Exhibit 9(f)
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
between
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND
and
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COPMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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1. Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Bank ............................ 1
2. Fees and Expenses ................................................... 3
3. Representations and Warranties of the Bank .......................... 4
4. Representations and Warranties of the Fund .......................... 4
5. Data Access and Proprietary Information ............................. 5
6. Indemnification ..................................................... 6
7. Standard of Care .................................................... 7
8. Covenants of the Fund and the Bank .................................. 8
9. Termination of Agreement ............................................ 9
10. Additional Funds .................................................... 9
11. Assignment .......................................................... 9
12. Amendment ........................................................... 9
13. Massachusetts Law to Apply .......................................... 10
14. Force Majeure ....................................................... 10
15. Consequential Damages ............................................... 10
16. Merger of Agreement ................................................. 10
17. Limitations of Liability of the Trustees
or Shareholders ................................................... 10
18. Counterparts ........................................................ 10
19. Reproduction of Documents ........................................... 11
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 27th day of April, 1999 by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Funds, a Massachusetts business trust, having its principal office and place of
business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Fund"), on
behalf of the J Class Shares of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Grade Bond Fund and
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company having its
principal office and place of business at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Bank").
WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with each
such series representing interests in a separate Class of securities and other
assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to offer Class J shares in the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Investment Grade Bond Fund (the "Class").
WHEREAS, the Fund on behalf of the Class desires to appoint the Bank as its
transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian of certain retirement plans
and agent in connection with certain other activities, and the Bank desires to
accept such appointment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Bank
----------------------------------------
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Fund, on behalf of the Class, hereby employs and appoints the Bank to act as,
and the Bank agrees to act as its transfer agent for the Fund's authorized and
issued shares of its common stock, $ par value, ("Shares"), dividend
disbursing agent, custodian of certain retirement plans and agent in connection
with any accumulation, open-account or similar plans provided to the
shareholders of the respective Class of the Fund ("Shareholders") and set out in
the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information
("prospectus") of the Fund on behalf of the Class, including without limitation
any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.
1.2 The Bank agrees that it will perform the following services:
(a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund on behalf of the Class, as applicable and
the Bank, the Bank shall:
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(i) Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and
promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation thereof
to the Custodian of the Fund authorized pursuant to the
Declaration of Trust of the Fund (the "Custodian");
(ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of
Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate Shareholder
account;
(iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
directions and deliver the appropriate documentation thereof
to the Custodian;
(iv) In respect to the transactions in items (i), (ii), and (iii)
above, the Bank shall execute transactions directly with
broker-dealers authorized by the Fund who shall thereby be
deemed to be acting on behalf of the Fund;
(v) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to
it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over
or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies
as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;
(vi) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
upon receipt of appropriate instructions;
(vii) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions
declared by the Fund on behalf of the Class;
(viii) Issue replacement certificates for those certificates alleged
to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon receipt by the
Bank of indemnification satisfactory to the Bank and
protecting the Bank and the Fund, and the Bank at its option,
may issue replacement certificates in place of mutilated stock
certificates upon presentation thereof and without such
indemnity;
(ix) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its
Shareholders as to the foregoing; and
(x) Record the issuance of shares of the Fund and maintain
pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total number
of shares of the Fund which are authorized, based upon data
provided to it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. The
Bank shall also provide the Fund on a regular basis with the
total number of shares which are authorized and issued and
outstanding and shall have no obligation, when recording the
issuance of shares, to monitor the issuance of such shares or
to take cognizance of any laws
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relating to the issue or sale of such Shares, which functions
shall be the sole responsibility of the Fund.
(b) In addition to and neither in lieu nor in contravention of the
services act forth in the above paragraph (a), the Bank shall: (i)
perform the customary services of a transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent, custodian of certain retirement plans and, as
relevant, agent in connection with accumulation, open-account or
similar plans (including without limitation any periodic investment
plan or periodic withdrawal program), including but not limited to:
maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing Shareholder meeting
lists, mailing proxies, mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses
to current Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-
resident alien accounts, preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department
Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms required with respect to
dividends and distributions by federal authorities for all
Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements
of account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares
and other confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing
and mailing activity statements for Shareholders, and providing
Shareholder account information and (ii) provide a system which will
enable the Fund to monitor the total number of Shares sold in each
State.
(c) In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to the Bank in writing those
transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from blue sky
reporting for each State and (ii) verify the establishment of
transactions for each State on the system prior to activation and
thereafter monitor the daily activity for each State. The
responsibility of the Bank for the Fund's blue sky State registration
status is solely limited to the initial establishment of transactions
subject to blue sky compliance by the Fund and the reporting of such
transactions to the Fund as provided above.
(d) Procedures as to who shall provide certain of these services in
Section 1 may be established from time to time by agreement between
the Fund on behalf of the Class and the Bank per the attached service
responsibility schedule. The Bank may at times perform only a portion
of these services and the Fund or its agent may perform these services
on the Fund's behalf.
(e) The Bank shall provide additional services on behalf of the Fund (i.e.
escheatment services) which may be agreed upon in writing between the
Fund and the Bank.
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2. Fees and Expenses
-----------------
2.1 For the performance by the Bank pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund agrees
on behalf of the Class to pay the Bank an annual maintenance fee for each
Shareholder account as set out in the initial fee schedule attached hereto. Such
fees and out-of-pocket expensed and advances identified under Section 2.2 below
may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the
Fund and the Bank.
2.2 In addition to the fee paid under Section 2.1 above, the Fund agrees on
behalf of the Class to reimburse the Bank for out-of-pocket expenses, including
but not limited to confirmation production, postage, forms, telephone,
microfilm, microfiche, tabulating proxies, records storage, or advances incurred
by the Bank for the items set out in the fee schedule attached hereto. In
addition, any other expenses incurred by the Bank at the request or with the
consent of the Fund, will be reimbursed by the Fund on behalf of the applicable
Class.
2.3 The Fund agrees on behalf of the Class to pay all fees and reimbursable
expenses within five days following the receipt of the respective billing
notice. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other
mailings to all shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the Bank by the Fund
at least seven (7) days prior to the mailing date of such materials.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Bank
------------------------------------------
The Bank represents and warrants to the Fund that:
3.1 It is a trust company fully organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
3.2 It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
3.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-Laws to
enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to
enter into and perform this Agreement.
3.5 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities,
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this
Agreement.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Fund
------------------------------------------
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The Fund represents and warrants to the Bank that:
4.1 It is a business trust duly organized and existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of
4.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Declaration of Trust and
By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.3 All corporate proceedings required by said Declaration of Trust and By-Laws
have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.
4.4 It is an open-end and diversified management investment company registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended on
behalf of the Class is currently effective and will remain effective, and
appropriate state securities law filings have been made and will continue to be
made, with respect to all Shares of the Class being offered for sale.
5. Data Access and Proprietary Information
---------------------------------------
5.1 The Fund acknowledges that the data bases, computer programs, screen
formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation
manuals furnished to the Fund by the Bank as part of the Fund's ability to
access certain Fund-related data ("Customer Data") maintained by the Bank on
data bases under the control and ownership of the Bank or other third party
("Data Access Services") constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other
proprietary information (collectively, "Proprietary Information") of substantial
value to the Bank or other third party. In no event shall Proprietary
Information be deemed Customer Data. The Fund agrees to treat all Proprietary
Information as proprietary to the Bank and further agrees that it shall not
divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may
be provided hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Fund agrees for
itself and its employees and agents:
(a) to access Customer Data solely from locations as may be designated in
writing by the Bank and solely in accordance with the Bank's
applicable user documentation;
(b) to refrain from copying or duplicating in any way the Proprietary
Information;
(c) to refrain from obtaining unauthorized access to any portion of the
Proprietary Information, and if such access is inadvertently obtained,
to inform in a timely manner of such fact and dispose of such
information in accordance with the Bank's instructions;
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(d) to refrain from causing or allowing the data acquired hereunder from
being retransmitted to any other computer facility or other location,
except with the prior written consent of the Bank;
(e) that the Fund shall have access only to those authorized transactions
agreed upon by the parties;
(f) to honor all reasonable written requests made by the Bank to protect
at the Bank's expense the rights of the Bank in Proprietary
Information at common law, under federal copyright law and under other
federal or state law.
Each party shall take reasonable efforts to advise its employees of their
obligations pursuant to this Section 5. The obligations of this Section shall
survive any earlier termination of this Agreement.
5.2 If the Fund notifies the Bank that any of the Data Access Services do not
operate in material compliance with the most recently issued user documentation
for such services, the Bank shall endeavor in a timely manner to correct such
failure. Organizations from which the Bank may obtain certain data included in
the Data Access Services are solely responsible for the contents of such data
and the Fund agrees to make no claim against the Bank arising out of the
contents of such third-party data, including, but not limited to, the accuracy
thereof. DATA ACCESS SERVICES AND ALL COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND SOFTWARE
SPECIFICATIONS USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ARE PROVIDED ON AN AS IS, AS
AVAILABLE BASIS. THE BANK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EXCEPT THOSE
EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
merchantability AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
5.3 If the transactions available to the Fund include the ability to originate
electronic instructions to the Bank in order to (i) effect the transfer or
movement of cash or Shares or (ii) transmit Shareholder information or other
information, then in such event the Bank shall be entitled to rely on the
validity and authenticity of such instruction without undertaking any further
inquiry as long as such instruction is undertaken in conformity with security
procedures established by the Bank from time to time.
6. Indemnification
---------------
6.1 The Bank shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall on behalf of the
Class indemnify and hold the Bank harmless from and against, any and all losses,
damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising
out of or attributable to:
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(a) All actions of the Bank or its agents or subcontractors required to be
taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken
in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.
(b) The Fund's lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct which
arise out of the breach of any representation or warranty of the Fund
hereunder.
(c) The reliance on or use by the Bank or its agents or subcontractors of
information, records, documents or services which (i) are received by
the Bank or its agents or subcontractors, and (ii) have been prepared,
maintained or performed by the Fund or any other person or firm on
behalf of the Fund including but not limited to any previous transfer
agent or registrar.
(d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by the Bank or its agents or
subcontractors of any instructions or requests of the Fund on behalf
of the Class.
(e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement under the
federal securities laws or regulations or the securities laws or
regulations of any state that such Shares be registered in such state
or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by
any federal agency or any state with respect to the offer or sale of
such Shares in such state.
(f) The negotiation and processing by the Bank of checks not made payable
to the order of the Bank, the Fund, the Fund's management company,
transfer agent or distributor or the retirement account custodian or
trustee for a plan account investing in Shares, which checks are
tendered to the Bank for the purchase of Shares (i.e., checks made
payable to prospective or existing Shareholders, such checks are
commonly known as "third party checks").
6.2 At any time the Bank may apply to any officer of the Fund for instructions,
and may consult with legal counsel with respect to any matter arising in
connection with the services to be performed by the Bank under this Agreement,
and the Bank and its agents or subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be
indemnified by the Fund on behalf of the Class for any action taken or omitted
by it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel.
The Bank, its agents and subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in
acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund,
reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person
or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records or documents
provided the Bank or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input,
telex, CRT data entry or other similar means authorized by the Fund, and shall
not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until
receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund. The Bank, its agents and
subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in recognizing stock
certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the proper manual or
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facsimile signatures of the officers of the Fund, and the proper
countersignature of any former transfer agent or former registrar, or of a
co-transfer agent or co-registrar.
6.3 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section 6
shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which the Fund may be required to
indemnify the Bank, the Bank shall promptly notify the Fund of such assertion,
and shall keep the Fund advised with respect to all developments concerning
such claim. The Fund shall have the option to participate with the Bank in the
defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the
name of the Bank. The Bank shall in no case confess any claim or make any
compromise in any case in which the Fund may be required to indemnify the Bank
except with the Fund's prior written consent.
7. Standard of Care
----------------
The Bank shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts
within reasonable limits to insure the accuracy of all services performed under
this Agreement, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss
or damage due to errors unless said errors are caused by its negligence, bad
faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees.
8. Covenants of the Fund and the Bank
----------------------------------
8.1 The Fund shall on behalf of the Class promptly furnish to the Bank the
following:
(a) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the
Fund authorizing the appointment of the Bank and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement.
(b) A copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Fund and all
amendments thereto.
8.2 The Bank hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and procedures
reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of stock certificates, check
forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any; and for the
preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such certificates, forms and
devices.
8.3 The Bank shall keep records relating to the services to be performed
hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. To the extent
required by Section 31 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and
the Rules thereunder, the Bank agrees that all such records prepared or
maintained by the Bank relating to the services to be performed by the Bank
hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be preserved,
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maintained and made available in accordance with such Section and Rules, and
will be surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.
8.4 The Bank and the Fund agree that all books, records, information and data
pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received
pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain
confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except
as may be required by law.
8.5 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the Shareholder
records of the Fund, the Bank will endeavor to notify the Fund and to secure
instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such inspection. The
Bank reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder records to any
person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be held liable for the
failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.
9. Termination of Agreement
------------------------
9.1 This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one hundred twenty
(120) days written notice to the other.
9.2 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket expenses
associated with the movement of records and material will be borne by the Fund
on behalf of the applicable Class(s). Additionally, the Bank reserves the right
to charge for any other reasonable expenses associated with such termination
and/or a charge equivalent to the average of three (3) months' fees.
10. Assignment
----------
10.1 Except as provided in Section 11.3 below, neither this Agreement nor any
rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the
written consent of the other party.
10.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
10.3 The Bank may, without further consent on the part of the Fund, subcontract
for the performance hereof with (i) Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., a
Massachusetts corporation ("BFDS") which is duly registered as a transfer agent
pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
("Section 17A(c)(2)"), (ii) a BFDS subsidiary duly registered as a transfer
agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(2) or (iii) a BFDS affiliate; provided,
however, that the Bank shall be as fully responsible to the
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Fund for the nets and omissions of any subcontractor as it is for its own acts
and omissions.
11. Amendment
---------
This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement executed
by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund.
12. Massachusetts Law to Apply
--------------------------
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
13. Force Majeure
-------------
In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the
terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or
transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, such party shall
not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such
failure to perform or otherwise from such causes.
14. Consequential Damages
---------------------
Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for
consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any
consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder.
15. Merger Agreement
----------------
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof
whether oral or written.
16. Limitations of Liability of the Trustees and Shareholders
---------------------------------------------------------
A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with the
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that
this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as Trustees
and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding
upon any of the Trustees or Shareholders individually but are binding only upon
the assets and property of the Fund.
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17. Counterparts
------------
This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of
counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. Reproduction of Documents
-------------------------
This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments
hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-
card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto
all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the
original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a
party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in
evidence.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
in their names and on behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as
of the day and year first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds on behalf of the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investement Grade Bond Fund Series
BY:
------------------------------------
ATTEST:
-----------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY
BY:
------------------------------------
ATTEST:
-----------------------------
▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ BANK & TRUST COMPANY
FUND SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES*
Service Performed Responsibility
----------------- --------------
Bank Fund
---- ----
1. Receives orders for the purchase
of Shares. X
2. Issue Shares and hold Shares in
Shareholders accounts. X
3. Receive redemption requests. X
4. Effect transactions 1-3 above
directly with broker-dealers. N/A
5. Pay over monies to redeeming
Shareholders. X
6. Effect transfers of Shares. X
7. Prepare and transmit dividends
and distributions. X
8. Issue Replacement Certificates. N/A
9. Reporting of abandoned property. X
10. Maintain records of account. X
11. Maintain and keep a current and
accurate control book for each
issue of securities. N/A
12. Mail proxies. X
13. Mail Shareholder reports. X
14. Mail prospectuses to current
Shareholders. X
15. Withhold taxes on U.S. resident
and non-resident alien accounts. X
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Service Performed Responsibility
----------------- --------------
Bank Fund
---- ----
16. Prepare and file U.S. Treasury
Department forms. X
17. Prepare and mail account and
confirmation statements for
Shareholders. X
18. Provide Shareholder account
information. X
19. Blue sky reporting. N/A
* Such services are more fully described in Section 1.2(a), (b) and (c) of the
Agreement.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds on behalf of the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Investment Grade Bond Fund Series
By:
------------------------------------------
ATTEST:
--------------------------
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:
------------------------------------------
ATTEST:
--------------------------
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