GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE SUPPLIER/SERVICE PROVIDER 9.1 The Supplier/Service Provider shall:
a) respond promptly to all complaints and enquiries from Transnet;
b) inform Transnet immediately of any dispute or complaint arising in relation to the storage or delivery of the Goods;
c) conduct its business in a professional manner which will reflect positively upon the Supplier/Service Provider and the Supplier’s/Service Provider’s products/services;
d) keep full records clearly indicating all transactions concluded by the Supplier/Service Provider relating to the delivery of the Goods/Services and keep such records for at least 5 [five] years from the date of each such transaction;
e) obtain, and at all times maintain in full force and effect, any and all licences, permits and the like required under applicable laws for the provision of the Goods/Services and ancillary Services and the conduct of the business and activities of the Supplier/Service Provider;
f) observe and ensure compliance with all requirements and obligations as set out in the labour and related legislation of South Africa, including the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993, as may be amended from time to time;
g) observe and ensure compliance with all requirements and objectives of the Transnet Supplier Integrity Pact as agreed to in response to the RFP. The general purpose of the Supplier Integrity Pact is to agree to avoid all forms of dishonesty, fraud and corruption by following a system that is fair, transparent and free from any undue influence prior to, during and subsequent to the currency of the procurement event leading to this Agreement and this Agreement itself;
h) comply with all applicable environmental legislation and regulations, demonstrate sound environmental performance and have an environmental management policy which ensures that its products, including the Goods/Services or ancillary Services are procured, produced, packaged, delivered and are capable of being used and ultimately disposed of in a way that is environmentally appropriate; and
i) ensure the validity of all renewable certifications, including but not limited to its B-BBEE Verification Certificate, throughout the entire term of this Agreement. Should the Supplier/Service Provider fail to present Transnet with such renewals as they become due, Transnet shall be entitled, in addition to any other rights and remedies that it may have in terms of the Agreement, to terminate this Agreement forthwith without any liability and without prejudice to any claims which Transnet may have for damages against the Supplier/Service Provider.
9.2 The Supplier/Service Provider acknowledges and agrees that it shall at all times:
a) render the supply of the Goods/Services and ancillary Services (if applicable) and perform all its duties with honesty and integrity;
b) communicate openly and honestly with Transnet regarding the supply and performance of the Goods/Services and demonstrate a commitment to effecting the supply and performing ancillary Services timeously, efficiently and at least to the required standards;
c) endeavour to provide the highest possible standards of service and workmanship, with a reasonable degree of care and diligence;
d) use its best endeavours and make every diligent effort to meet agreed deadlines;
e) treat its own Staff, as well as all Transnet’s Staff, with fairness and courtesy and respect for their human rights;
f) practice and promote its own internal policies aimed at prohibiting and preventing unfair discrimination;
g) treat all enquiries from Transnet in connection with the supply of the Goods/Services and/or ancillary Services with courtesy and respond to all enquiries promptly and efficiently. Where the Supplier/Service Provider is unable to comply with the provisions of this clause, the Supplier/Service Provider will advise Transnet of the delay and the reasons therefor and will keep Transnet informed of progress made regarding the enquiry;
h) when requested by Transnet, provide clear and accurate information regarding the Supplier's/Service Provider’s own policies and procedures, excluding Know-How and other Confidential Information, except where a non-disclosure undertaking has been entered into between the Parties;
i) not allow a conflict of interest to develop between its own interests [or the interests of any of its other customers] and the interests of Transnet;
j) not accept or offer, nor allow, induce or promote the acceptance or offering of any gratuity, enticement, incentive or gift that could reasonably be regarded as bribery or an attempt to otherwise exert undue influence over the recipient;
k) not mislead Transnet or its officers, employees and stakeholders, whether by act or omission;
l) not otherwise act in an unethical manner or do anything which could reasonably be expected to damage or tarnish Transnet’s reputation or business image;
m) immediately report to Transnet any unethical, fraudulent or otherwise unlawful conduct of which it becomes aware in connection with Transnet or the supply of Goods/Services or ancillary Services to Transnet;
n) ensure that at all times, during the currency of this Agreement, it complies with all obligations and commitments in terms of the provisions of the Income Tax Act, No 58 of 1962, the VAT Act or any other tax legislation relating to their liability for Income Tax, VAT, Pay as You Earn or any other tax. The Supplier/Service Provider shall further ensure Tax Clearance Compliance, for the duration of this Agreement;
o) not victimise, harass or discriminate against any employee of either Party to this Agreement or any applicant for employment with either Party to this Agreement due to their gender, race, disability, age, religious belief, sexual orientation or part-time status. This provision applies, but is not limited to employment, upgrading, work environment, demotion, transfer, recruitment, recruitment advertising, termination of employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training.
p) shall ensure that its employees, agents and Subcontractors will not breach any applicable discrimination legislation and any amendments and re-enactments thereof.
9.3 In compliance with the National Railway Safety Regulator Act, 16 of 2002, as may be amended from time to time, the Supplier shall ensure that the Goods/Services and ancillary Services, to be supplied to Transnet under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, comply fully with the Specifications as set forth in Schedule 1 hereto, and shall thereby adhere [as applicable] to railway safety requirements and/or regulations. Permission for the engagement of a Subcontractor by the Supplier, as applicable, shall be subject to a review of the capability of the proposed Subcontractor to comply with the specified railway safety requirements and/or regulations. The Supplier and/or its Subcontractor shall grant Transnet access, during the term of this Agreement, to review any safety-related activities, including the coordination of such activities across all parts of its organisation.
Services and Duties of the Distributor A. The Distributor agrees to act as the principal underwriter of the Client for the distribution of the Shares of the Funds, upon the terms and at the current offering price (plus sales charge, if any) described in the Prospectus. As used in this Agreement, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the current prospectus, including the statement of additional information, as both may be amended or supplemented, relating to any of the Funds and included in the currently effective registration statement(s) or post-effective amendment(s) thereto (the “Registration Statement”) of the Client under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the 1940 Act.
B. During the continuous public offering of Shares of the Funds, the Distributor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute the Shares. All orders for Shares shall be made through financial intermediaries or submitted directly to the applicable Fund or its designated agent. Such purchase orders shall be deemed effective at the time and in the manner set forth in the Prospectus. The Client or its designated agent will confirm orders and subscriptions upon receipt, will make appropriate book entries and, upon receipt of payment therefor, will issue the appropriate number of Shares in uncertificated form.
C. The Distributor shall maintain membership with the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) and any other similar successor organization to sponsor a participant number for the Funds so as to enable the Shares to be traded through NSCC’s Fund/SERV System (“FundSERV”). The Client acknowledges and agrees that the Distributor shall not be responsible for any operational matters associated with FundSERV or Networking transactions, including but not limited to taking orders from financial intermediaries.
D. The Distributor acknowledges and agrees that it is not authorized to provide any information or make any representations regarding the Funds other than as contained in the Prospectus and any marketing materials specifically approved by the Client or the investment adviser to the Fund(s).
E. The Distributor agrees to review all proposed marketing materials provided by the Client for compliance with applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and FINRA advertising rules and regulations, and shall file with FINRA those marketing materials it believes are in compliance with such applicable laws and regulations. The Distributor agrees to furnish to the Client any comments provided by regulators with respect to such marketing materials.
F. At the request of the Client, the Distributor shall enter into the Standard Dealer Agreement (as defined below), and may, in its discretion, enter into non-standard dealer agreements with financial intermediaries as the Client may select, in order that such broker-dealers and other intermediaries may sell Shares of the Funds. The Fund’s form of dealer agreement and/or selling agreement shall in a form similar to that attached at Exhibit C and shall be approved by the Client’s Board (“Standard Dealer Agreement”).
G. The Client acknowledges and agrees that the Distributor shall not be obligated to make any payments to any broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries or other third parties, unless (i) the Distributor has received an authorized corresponding payment from the applicable Fund’s plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Plan”) and (ii) such Plan been approved by the Client’s Board.
H. The Distributor shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of Shares.
I. The Distributor shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested by the Board, including reports regarding the use of 12b-1 payments received by the Distributor, if any.
J. The Distributor may enter into agreements (“Subcontracts”) with qualified third parties to carry out some or all of the Distributor’s obligations under this Agreement, with the prior written consent of the Client, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; provided that execution of a Subcontract shall not relieve the Distributor of any of its responsibilities hereunder.
K. The services furnished by the Distributor hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive and the Distributor shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
L. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Distributor shall not be required to register as a broker or dealer in any specific jurisdiction or to maintain its registration in any jurisdiction in which it is now registered.
M. The Distributor undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are expressly set forth herein, or expressly incorporated herein by reference, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Distributor.