TRANSFER AGENT SERVICING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 12th day of
December, 2000, by and between ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Funds, a business trust organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter the "Trust") and Firstar
Mutual Fund Services, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws
of the State of Wisconsin (hereinafter "FMFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company which
is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to create separate series, each with
its own separate investment portfolio;
WHEREAS, FMFS is a limited liability corporation and, among other
things, is in the business of administering transfer and dividend disbursing
agent functions for the benefit of its customers; and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain FMFS to provide transfer and
dividend disbursing agent services to each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit
A attached hereto, (each a "Fund") as may be amended from time to time.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made,
the Trust and FMFS agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF TRANSFER AGENT
The Trust hereby appoints FMFS as Transfer Agent of the Trust on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and FMFS hereby
accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties
set forth in this Agreement in consideration of the compensation
provided for herein
2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FMFS
FMFS shall perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent
and dividend disbursing agent, 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:
A. Receive orders for the purchase of shares;
B. Process purchase orders with prompt delivery, where
appropriate, of payment and supporting documentation to the
Trust's custodian, and issue the appropriate number of
uncertificated shares with such uncertificated shares being
held in the appropriate shareholder account;
C. Arrange for issuance of shares obtained through transfers of
funds from shareholders' accounts at financial institutions
and arrange for the exchange of shares for shares of other
eligible investment companies, when permitted by Prospectus.
D. Process redemption requests received in good order and, where
relevant, deliver appropriate documentation to the Trust's
custodian;
E. Pay monies upon receipt from the Trust's custodian, where
relevant, in accordance with the instructions of redeeming
shareholders;
F. Process transfers of shares in accordance with the
shareholder's instructions;
G. Process exchanges between funds and/or classes of shares
of funds both within the same family of funds and with the
Firstar Money Market Fund, if applicable;
H. Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions
declared by the Trust with respect to the Fund, after
deducting any amount required to be withheld by any applicable
laws, rules and regulations and in accordance with shareholder
instructions;
I. Make changes to shareholder records, including, but not
limited to, address changes in plans (i.e., systematic
withdrawal, automatic investment, dividend reinvestment,
etc.);
J. Record the issuance of shares of the Fund and maintain,
pursuant to Rule 17ad-10(e) promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), a
record of the total number of shares of the Fund which are
authorized, issued and outstanding;
K. Prepare shareholder meeting lists and, if applicable, mail,
receive and tabulate proxies;
L. Mail shareholder reports and prospectuses to current
shareholders;
M. Prepare and file U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and
other appropriate information returns required with respect
to dividends and distributions for all shareholders;
N. Provide shareholder account information upon request and
prepare and mail confirmations and statements of account to
shareholders for all purchases, redemptions and other
confirmable transactions as agreed upon with the Trust;
O. Mail requests for shareholders' certifications under penalties
of perjury and pay on a timely basis to the appropriate
Federal authorities any taxes to be withheld on dividends and
distributions paid by the Trust, all as required by applicable
Federal tax laws and regulations;
P. Provide a Blue Sky System which will enable the Trust to
monitor the total number of shares of the Fund sold in each
state. In addition, the Trust or its agent, including FMFS,
shall identify to FMFS in writing those transactions and
assets to be treated as exempt from the Blue Sky reporting for
each state. The responsibility of FMFS for the Company's Blue
Sky state registration status is solely limited to the initial
compliance by the Trust and the reporting of such transactions
to the Trust or its agent;
Q. Answer correspondence from shareholders, securities brokers
and others relating to FMFS's duties hereunder and such other
correspondence as may from time to time be mutually agreed
upon between FMFS and the Trust.
R. Reimburse the Fund each month for all material losses
resulting from "as of" processing errors for which FMFS is
responsible in accordance with the "as of" processing
guidelines set forth in the attached Exhibit B.
3. COMPENSATION
The Trust agrees to pay FMFS for the performance of the duties
listed in this agreement as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto; the
fees and out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to the
following: printing, postage, forms, stationery, record retention (if
requested by the Trust), mailing, insertion, programming (if requested
by the Trust), labels, shareholder lists and proxy expenses.
These fees and reimbursable expenses may be changed from time to time
subject to mutual written agreement between the Trust and FMFS.
The Trust agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within ten
(10) business days following the receipt of the billing notice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to
FMFS shall only be paid out of assets and property of the particular
Fund involved.
4. REPRESENTATIONS OF FMFS
FMFS represents and warrants to the Trust that:
A. It is a limited liability corporation duly organized, existing
and in good standing under the laws of Wisconsin;
B. It is a registered transfer agent under the Exchange Act.
C. It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of
Wisconsin;
D. It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and
bylaws to enter into and perform this Agreement;
E. All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter and perform this Agreement;
F. It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and
obligations under this Agreement; and
G. It will comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the 1940
Act, and any laws, rules, and regulations of governmental
authorities having jurisdiction.
5. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE TRUST
The Trust represents and warrants to FMFS that:
A. The Trust is an open-ended diversified investment company
under the 1940 Act;
B. The Trust is a business trust organized, existing, and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware;
C. The Trust is empowered under applicable laws and by its
Declaration of Trust and Bylaws to enter into and perform this
Agreement;
D. All necessary proceedings required by the Declaration of Trust
have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this
Agreement;
E. The Trust will comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, and any laws,
rules and regulations of governmental authorities having
jurisdiction; and
F. A registration statement under the Securities Act will be made
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 Trust being offered
for sale.
6. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
A. FMFS shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its
duties under this Agreement. FMFS shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered
by the Trust in connection with matters to which this
Agreement relates, including losses resulting from mechanical
breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies
beyond FMFS's control, except a loss arising out of or
relating to the FMFS' refusal or failure to comply with the
terms of this Agreement or from bad faith, negligence, or
willful misconduct on its part in the performance of its
duties under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, if FMFS has exercised reasonable
care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement,
the Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless FMFS from and
against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and
liabilities (whether with or without basis in fact or law) of
any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees)
which FMFS may sustain or incur or which may be asserted
against FMFS by any person arising out of any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in performing the services
hereunder, except for any and all claims, demands, losses
expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to FMFS's
refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement
or from bad faith, negligence or from willful misconduct on
its part in performance of its duties under this Agreement,
(i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in
reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to FMFS
by any duly authorized officer of the Trust, such duly
authorized officer to be included in a list of authorized
officers furnished to FMFS and as amended from time to time in
writing by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
FMFS shall indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and
against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and
liabilities (whether with or without basis in fact or law) of
any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees)
which the Trust may sustain or incur or which may be asserted
against the Trust by any person arising out of any action
taken or omitted to be taken by FMFS as a result of FMFS's
refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement,
its bad faith, negligence, or willful misconduct.
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of
communication or power supplies beyond its control, FMFS shall
take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions
for any period that such interruption continues beyond FMFS's
control. FMFS will make every reasonable effort to restore any
lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from
such a breakdown at the expense of FMFS. FMFS agrees that it
shall, at all times, have reasonable contingency plans with
appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency
use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent
appropriate equipment is available. Representatives of the
Trust shall be entitled to inspect FMFS's premises and
operating capabilities at any time during regular business
hours of FMFS, upon reasonable notice to FMFS.
Regardless of the above, FMFS reserves the right to reprocess
and correct administrative errors at its own expense.
B. In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this
section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the
indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee
harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised
of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question,
and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all
reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning
any situation which presents or appears likely to present the
probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor
shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any
claim which may be the subject of this indemnification. In
the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the
indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over
complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in
such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for
which it shall seek indemnification under this section. The
indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any
compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked
to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor's prior
written consent.
C. FMFS is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of
shareholder liability as set forth in the Trust's Declaration
of Trust and agrees that obligations assumed by the Trust
pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to
the Trust and its assets, and if the liability relates to one
or more series, the obligations hereunder shall be limited to
the respective assets of such series. FMFS further agrees that
it shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the
shareholder or any individual shareholder of a series of the
Trust, nor from the Trustees or any individual Trustee of the
Trust.
7. PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
FMFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and
employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the
Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust and
prior, present, or potential shareholders (and clients of said
shareholders) and not to use such records and information for any
purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties
hereunder, 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 FMFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt
proceedings for failure to comply after being requested to divulge such
information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by
the Trust.
8. TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and will
continue in effect for a period of three years. Subsequent to the
initial three year term, this Agreement may be terminated by either
party upon giving ninety (90) days prior written notice to the other
party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties.
However, this Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the
parties.
9. RECORDS
FMFS shall keep records relating to the services to be performed
hereunder, in the form and manner, and for such period as it may deem
advisable and is agreeable to the Trust but not inconsistent with the
rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in
particular, Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder. FMFS
agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by FMFS
relating to the services to be performed by FMFS hereunder are the
property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made
available with such section and rules of the Investment Company Act and
will be promptly surrendered to the Trust on and in accordance with its
request.
10. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of
Wisconsin. However, nothing herein shall be construed in a manner
inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation promulgated by
the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
11. DUTIES IN THE EVENT OF TERMINATION
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor
to any of FMFS's duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by
the Trust by written notice to FMFS, FMFS will promptly, upon such
termination and at the expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor
all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established
or maintained by FMFS under this Agreement in a form reasonably
acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which
FMFS has maintained, the Trust shall pay any expenses associated with
transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer
of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance
from FMFS's personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other
data by such successor.
12. NOTICES
Notices of any kind to be given by either party to the other
party shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or
delivered as follows: Notice to FMFS shall be sent to:
Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Securities, Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by a duly authorized officer or one or more counterparts as of the day
and year first written above.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ FUNDS FIRSTAR MUTUAL FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ Rock
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Title: President Title: Senior Vice President
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