ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of this 17th day of February, 2006, by and
between Constellation Funds, a Delaware business trust and Touchstone Advisors,
Inc. (the "Administrator"), an Ohio corporation. This Agreement has been amended
to include additional named parties, to amend the compensation schedule and to
change the initial term of the Agreement (the "Amended Agreement").
THIS AMENDED AGREEMENT is made as of this 1st day of January, 2007 by and
among Touchstone Funds Group Trust (formerly "Constellation Funds"), Touchstone
Strategic Trust, Touchstone Tax-Free Trust, Touchstone Investment Trust and
Touchstone Variable Series Trust (individually a "Trust" and collectively the
"Trusts") and the Administrator.
WHEREAS, each Trust is an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"), consisting of multiple series of shares; and
WHEREAS, each Trust desires the Administrator to provide, and the
Administrator is willing to provide, management and administrative services to
such series of the Trusts as the Trusts and the Administrator may agree on (the
"Funds") and as listed on the schedule attached hereto ("Schedule") and made a
part of this Agreement, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
hereinafter contained, the Trusts and the Administrator hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. Retention of the Administrator. The Trusts hereby retain the
Administrator to act as the administrator of the Funds and to furnish the Funds
with the management and administrative services as set forth in Article 2 below.
The Administrator hereby accepts such employment to perform the duties set forth
below.
The Administrator shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an
independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized,
shall have no authority to act for or represent the Trusts in any way and shall
not be deemed an agent of the Trusts.
ARTICLE 2. Administrative and Accounting Services. The Administrator shall
perform or supervise the performance by others of other administrative services
in connection with the operations of the Funds and, on behalf of the Trusts,
will investigate, assist in the selection of and conduct relations with
custodians, depositories, accountants, legal counsel, underwriters, brokers and
dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and persons in any other
capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable for the Funds' operations. The
Administrator shall provide the Trustees of the Trusts with such reports
regarding investment performance and compliance with investment policies and
applicable laws, rules and regulations as they may reasonably request but shall
have no responsibility for supervising the performance by any investment adviser
or sub-adviser of its responsibilities. The Administrator may appoint a
sub-administrator to perform certain of the services to be performed by the
Administrator hereunder.
The Administrator shall provide the Trusts with administrative services,
regulatory reporting, fund accounting and related portfolio accounting services,
all necessary office space, equipment, personnel, compensation and facilities
(including facilities for shareholders' and Board of Trustees' meetings) for
handling the affairs of the Funds and such other services as the Trustees may,
from time to time, reasonably request and the Administrator shall, from time to
time, reasonably determine to be necessary to perform its obligations under this
Agreement. In addition, at the request of the Trusts' Board of Trustees (the
"Trustees"), the Administrator shall make reports to the Trustees concerning the
performance of its obligations hereunder.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator shall:
(A) calculate contractual Trust expenses and control all disbursements
for the Trusts, and as appropriate compute the Trusts' yields, total
return, expense ratios, portfolio turnover rate and, if required,
portfolio average dollar-weighed maturity;
(B) assist Trust counsel with the preparation of prospectuses,
statements of additional information, registration statements, proxy
materials, and exemptive applications;
(C) prepare such reports, applications and documents (including reports
regarding the sale and redemption of shares as may be required in
order to comply with Federal and state securities law) as may be
necessary or desirable to register the Trusts' shares with state
securities authorities, monitor sale of Trust shares for compliance
with state securities laws, and file with the appropriate state
securities authorities the registration statements and reports for
the Trusts and the Trusts' shares and all amendments thereto, as may
be necessary or convenient to register and keep effective the Trusts
and the Trusts' shares with state securities authorities to enable
the Trusts to make a continuous offering of their shares;
(D) develop and prepare communications to shareholders, including the
annual report to shareholders, coordinate the mailing of
prospectuses, notices, proxy statements, proxies and other reports
to Trust shareholders, and supervise and facilitate the solicitation
of proxies solicited by the Trusts for all shareholder meetings,
including tabulation process for shareholder meetings;
(E) coordinate with Trust counsel the preparation and negotiation of,
and administer contracts on behalf of the Trusts with, among others,
the Trusts' investment adviser, distributor, custodian, and transfer
agent;
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(F) maintain the Trusts' general ledger and prepare the Trusts'
financial statements, including expense accruals and payments,
determine the net asset value of the Trusts' assets and of the
Trusts' shares, and supervise the Trusts' transfer agent with
respect to the payment of dividends and other distributions to
shareholders;
(G) calculate performance data of the Trusts and their Funds for
dissemination to information services covering the investment
company industry;
(H) coordinate and supervise the preparation and filing of the Trusts'
tax returns;
(I) examine and review the operations and performance of the various
organizations providing services to the Trusts or any Funds of the
Trusts, including, without limitation, the Trusts' sub-advisers,
distributor, custodian, transfer agent, outside legal counsel and
independent public accountants, and at the request of the Trustees,
report to the Trustees on the performance of organizations;
(J) assist with the layout and printing of publicly disseminated
prospectuses and assist with and coordinate layout and printing of
the Trusts' semiannual and annual reports to shareholders;
(K) provide internal legal and administrative services as requested by
the Trusts from time to time;
(L) assist with the design, development, and operation of the Trusts,
including new Funds and class investment objectives, policies and
structure;
(M) provide individuals acceptable to the Trustees for nomination,
appointment, or election as officers of the Trusts, who will be
responsible for the management of certain of the Trusts' affairs as
determined by the Trustees;
(N) advise the Trusts and their Trustees on matters concerning the
Trusts and their affairs;
(O) obtain and keep in effect fidelity bonds and directors and
officers/errors and omissions insurance policies for the Trusts in
accordance with the requirements of Rules 17g-1 and 17d-1(7) under
the 1940 Act as such bonds and policies are approved by the
Trustees;
(P) monitor and advise the Trusts and their Funds on their registered
investment company status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended;
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(Q) perform all administrative services and functions of the Trusts and
each Fund to the extent administrative services and functions are
not provided to the Trust or such Fund pursuant to the Trusts' or
such Fund's investment advisory agreement, distribution agreement,
custodian agreement, transfer agent agreement or sub-administration
agreement;
(R) furnish advice and recommendations with respect to other aspects of
the business and affairs of the Funds as the Trusts and the
Administrator shall determine desirable; and
(S) prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")
the semiannual report for the Trusts on Form N-SAR and all required
notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2.
Also, the Administrator will perform other services for the Trusts as agreed
from time to time, including, but not limited to performing internal audit
examinations; mailing the annual reports of the Funds; preparing an annual list
of shareholders; and mailing notices of shareholders' meetings, proxies and
proxy statements, for all of which the Trusts will pay the Administrator's
out-of-pocket expenses.
ARTICLE 3. Allocation of Charges and Expenses.
(A) THE ADMINISTRATOR. The Administrator shall furnish at its own expense
the executive, supervisory and clerical personnel necessary to perform its
obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator shall also provide the items
which it is obligated to provide under this Agreement, and shall pay all
compensation, if any, of officers of the Trusts as well as all Trustees of the
Trust who are affiliated persons of the Administrator or any affiliated
corporation of the Administrator; provided, however, that unless otherwise
specifically provided, the Administrator shall not be obligated to pay the
compensation of any employee of the Trusts retained by the Trustees of the
Trusts to perform services on behalf of the Trusts.
(B) THE TRUSTS. The Trusts assume and shall pay or cause to be paid all
other expenses of the Trusts not otherwise allocated herein, including, without
limitation, organizational costs, taxes, expenses for legal and auditing
services, the expenses of preparing (including typesetting), printing and
mailing reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy
solicitation material and notices to existing shareholders, all expenses
incurred in connection with issuing and redeeming shares, the costs of pricing
services, the costs 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 the
Administrator or the investment adviser to the Trust or any affiliated
corporation of the Administrator or the investment adviser, the costs of
Trustees' meetings, insurance, interest, brokerage costs, litigation and other
extraordinary or nonrecurring expenses, and all fees and charges of investment
advisers to the Trusts.
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ARTICLE 4. Compensation of the Administrator.
(A) ADMINISTRATION FEE. For the services to be rendered, the facilities
furnished and the expenses assumed by the Administrator pursuant to this
Agreement, each Trust shall pay to the Administrator compensation at an annual
rate specified in the Schedule. Such compensation shall be calculated and
accrued daily, and paid to the Administrator monthly. Each Trust shall also
reimburse the Administrator for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including
the travel and lodging expenses incurred by its officers and employees in
connection with attendance at meetings of the Trustees.
If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of a month
or terminates before the last day of a month, the Administrator's compensation
for that part of the month in which this Agreement is in effect shall be
prorated in a manner consistent with the calculation of the fees as set forth
above. Payment of the Administrator's compensation for the preceding month shall
be made promptly.
(B) SURVIVAL OF COMPENSATION RATES. All rights of compensation under this
Agreement for services performed as of the termination date shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The duties of the
Administrator shall be confined to those expressly set forth herein, and no
implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the Administrator
hereunder. The Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or
omission in carrying out its duties hereunder, except a loss resulting from
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder, except as may otherwise be provided under provisions of applicable
law which cannot be waived or modified hereby. (As used in this Article 5, the
term "Administrator" shall include directors, officers, employees and other
agents of the Administrator as well as that corporation itself.)
So long as the Administrator, or its agents, acts in good faith and with
due diligence, each Trust assumes full responsibility and shall indemnify the
Administrator and hold it harmless from and against any and all actions, suits
and claims, whether groundless or otherwise, and from and against any and all
losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees and disbursements,
payments, expenses and liabilities (including reasonable investigation expenses)
arising directly or indirectly out of said administration, transfer agency, and
dividend disbursing relationships to the Trusts or any other service rendered to
the Trusts hereunder. The indemnity and defense provisions set forth herein
shall indefinitely survive the termination of this Agreement.
The rights hereunder shall include the right to reasonable advances of
defense expenses in the event of any pending or threatened litigation with
respect to which indemnification hereunder may ultimately be merited. In order
that the indemnification provision contained herein shall apply, however, it is
understood that if in any case a Trust may be asked to indemnify or hold the
Administrator harmless, the Trust shall be fully and promptly advised of all
pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further
understood that the Administrator will use all reasonable care to identify and
notify the Trust promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears
likely to present the probability of such a claim for indemnification against
the Trust, but failure to do so in good faith shall not affect the rights
hereunder.
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Each Trust shall be entitled to participate at its own expense or, if it
so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims
subject to this indemnity provision. If a Trust elects to assume the defense of
any such claim, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Trust
and satisfactory to the Administrator, whose approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In the event that a Trust elects to assume the defense of any suit and
retain counsel, the Administrator shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it. If a Trust does not elect to assume the
defense of a suit, it will reimburse the Administrator for the reasonable fees
and expenses of any counsel retained by the Administrator.
The Administrator may apply to a Trust at any time for instructions and
may consult counsel for the Trust or its own counsel and with accountants and
other experts with respect to any matter arising in connection with the
Administrator's duties, and the Administrator shall not be liable or accountable
for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with such
instruction or with the opinion of such counsel, accountants or other experts.
Also, the Administrator shall be protected in acting upon any document
which it reasonably believes to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper person or persons. Nor shall the Administrator be held to have
notice of any change of authority of any officers, employee or agent of a Trust
until receipt of written notice thereof from the Trust.
ARTICLE 6. ACTIVITIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. The services of the
Administrator rendered to each Trust are not to be deemed to be exclusive. The
Administrator 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 a Trust are or may be or become interested in the
Administrator, as directors, officers, employees and shareholders or otherwise
and that directors, officers, employees and shareholders of the Administrator
and its counsel are or may be or become similarly interested in a Trust, and
that the Administrator may be or become interested in a Trust as a shareholder
or otherwise.
ARTICLE 7. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Administrator agrees on behalf of itself
and its employees to treat confidentially all records and other information
relative to each Trust and its prior, present or potential shareholders and
relative to the adviser and its prior, present or potential customers, except,
after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the
Administrator may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for
failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly
constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trusts.
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ARTICLE 8. EQUIPMENT FAILURES. In the event of equipment failures beyond
the Administrator's control, the Administrator shall, at no additional expense
to the Trusts, take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions but shall
have no liability with respect thereto. The Administrator shall develop and
maintain a plan for recovery from equipment failures which may include
contractual arrangements with appropriate parties making reasonable provision
for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to the extent
appropriate equipment is available.
ARTICLE 9. COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. The
Administrator undertakes to comply with all applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and any laws, rules and regulations of
governmental authorities having jurisdiction with respect to the duties to be
performed by the Administrator hereunder.
ARTICLE 10. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement
shall become effective on the date set forth in the Schedules and shall remain
in effect for the initial term of the Agreement (the "Initial Term") and each
renewal term thereof (each, a "Renewal Term"), each as set forth in the
Schedules, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Article
10. This Agreement may be terminated only: (a) by the mutual written agreement
of the parties; (b) by either party hereto on 90 days' written notice; or (c) as
to any Fund or any Trust, effective upon the liquidation of such Fund or Trust,
as the case may be. For purposes of this Article 10, the term "liquidation"
shall mean a transaction in which the assets of the Administrator, the Trust or
a Fund are sold or otherwise disposed of and proceeds therefrom are distributed
in cash to the shareholders in complete liquidation of the interests of such
shareholders in the entity.
This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Administrator, without the
prior written consent of a Trust, except to an entity that is controlled by, or
under common control, with, the Administrator.
ARTICLE 11. AMENDMENTS. This Agreement or any part hereof may be changed
or waived only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which
enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.
ARTICLE 12. CERTAIN RECORDS. The Administrator shall maintain customary
records in connection with its duties as specified in this Agreement. Any
records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to Rules 31a-1 and
31a-2 under the 1940 Act which are prepared or maintained by the Administrator
on behalf of a Trust shall be prepared and maintained at the expense of the
Administrator, but shall be the property of the Trust and will be made available
to or surrendered promptly to the Trust on request.
In case of any request or demand for the inspection of such records by
another party, the Administrator shall notify the Trust and follow the Trust's
instructions as to permitting or refusing such inspection; provided that the
Administrator may exhibit such records to any person in any case where it is
advised by its counsel that it may be held liable for failure to do so, unless
(in cases involving potential exposure only to civil liability) the Trust has
agreed to indemnify the Administrator against such liability.
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ARTICLE 13. DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS. The terms "interested person"
and "affiliated person," when used in this Agreement, shall have the respective
meanings specified in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.
ARTICLE 14. NOTICE. Any notice required or permitted to be given by either
party to the other shall be deemed sufficient if sent by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, addressed by the party giving notice to the other party
at the last address furnished by the other party to the party giving notice: if
to the Trusts, at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention:
President; and if to the Administrator at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: President.
ARTICLE 15. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Ohio and the applicable provisions of the 1940
Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Ohio, or any of the
provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the
latter shall control.
ARTICLE 16. MULTIPLE ORIGINALS. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
ARTICLE 17. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Administrator is hereby expressly
put on notice of the limitation of liability as set forth in each Trust's
Declaration of Trust and agrees that the obligations pursuant to this Agreement
of a particular Fund and of the Trust with respect to that Fund shall be limited
solely to the assets of that Fund, and the Administrator shall not seek
satisfaction of any such obligation from any other Fund, the shareholders of any
Fund, the Trustees, officers, employees or agents of a Trust, or any of them.
ARTICLE 18. BINDING AGREEMENT. This Agreement, and the rights and
obligations of the parties and the Funds hereunder, shall be binding on, and
inure to the benefit of, the parties and the Funds and the respective successors
and assigns of each of them.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of January 1, 2007.
TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST
By:__________________________________
Attest:______________________________
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
By:__________________________________
Attest:______________________________
TOUCHSTONE TAX-FREE TRUST
By:__________________________________
Attest:______________________________
TOUCHSTONE INVESTMENT TRUST
By:__________________________________
Attest:______________________________
TOUCHSTONE VARIABLE SERIES TRUST
By:__________________________________
Attest:______________________________
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC.
By:__________________________________
Attest:______________________________
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