls) for the Certifying Officers
to render
the certifications required by Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx (or, if applicable with
respect to
a Report, inform the Certifying Officers of the reasons why the statements
in
such a certification would not be accurate). In rendering such
sub-certifications concerning Company Reports, BISYS may (a) limit its
representations to information prepared, processed and reported by BISYS;
(b)
rely upon and assume the accuracy of the information provided by officers
and
other authorized agents of the Company, including all Other Service Providers
to
the Company, and compliance by such officers and agents with the Fund
DCPs,
including but not limited to, the Company’s investment adviser(s) and custodian;
and (c) assume that the Company has selected the appropriate accounting
policies
for
the
Fund(s).
The
Company shall assist and cooperate with BISYS (and shall use
its
best efforts to cause
its
officers, investment advisers and other service providers to assist and
cooperate with BISYS) to facilitate
the
delivery of information requested by BISYS in connection with the preparation
of
the Company's Form N-CSR and Form N-Q, including Company financial statements,
so that BISYS may submit a draft Report to the Company's Disclosure Controls
and
Procedures Committee (“Fund DCP Committee”) prior to the date the relevant
Report is to be filed. The Certifying Officers and the Chief Legal Officer
(if
any) of the Company shall be deemed to constitute the Fund DCP Committee
in
cases in which no other Fund DCP Committee has been designated or is
operative.
In connection with its review and evaluations, the Fund DCP Committee
shall
establish a schedule to ensure that all required disclosures in Form
N-CSR and
in the financial statements for each Fund are identified and prepared
in a
timeframe sufficient to allow review by the Fund DCP Committee before
the date
the relevant report is to be filed. At the request of the Company or
its
Certifying Officers, BISYS shall provide reasonable administrative assistance
to
the Company in connection with obtaining service provider sub-certifications,
SAS-70 reports on internal controls, and any applicable representations
to bring
such certifications current to the end of the reporting period, and in
preparing
summaries of issues raised in such documents.
The
Company shall, in its own capacity, take all reasonably necessary and
appropriate measures to comply with its obligations under Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx.
Without limitation of the foregoing, except for those obligations which
are
expressly delegated to or assumed by BISYS in this Agreement, the Company
shall
maintain responsibility for, and shall support and facilitate the role
of each
Certifying Officer and the Fund DCP Committee in, designing and maintaining
the
Fund DCPs in accordance with applicable laws, including (a) ensuring
that the
Fund DCP Committee
30
and/or
Certifying Officers obtain and review sub-certifications and reports
on internal
controls from the Company's investment adviser(s) and other service providers,
if any, sufficiently in advance of the date upon which the relevant financial
statements must be finalized by BISYS (in order to print, distribute
and/or file
the same hereunder), (b) evaluating of the effectiveness of the design
and
operation of the Fund DCP, under the supervision, and with the participation
of,
the Certifying Officers, within the requisite timeframe prior to the
filing of
each Report, and (c) ensuring that its Certifying Officers render the
requisite
certifications or take such other actions as may be permitted or required
under
applicable laws.
20. |
Coordinate
formulating and filing of the Funds’ proxy voting records (as approved by
the investment adviser) on Form N-PX.
|
21. |
File
holdings reports on Form N-Q as required at the end of the first
and third
fiscal quarters of each year.
|
22. |
Prepare
quarterly brokerage allocation compliance checklist and supporting
documentation for use by investment adviser(s), as
requested.
|
23. |
Oversee/coordinate
Trustee compensation.
|
24. |
Prepare
and distribute Trustee/Officer Questionnaires, review completed
Questionnaires and resolve any open issues with the Company and
counsel.
|
25. |
Prepare
and file amendments to the Articles of Incorporation as
necessary.
|
26. |
Prepare
amendments to the By-Laws.
|
27. |
Monitor
wash sales.
|
31
SCHEDULE
C
TO
THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN
BISYS
FUND SERVICES OHIO, INC. AND THE BLUE FUND GROUP
FUND
ACCOUNTING SERVICES
(a) |
BISYS
will keep and maintain the
following books and records of each Fund pursuant to Rule 31a-1
(the
“Rule”) under the 1940 Act:
|
1. |
Journals
containing an itemized daily record in detail of all purchases
and sales
of securities, all receipts and disbursements of cash and all
other debits
and credits, as required by subsection (b)(1) of the
Rule;
|
2. |
General
and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all asset, liability, reserve,
capital,
income and expense accounts, including interest accrued and interest
received, as required by subsection (b)(2)(i) of the
Rule;
|
3. |
Separate
ledger accounts required by subsection (b)(2)(ii) and (iii) of
the Rule;
and
|
4. |
A
monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts (except shareholder
accounts)
as required by subsection (b)(8) of the
Rule.
|
(b) |
In
addition to the maintenance of the books and records specified
above,
BISYS shall perform the following accounting services for each
Fund:
|
1. |
Allocate
income and expense and calculate
the net
asset value per share (“NAV”)
of each class of shares offered by each Fund in accordance with
the
relevant provisions of the applicable Prospectus of each Fund
and
applicable regulations under the 1940
Act;
|
2. |
Apply
securities pricing information as required or authorized under
the terms
of the valuation policies and procedures of the Company (“Valuation
Procedures”), including (A) pricing information from independent pricing
services, with respect to securities for which market quotations
are
readily available, (B) if applicable to a particular Fund or
Funds, fair
value pricing information or adjustment factors from independent
fair
value pricing services or other vendors approved by the Company
(collectively, “Fair Value Information Vendors”) with respect to
securities for which market quotations are not readily available,
for
which a significant event has occurred following the close
|
32
of the relevant market
but prior to the
Fund’s pricing time, or which are otherwise required to be made
subject to
a fair value determination under the Valuation Procedures,
and (C) prices
obtained from each Fund’s investment adviser or other designee, as
approved by the Board;
|
3. |
Coordinate
the preparation of reports that are prepared or provided by Fair
Value
Information Vendors which help the Company to monitor and evaluate
its use
of fair value pricing information under its
Valuation Procedures;
|
4. |
Verify
and reconcile with the Funds’ custodian all daily trade
activity;
|
5. |
Compute,
as appropriate, each Fund’s net income and capital gains, dividend
payables, dividend factors, 7-day yields, 7-day effective yields,
30-day
yields, and weighted average portfolio maturity;
(and other yields or standard or non-standard performance information
as
mutually agreed);
|
6. |
Review
daily the net asset value calculation and dividend factor (if
any) for
each Fund prior to release to shareholders, check and confirm
the net
asset values and dividend factors for reasonableness and deviations,
and
distribute net asset values and yields to NASDAQ;
and as agreed, in certain cases, to
newspapers;
|
7. |
If
applicable, report to the Company the periodic market pricing
of
securities in any money market funds, with the comparison to
the amortized
cost basis;
|
8. |
Determine
and
report unrealized
appreciation and depreciation on securities held in variable
net asset
value funds;
|
9. |
Amortize
premiums and accrete discounts on fixed income securities purchased
at a
price other than face value, if requested by the
Company;
|
10. |
Update
fund accounting system to reflect rate changes, as received from
a Fund’s
investment adviser, on variable interest rate
instruments;
|
11. |
Post
Fund transactions to appropriate
categories;
|
12. |
Accrue
expenses of each Fund according to instructions received from
the
Company’s Administrator, and submit changes to accruals and expense items
to authorized officers of the Company (who are not BISYS employees)
for
review and approval;
|
33
13. |
Determine
the outstanding receivables and payables for all (1) security
trades, (2)
Fund share transactions and (3) income and expense
accounts;
|
14. |
Provide
accounting reports in connection with and
coordinate with independent auditors concerning the
Company’s regular annual audit,
and other audits and examinations by regulatory agencies;
and
|
15. |
Provide
such periodic reports as the parties shall agree upon, as set
forth in a
separate schedule.
|
16. |
Provide
a representative (in a non-voting capacity) for the Company’s Pricing
Committee, if any; and
|
17. |
Assist
the Company in identifying instances where market prices are
not readily
available, or are unreliable, within parameters set forth in
the Company’s
Valuation Procedures.
|
(c) |
BISYS
shall also perform the following additional accounting services
for each
Fund:
|
1. |
Provide
monthly a hard copy of the unaudited financial statements described
below,
upon request of the Company. The unaudited financial statements
will
include the following items:
|
A. |
Unaudited
Statement of Assets and Liabilities,
|
B. |
Unaudited
Statement of Operations,
|
C. |
Unaudited
Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and
|
D. |
Unaudited
Condensed Financial Information
|
2. |
Provide
accounting information for the following
|
A. |
federal
and state income tax returns and federal excise tax
returns;
|
B. |
the
Company’s semi-annual reports with the SEC on Form N-SAR and Form N-CSR;
|
C. |
the
Company’s schedules of investments for filing with the SEC on Form
N-Q;
|
D. |
the
Company’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and quarterly Board
meetings;
|
E. |
registration
statements on Form N-1A and other filings relating to the registration
of
shares;
|
34
F. |
BISYS’
monitoring of each Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended;
|
G. |
annual
audit by the Company’s auditors; and
|
H. |
examinations
performed by the SEC.
|
3. |
Calculate
turnover and expense ratio.
|
4. |
Prepare
schedule of Capital Gains and Losses.
|
5. |
Provide
daily cash report.
|
6. |
Maintain
and report security positions and transactions in accounting
system.
|
7. |
Prepare
Broker Commission Report.
|
8. |
Monitor
expense limitations.
|
9. |
Maintain
list of failed trades.
|
10. |
Provide
unrealized gain/loss report.
|
35
SCHEDULE
D
TO
THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN
BISYS
FUND SERVICES OHIO, INC. AND THE BLUE FUND GROUP
Transfer
Agency Services
1. |
Shareholder
Transactions
|
(a) |
Process
shareholder purchase and redemption
orders.
|
(b) |
Set
up account information, including address, dividend option, taxpayer
identification numbers and wire
instructions.
|
(c) |
Issue
confirmations in compliance with Rule 10b-10 under the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
|
(d) |
Issue
periodic statements for shareholders.
|
(e) |
Process
transfers and exchanges.
|
(f) |
Process
dividend payments, including the purchase of new shares, through
dividend
reimbursement.
|
2. |
Shareholder
Information Services
|
(a) |
Make
information available to shareholder servicing unit and other
remote
access units regarding trade date, share price, current holdings,
yields,
and dividend information.
|
(b) |
Produce
detailed history of transactions through duplicate or special
order
statements upon request.
|
(c) |
Provide
mailing labels for distribution of financial reports, prospectuses,
proxy
statements or marketing material to current shareholders, upon
request.
|
36
3. |
Compliance
Reporting
|
(a) |
Provide
reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the states in which
the Fund
is registered.
|
(b) |
Prepare
and distribute appropriate Internal Revenue Service forms for
corresponding Fund and shareholder income and capital
gains.
|
(c) |
Issue
tax withholding reports to the Internal Revenue
Service.
|
4. |
Dealer/Load
Processing (if applicable)
|
(a) |
Where
appropriate information is available, provide reports for tracking
rights
of accumulation and purchases made under a Letter of
Intent.
|
(b) |
Calculate
fees due under 12b-1 plans for distribution and marketing
expenses.
|
(c) |
Provide
for payment of commission on direct shareholder purchases in
a load
fund.
|
(d) |
Calculate
redemption fees, as appropriate.
|
5. |
Shareholder
Account Maintenance
|
(a) |
Maintain
all shareholder records for each account in the
Company.
|
(b) |
Issue
customer statements on scheduled cycle, providing duplicate second
and
third party copies if required.
|
(c) |
Record
shareholder account information changes.
|
(d) |
Maintain
account documentation files for each
shareholder.
|
37
6. |
Anti-Money
Laundering Services
|
(a) |
Where
appropriate and information is available, verify shareholder
identity upon
opening new accounts.
|
(b) |
Monitor,
identify and report shareholder transactions and identify and
report
suspicious activities that are required to be so identified and
reported,
and provide other required reports to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue
Service or
each agency's designated agent, in each case consistent with
the Company’s
AML Program.
|
(c) |
Place
holds on transactions in shareholder accounts or freeze assets
in
shareholder accounts, as provided in the Company’s AML
Program.
|
(d) |
Create
documentation to provide a basis for law enforcement authorities
to trace
illicit funds.
|
(e) |
Maintain
all records or other documentation related to shareholder accounts
and
transactions therein that are required to be prepared and maintained
pursuant to the Company’s AML Program, and make the same available for
inspection by (i) the Company’s AML Compliance Officer, (ii) any auditor
of the Company’s AML Program or related procedures, policies or controls
that has been designated by the Company in writing, or (iii)
regulatory or
law enforcement authorities, and otherwise make said records
or other
documents available at the direction of the Company’s AML Compliance
Officer.
|
7. Blue
Sky
Services
Prepare
such reports, applications and documents (including reports regarding
the sale
and redemption of shares in the Company as may be required in order to
comply
with Federal and state securities laws) as may be necessary or desirable
to
register the shares in the Company (“Shares”) with state securities authorities,
monitor the sale of Shares for compliance with state securities laws,
and file
with the appropriate state securities authorities the registration statements
and reports for the Company and the Shares and all amendments thereto,
as may be
necessary or convenient to register and keep effective the registration
of the
Company and the Shares with state securities authorities to enable the
Company
to make a continuous offering of its Shares. State securities (“Blue Sky”)
exemption services are made available at a standard fee which is earned
by BISYS
based on exemptions obtained by the Company.
38
Transfer
Agency Representation
Following
each quarterly period, BISYS will provide a representation to the following
effect pertaining to the AML Services rendered by BISYS hereunder during
such
quarterly period:
1. |
Performance
of good order review for all new and reregistered accounts;
|
2. |
Performance
of acceptance review for all monetary instruments
received;
|
3. |
Administration
of signature guarantee policy in accordance with prospectus
requirements;
|
4. |
If
applicable, administration of escrow hold policy in accordance
with
prospectus requirements;
|
5. |
Verification
of customer address changes;
|
6. |
Verification
of customer identification for all new accounts and all name
changes on
existing accounts;
|
7. |
Monitoring
of all purchase transactions made with cash equivalents totaling
in excess
of $10,000. The number of Form 8300 reports filed during the
period will
be reported;
|
8. |
Monitoring
of all accounts for suspicious activity. The number of Form SAR
reports
filed during the period will be reported;
|
9. |
Review
of shareholder names against lists of suspected terrorist and
terrorist
organizations supplied by various governmental organizations,
such as the
Office of Foreign Asset Control. The number of accounts frozen
and
otherwise reported to authorities during the period will be
reported;
|
10. |
Creation
of the documentation necessary to provide a basis for law enforcement
authorities to trace illicit funds; and
|
11. |
Maintenance
all records and other documentation related to shareholder accounts
and
transactions required to be prepared and maintained pursuant
to the
Company’s AML program for all BISYS transfer agent
services.
|
The
following will be provided in such representation if the Company falls
under the
related USA PATRIOT
Act of
2001 provisions:
12. |
Performance
of the required due diligence to help prevent the opening of
any accounts
for foreign shell banks during the period either directly or
through
correspondent accounts.
|
39
13. |
Performance
of the required due diligence on any new correspondent accounts
opened
during the period.
|
40
SCHEDULE
D-1
TO
THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
BISYS
FUND SERVICES OHIO, INC. AND THE
BLUE FUND GROUP
Additional
Services Related to XXX Accounts
BISYS
shall act as the XXX custodian for the Funds’ XXX Accounts, and will perform the
additional recordkeeping and administrative functions listed below with
respect
to those accounts.
Account
Processing
1. |
Opening
new Traditional XXX, Xxxx XXX, and SIMPLE
IRAs
|
2. |
Processing
purchases and redemptions of shares for the holders of XXX Accounts
(the
“Account Holders”)
|
3. |
Processing
dividends and capital gain distributions
|
4. |
Notification
of distribution requirements related to age
70½
|
5. |
Maintaining
beneficiary information on system
|
6. |
Calculating
distributions, withdrawals, required withholding and other payment
to
Account Holders
|
Account
Maintenance
1. |
Maintaining
Account Holder records
|
2. |
Changing
addresses for Account Holders
|
3. |
Preparing
periodic reports on accounts, number of shares,
etc.
|
4. |
Preparation
and filing of federal tax forms (1099-R,
5498)
|
5. |
Replying
to shareholder correspondence and
inquiries
|
6. |
Responding
to all telephone inquiries about XXX Accounts
|
41
SCHEDULE
E
TO
THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN
BISYS
FUND SERVICES OHIO, INC. AND
THE BLUE FUND GROUP
FEES
In
consideration of the services set forth in this Agreement, the Company
shall pay
BISYS on the first business day of each month, or as otherwise set forth
below,
the following fees:
Fund
Accounting Annual Fees:
0.03%
of
the first $250 million in aggregate net assets of the Funds; plus
0.02%
of
aggregate net assets of the Funds from in excess of $250 million to $500
million; plus
0.015%
of
aggregate net assets of the Funds in excess of $500 million.
The
Fund
Accounting Fees are subject to an annual minimum equal to the number
of Funds
multiplied by $37,500.
Fund
Administration Annual Fees:
0.10%
of
the first $250 million in aggregate net assets of the Funds; plus
0.08%
in
aggregate net assets of the Funds from in excess of $250 million to $500
million; plus
0.06%
of
aggregate net assets of the Funds in excess of $500 million.
The
Fund
Administration Fees are subject to an annual minimum equal the number
of Funds
multiplied by $45,000.
Transfer
Agency Annual Fees:
$17,000
Per CUSIP; plus
The
following per-account fees, applied to each shareholder account (open
or closed)
on BISYS’ transfer agency system:
Per
Direct Account $20.00
Per
NSCC
Account $15.00
($12.50 for accounts over 50,000)
42
Per
Closed
Account
$2.00
For
these
purposes, the following categories constitute an open account on the
BISYS
system in any one month: open account with balance, open account with zero
balance, or open account with negative balance and closed account with
activity.
Closed accounts with no activity in the month are considered a closed
account
for billing purposes.
Annual
Minimum Fee:
The
Fund
Accounting, Fund Administration, and Transfer Agency fees set forth above
are
subject to an aggregate annual minimum of $165,000. Other fees payable
to BISYS
with respect to the Company (for distribution services, compliance services,
etc.) will not count towards this minimum.
AML
Fees:
Annual
Fees
Program
servicing: $4,500
for the first 50,000 accounts, plus
$2,500
for accounts in excess of 50,000
(to
be
billed in equal monthly installments)
Early
Warning annual fee: $575.00
Early
Warning per record cost:
$0.22
Early
Warning searches for all accounts except Networked Level III accounts
are
conducted and fees applied every three weeks.
Equifax
-
per request cost: $5.00
Fair
Value Support Services:
As
compensation for Fair Value Support Services (the services set forth
in
subsections (b)2 and (b)3 (as they relate to fair value determinations)
of
Schedule C to this Agreement). BISYS shall receive the following annual
servicing fee for each Fund that the Company designates as being subject
to fair
value determinations and for which Fair Value Support Services are to
be
provided by BISYS hereunder, as follows:
One-time
Development Fee, due upon the execution of this Agreement: $10,000
Annual
Fee for Fair Value Support Services to be provided by BISYS:
For
each
Fund with less than 200 securities:
$5,000
For
each
Fund with at least 200 securities: $7,500
(The
Annual Fee is to be billed in equal monthly installments)
43
The
foregoing BISYS fee(s) do not include out of pocket costs. BISYS will
also be
reimbursed by the Company for the actual costs charged by Fair Value
Information
Vendors with respect to the provision of fair value pricing information
to BISYS
for use in valuing the portfolio holdings of a specific Fund or
Funds.
Form
N-Q Filing Fees:
Per
Fund
per filing: $3,000
Trustee/Custodian
Services:
In
addition, as provided in Section 4(a) of this Agreement, BISYS shall
be entitled
to $15 per social security number, for each plan or account type, per
year (the
“Custodial Fee”), to be paid within the month prior to December 31 of each such
year (or, if an XXX Account is closed prior to the closing of such XXX
Account),
for the services provided to the XXX Account or XXX Accounts (or, if
an XXX
Account is closed, prior to the closing of such XXX Account). BISYS will
collect
the Custodial Fee from each XXX Account.
Annual
Fee Adjustment:
Commencing
on the one-year anniversary of the Effective Date, BISYS may annually
increase
the fixed fees and other fees expressed as stated dollar amounts in this
Agreement by up to an amount equal to the greater of: (a) the most recent
annual
percentage increase in consumer prices for services as measured by the
United
States Consumer Price Index entitled “All Services Less Rent of Shelter” or a
similar index should such index no longer be published, and (b)
10%.
44